Employment
Vets deserve a piece of jobs bill, VFW says
Feb 26th
By Rick Maze –Military Times–
The nation’s largest organization of combat veterans is demanding changes in the $15 billion jobs bill that passed the Senate on Wednesday because veterans were left out of a package of tax credits and highway projects aimed at increasing employment.
“Despite having more than 1.1 million unemployed veterans, the 60-page package failed to mention ‘veteran’ or ‘veterans’ even once,” said Justin Brown, a legislative associate with the Veterans of Foreign Wars.
Brown was referring to HR 2847, the Hiring Incentive to Restore Employment Act, or HIRE Act, that passed the Senate on Wednesday by a 70-28 vote and is pending before the House.
Speaking before the House Veterans’ Affairs Committee’s economic opportunity panel, which is considering legislation that would expand vocational training for veterans, Brown said the VFW “finds it unconscionable that American’s veterans, who have left their families, risked their lives and limbs and left civilian career pursuits behind to answer the nation’s call, do not have the attention of Congress for this important matter.”
The unemployment rate for Iraq and Afghanistan combat veterans is almost 15.8 percent, higher than the average 10.6 percent overall unemployment rate, as well as the 11.8 percent rate for foreign-born U.S. citizens — a sore point among veterans groups such as the VFW.
Popularity: 18% [?]
DHS HOSTING MONTHLY VETERAN TRANSITION SUPPORT WORKSHOPS (DC AREA ONLY)
Jan 27th
The Office of the Chief Human Capital Officer’s (OCHCO) Office of Diversity, Recruitment and Veterans
Outreach promotes the Department’s commitment to being a model Federal employer in support of providing transition training to Veterans/Spouses. This training will provide Veterans/Spouses with the knowledge and tips necessary to apply for jobs in the Federal Civil Service.
Training Objective
To provide transitioning service members and their spouses with detailed information on the Federal hiring process, and determining/applying Veterans preference.
Who Should Attend?
- Transitioning Service Members (Active/Reserve/National Guard)
- Spouses of Veterans
- Retired / Separated Veterans
What can you learn from this training?
- Special Veteran Hiring Authorities
- How to Apply for Federal Jobs
- Federal Resume Tips
- DHS Mission and Job Opportunities
You must register for this training by calling one of the points of contacts on the left side of this form or by filling out and emailing the registration form
You must provide your name, phone number, and the date you wish to attend the training
Reservations will be accepted on a first come basis
2010 SCHEDULE
10:00 am – 11:30 pm
Location
1201 New York Ave NW
Penthouse Floor
Washington, DC 20005
- January 13th
- February 10th
- March 10th
- April 14th
- May 12th
- June 9th
- July 14th
- August 11th
- September 8th
- October 13th
- November 10th
- December 8th
Points of Contact:
Paul Plasencia
202-357-8251
paul.m.plasencia@dhs.gov
Kimberly Burney
202-357-8416
kimberly.burney@dhs.,gov
Jayson Smith
202-357-8398
jayson.smith@dhs.,gov
Popularity: 19% [?]
New Website for Federal Employment Transition for service member, veterans and their families!
Jan 21st
Today, OPM is launching FedsHireVets.gov, a critical component of President Obama’s Veterans Employment Initiative. This website will become the main source for Veterans employment information and resources for both Veterans and Hiring Officials. Today’s launch represents phase one of an ongoing effort to help the men and women who have served our country in the military and their families find employment in the Federal Civil Service. You can view the site at: http://www.fedshirevets.gov/
Popularity: 15% [?]
A Limited FREE Offer For Unemployed Veterans
Jan 7th
The Virginia Veteran recieved this information from Jobcoach–
Every so often, an opportunity comes for veterans that shouldn’t be missed. Unemployed
veterans have such an opportunity. Until a week from next Friday, they have access to the most interesting employment software; much of it not otherwise free. Ours is not the only software being tested…. But we believe it to be unique for veterans.
Improving Veterans Services In The One Stop- Becoming Involved In A National Evaluation
One Stop services will only improve when LVERs/DVOPs and others working with vets have new tools to use designed to meet veterans’ needs. The US Department of Labor is actively seeking out new ideas. America’s veterans shouldn’t be on the sidelines. Veterans can get a look at employment software from home until January 15th to try out new approaches. The next week and a half could make a difference in employment software approaches targeting veterans with their special needs and resources.
A Rare Time Limited Opportunity Ending January 15th— A Free Service For All Vets Seeking Work
The next week and a half offers a rare opportunity for your staff to evaluate some interesting software solutions available veterans including the veterans’ version of the Job Coach. Designed for use as a desktop resource to improve veterans services in One Stops. The Job Coach is an ambitious and distinctly different piece of work that merits a review during the next week and a half. A person using the tool should check out the unique take on transferring military to civilian as well as the networking section for generating job leads.
The Job Coach ends with a personalized pdf Report. There are two versions of a Job Coach Report, the second version is meant for group settings and offers exercises. It is perfect for the unemployed veteran who is looking to jump start a job search. The URL to use to test out The Job Coach is http://dolchallenge.ideascale.com/a/dtd/20192-5847
There Are Other Veterans Tools To Review As Well
For a 10 day period, other tools for veterans can be found at http://dolchallenge.ideascale.com/a/panel.do?id=5847 The quality of service for veterans depends on having the tools to do the job. If unemployed veterans miss this opportunity to make their voice heard, another opportunity like this to speak out on the value of veterans’ focused job search will never happen again.
Richard Sheir
Hoover & Johnson
Montpelier, Vermont
802-223-4799
Popularity: 22% [?]
Department of Homeland Security Hosting Virtual Job Fair!
Dec 14th
DHS–The Department is using special hiring authorities to fill up to 1,000 skilled cyber specialist
positions over three years across many Department components.
http://www.dhs.gov/xabout/careers/cyberjobfair/
Our workforce is committed to assuring the security, resiliency and reliability of the nation’s information technology and communications infrastructure. Be a part of our team! We need your expertise in:
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At the Department, you’ll work hard and you’ll be pushed because the stakes are high. And, you will have an immediate opportunity to serve and make a difference. We need our best and brightest, our finest computer scientists and engineers, analysts, mathematicians, and innovative thinkers. We need you, your nation needs you.
Salaries range from $73,000 to $153,000 and the jobs are at the GS 12-15 levels. Candidates must be U.S. citizens and able to obtain a Top Secret/SCI security clearance. More information about specific job opportunities is available when you apply. Acceptance of applications will close when sufficient applications have been received.
Follow the steps above and begin your exciting cybersecurity career!
Popularity: 35% [?]
SBA, Six Universities to Offer Business Training for Iraq/Afghanistan Disabled Vets
Nov 17th
SBA Adds New Training Tools to Increase Opportunities for Vets
WASHINGTON–(BUSINESS WIRE)–The U.S. Small Business Administration today announced a three-year agreement to expand and deliver entrepreneurship training for service-disabled veterans of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan.
The agreement with SBA’s Office of Veterans Business Development will support the expansion of the year-long Entrepreneurship Bootcamp for Veterans with Disabilities (EBV). The expansion of this innovative management training and mentorship program will maximize small business programs for veterans, service-disabled veterans, reserve-component members, and their dependents or survivors.
Additionally, this week SBA launched a new online contracting tutorial on www.sba.gov, as part of its ongoing efforts to expand services to veterans and service-disabled veterans. Veterans and military spouses who own small businesses can utilize this free online course to learn how to identify and take advantage of federal contracting opportunities.
“At this important time, with veterans returning from foreign soil in increasing numbers, we at the SBA are working to ensure they have the resources to successfully start and run their small businesses. As a result of the leadership skills they develop during their service, veterans over-index in entrepreneurial activities,” SBA Administrator Karen G. Mills said today. “Our commitment is to honor that service by helping our nation’s veterans – especially those who return home with disabilities – fulfill the American Dream. Initiatives like the Entrepreneurship Bootcamp and our online training courses give veteran business owners the tools they need to grow, be competitive, and create jobs.”
Working with Syracuse University’s Whitman School of Management, the University of Connecticut School of Business, Mays Business School at Texas A&M, UCLA Anderson School of Management, Florida State University’s College of Business, and the Krannert School of Management at Purdue University, SBA’s grant and other assistance will significantly expand the reach and impact of the EBV initiative and help maximize economic opportunities for U.S. veterans with disabilities.
The expansion of SBA’s entrepreneurship training initiatives builds on SBA’s support for veterans through its Patriot Express loan program. In less than two-and-a -half year’s time, this pilot loan initiative has supported nearly $400 million in loans to more than 4,700 veterans and spouses looking to establish or expand their small businesses. As a result of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, which raised loan guarantees to 90 percent and temporarily eliminated fees, the number of Patriot Express loans increased by more than 20 percent this year over 2008. Local SBA district offices have a listing of Patriot Express lenders in their areas. Details on the initiative can be found at www.sba.gov/patriotexpress.
To learn more about additional opportunities for veterans available through the SBA, please visit www.sba.gov.
Popularity: 12% [?]
With jobs order, Obama gives veterans more to celebrate
Nov 13th
By Joe Davidson–Washington Post
Presidential executive orders are lofty, historical documents, generally signed in White House ceremonies with pomp and circumstance. Seldom do we think of them beginning in a small town on the eastern edge of West Virginia.
But it was in Shepherdstown, with a population of 803 at last count, where President Obama’s latest executive order, designed to facilitate the hiring of veterans in the federal government, got its start.
Since 1944, federal law has required that vets be given certain preferences when federal agencies hire. And this isn’t the first time an administration has made noise about being nice to vets. What will come of this latest effort remains to be seen.
But the quiet signing ceremony in the Oval Office on Monday evening certainly was an important move in the right direction. By establishing an interagency council and requiring that progress be tracked and reported back to the president, the executive order created a mechanism with teeth.
Popularity: 23% [?]
President Obama Launches Major Veterans Employment Initiative
Nov 10th
Initiative Would Transform Federal Government into Model of Veterans Employment
From the White House–Washington, DC – Yesterday, the White House announced the launch of an initiative that is designed to transform the federal government into the model employer of America’s veterans. This evening, President Obama will be joined by Secretary of Veterans Affairs Eric Shinseki, Secretary of Labor Hilda Solis, Secretary of Homeland Security Janet Napolitano and Office of Personnel Management Director John Berry to sign an Executive Order on the Employment of Veterans in the federal government, which establishes the Veterans Employment Initiative for the Executive Branch. The Initiative underscores to federal agencies the importance of recruiting and training veterans, aims to increase the employment of veterans within the Executive Branch, and helps recently hired veterans adjust to service in a civilian capacity.
“Honoring our sacred trust with America’s veterans means doing all we can to help them find work when they come home so they never feel as if the American Dream they fought to defend is out of reach for them and their families,” said President Obama. “But this initiative is about more than repaying our debt for their courageous service and selfless sacrifice. It’s also about continuing to fill the ranks of federal employees with men and women who possess the skills, dedication, and sense of duty that Americans deserve from their public servants. And few embody those qualities like our nation’s veterans.”
The Executive Order creates an interagency Council on Veterans Employment that will advise the President and the Director of the Office of Personnel Management on the veterans’ employment initiative. The Council will be chaired by Secretary of Labor Hilda Solis and Secretary of Veterans Affairs Eric Shinseki. OPM Director John Berry will serve as the Vice Chair and Chief Operating Officer of the Council.
“Veterans have shown unmatched dedication to public service,” said Secretary Shinseki. “They offer leadership and technical skills that are in high demand, whether in the public or private workforce. Not only does this initiative present an opportunity for Veterans to serve their Nation once again, the Nation will benefit from the education and training Veterans received in the Armed Forces. I am looking forward to working with Secretary Solis and Director Berry to achieve the objectives of this initiative across the federal government.”
“Veterans are an important part of our nation’s past, present and future. They deserve our full support as they reintegrate into the civilian workforce,” said Secretary Solis, “In signing this Executive Order, President Obama underscores his Administration’s commitment to our military men and women, and keeps us squarely on the path to achieving the goal of good jobs for everyone.”
“President Obama strongly believes in honoring the service of our veterans and he sees this initiative as an opportunity to put some real muscle behind that promise,” said Director Berry. “The strong sense of patriotism and public service held by members of our armed forces doesn’t leave them when they exit from active duty. It benefits our government to seize this opportunity to utilize their skills and dedication to service. The Veterans Employment Initiative will help our federal agencies identify qualified veterans, clarify the hiring process for veterans seeking employment with the federal government, and help our veterans adjust to civilian life once they are hired.”
The Order also establishes a Veterans Employment Program office within most federal agencies. These offices will be responsible for helping veterans identify employment opportunities within those federal agencies, providing feedback to veterans about their employment application status, and helping veterans recently employed by these agencies adjust to civilian life and a workplace culture often different than military service.
In addition, the Office of Personnel Management will issue a government-wide strategic plan that will focus on creating leadership commitment and an infrastructure in each agency to promote continued skills development and employment success for veterans. The strategic plan will also include marketing strategies aimed at agency hiring managers as well as veterans and transitioning service members.
“This Executive Order reflects the shared commitment across the Obama administration to hiring American veterans,” said Secretary Napolitano. “Veterans play a vital role in the Department of Homeland Security’s mission to protect the nation, which is why we have pledged to grow our veteran workforce to more than 50,000 Department-wide by 2012.”
At the end of Fiscal Year 2008, there were approximately 480,000 veterans working within the federal government.
For more information, visit: www.fedshirevets.gov
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Popularity: 12% [?]
Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 helping Veterans get jobs
Nov 9th
Activision Blizzard, which produces the popular Guitar Hero and Tony Hawk franchises, said its Call of Duty Endowment (CODE) will support other groups that assist veterans with their careers.
Unemployment may have hit double digits in the nation last week, but for veterans, finding a job has always had its challenges. The unemployment rate among people who served in the military since 2001 was 11.6 percent in October, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
Other government and private studies show that the percentage of unemployed veterans has been historically higher than the percentage among civilians. Eighteen percent of veterans who left the military in the past one to three years were unemployed, according to a 2008 Department of Veterans Affairs employment survey.
Of those veterans who had found work, 25 percent earned less than $21,840 per year, the VA study said. Fifty-eight percent of recent veterans worked in the private sector and 36 percent had government jobs, according to the study.
“The joblessness rate that [veterans] should have should be far less than the national average, not more,” said Activision Blizzard chief executive Bobby Kotick. “How do you expect people to actually join the military if when they leave the military they can’t integrate back into the free market they’re supposed to be protecting?”
Read the rest of this entry »
Popularity: 18% [?]
A tiny niche in collectible coins grows into a $5 million mini-empire
Nov 2nd
Jeffery Morin’s business has exploded since the days he ran it out of his Marine Corps barracks.
By Thomas Heath–Washington Post–
Jeffery Morin’s memorabilia business in Stafford probably isn’t the next Google or eBay, but I love the 27-year-old’s story because it’s about a regular guy who saw an online opportunity and went for it.
Morin was noodling around on eBay, the auction Web site, seven years ago while serving in the U.S. Marine Corps aboard the amphibious assault ship USS Wasp in the middle of the Red Sea. He stumbled across some people selling old military memorabilia coins, about the size of a silver dollar, called “challenge coins.” Challenge coins are collectibles used by the U.S. military to commemorate service in a unit or participation in an exercise.
“Poor man’s coin collecting,” as Morin puts it.
EBay customers were bidding $15 for coins Morin knew he could buy at a Marine Corps base for $5. So when he got back to Camp Lejeune, N.C., he marched to the base store and bought 30 generic Marine Corps coins for $4.50 each. (He persuaded the store manager to knock 50 cents off the $5 price.)
Morin took a photograph of one coin and posted it on eBay. It sold in three days for $11.50, yielding a $7 profit.
Popularity: 11% [?]
