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I CARE

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James 'JJ' Campbell - Air Force Veteran

I CARE - Through Veterans' Eyes

This video highlights — from the perspective of Veterans — the ways that VHA employees exhibit the VA's I CARE Core Values every day.

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VA Secretary Denis McDonough

A message from VA Secretary Denis McDonough

It is the honor of my lifetime to join the VA workforce in serving Veterans, their families, caregivers and survivors.

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Secretary McDonough quote

I CARE Overview

Our core values focus our minds on our mission of caring and thereby guide our actions toward service to others.

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Core Values

Core Values

Integrity
Commitment
Advocacy
Respect
Excellence

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VA’s Mission

To fulfill President Lincoln’s promise to care for those who have served in our nation’s military and for their families, caregivers, and survivors.

“Our department remains fully committed to fulfilling the sacred obligation that we have to those who serve in uniform.” ~VA Secretary Denis McDonough

Our VA Mission and Core Values

No organization can succeed without values to match its mission. Our mission, as the Department of Veterans Affairs, is to care for those “who shall have borne the battle” and for their families, caregivers and survivors. Our core values focus our minds on our mission of caring and thereby guide our actions toward service to others.

VA Core Values describe how VA will accomplish its mission and inform every interaction with our customers. These Core Values are: Integrity, Commitment, Advocacy, Respect, and Excellence — better known as “I CARE.” VA’s Core Values will continue to serve as the right guide for all our interactions and remind us and others that “I CARE.”

  • I care about those who have served.
  • I care about my fellow VA employees.
  • I care about choosing “the harder right instead of the easier wrong.”
  • I care about performing my duties to the very best of my abilities.
Established Ethics Directive

Core Values, Core Characteristics, and Customer Experience (CX) Principles of the Department — I CARE Core Values and Characteristics are codified in our VA regulations at 38 C.F.R. Part 0 and define the standards of ethical conduct and related responsibilities of all VA employees. These regulations include CX Principles — Trust, Ease, Effectiveness and Emotion — as guiding principles for how all employees deliver services to Veterans, their families, caregivers and survivors.

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