The most important lesson Air Force veteran and VFW’s “Sport Clips Help A Hero Scholarship” recipient Ivonne Jones learned was to never leave a comrade behind. Today, having worked nearly 15 years in the VA, that lesson pushes her to continue helping veterans every day.
“I learned many skills while in the Air Force,” Jones said. “The most important skill being to leave no man behind.”
Air Force veteran and VFW “Sport Clips Help A Hero Scholarship” recipient Ivonne Jones graduates from the University of Miami in Miami, Florida, with her Master of Education in Applied Learning Sciences in 2021. With help from the scholarship, Jones hopes to earn a doctorate degree that will allow her to improve training programs so that VA services can be easier to navigate for veterans. From 2008 to 2022, Jones served in the Air Force reserve, including active duty from March to July 2009 at Pope Field in North Carolina. She served with the 440th Security Forces Squadron while at Pope Field before later transferring to Dobbins Air Reserve Base in Marietta, Georgia, where she served with the 94th Security Forces Squadron.
To ensure that she can continue to assist in creating training programs which will ultimately help veterans seeking VA service, Jones is currently pursuing a doctorate in organizational leadership at Nova Southeastern University in Davie, Florida. The VFW “Sport Clips Help A Hero Scholarship” has provided financial ease for Jones.
“The VFW Sport Clips Help A Hero Scholarship application was much smoother and more efficient than other programs I’ve applied to,” Jones said. “Unlike many scholarships that require extensive documentation or multiple essays, this one was concise and well-organized, making it far easier to complete.”
Before working for the VA, Jones admitted that navigating the VA can be a daunting experience for veterans.
“I have learned a lot about how the VA operates, and truly, if I were not working there, I would be confused and deterred about the process,” Jones said. “I see a lot of veterans who don’t know where to start, and this saddens my heart because I know there are a lot of veterans who need those services.”
Jones hopes to improve the processes by which veterans apply for and receive VA benefits.
“With my doctorate, I hope to serve as a training manager within the VA,” Jones said. “In this role, I hope to design and implement comprehensive training programs that strengthen employee development. By improving internal training and professional growth opportunities, I aim to help employees operate at their highest potential, ultimately making VA processes more efficient and easier for veterans to navigate.”
This article is featured in the 2026 August issue of Checkpoint. If you're a VFW member and don't currently receive the VFW Checkpoint, please contact VFW magazine at magazine@vfw.org.