Secretary Denis R. McDonough
The Mission of the VA
As the Department of the 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. To learn more about the mission of the VA, click HERE!The Core Values of the VA
VA’s five core values underscore the obligations inherent in VA’s mission: Integrity, Commitment, Advocacy, Respect, and Excellence. The core values define “who we are,” our culture, and how we care for Veterans and eligible beneficiaries. Our values are more than just words – they affect outcomes in our daily interactions with Veterans and eligible beneficiaries and with each other.Taking the first letter of each word—Integrity, Commitment, Advocacy, Respect, Excellence—creates a powerful acronym, “I CARE,” that reminds each VA employee of the importance of their role in this Department. These core values come together as five promises we make as individuals and as an organization to those we serve.