Employment
Vets deserve more help to overcome unemployment
Sep 15th
By Ramiro G. Hinojosa–Dallas News–
Kuwait is the temporary staging area for military personnel headed into and out of the wars in
Iraq and Afghanistan. As a veteran of the Iraq war, I remember how it felt to be there: I just wanted to get on with the next phase of my life, whether it was going to war or going home.
Being unemployed makes me feel the same way.
It has been seven months since I left the U.S. Army after a four-year stint. I was confident that I could pick up where I left off as a former newspaper reporter, or continue to serve my country in a different manner. I’m single with no children or debt, so I felt at a fiscal advantage to take such a leap.
But I’ve lost count of how many résumés I’ve sent with no replies or the number of times I have gotten my hopes up with a call back, only to be let down.
My first sergeant warned me it was a tough time to give up the job security the military offers, and my company commander asked if I had plans before I got out. I stubbornly wrote off their concerns as a last-ditch effort to get me to re-enlist, but now I realize that both were looking out for my best interests, just like they would have looked out for their soldiers in the battlefield.
Unlike many of my recently separated Army buddies, I am not able to take advantage of the post-9/11 GI Bill and weather out the recession learning valuable skills in school. I graduated from college before enlisting in the Army and took advantage of its College Loan Repayment program. Instead, I join the company of my other brothers- and sisters-in-arms who make up the 11.3 percent of jobless Iraq and Afghanistan war veterans. That’s compared with the 9.7 percent unemployed among the general population – itself a 26-year high.
There are 185,000 unemployed Iraq and Afghanistan war veterans, only 9,000 fewer than the number of service members currently deployed overseas, according to a recent article in Army Times.
In a period where such a small percentage of the general population has overwhelmingly shouldered its country’s sacrifice in a time of need, more must be done to help veterans re-adjust into the civilian workforce.
The government bailed out failed banks and automotive companies, yet veterans received little help in the economic stimulus bill passed earlier this year, other than the expanded work opportunity tax credit encouraging employers to hire unemployed veterans. All this comes at a time when the federal government needs to fill 270,000 positions in the next three years, according to a recent survey by the Partnership for Public Service.
The Army’s career transition program was very helpful in putting my military skills on paper, but I have found that marketing those skills to civilian employers is far more difficult. And although the veterans-hiring preference is a plus for federal jobs, networking is usually a more effective tool to get a foot in the door in the private sector.
I understand that it’s a tough market and that the veteran representatives at state workforce commissions are doing the best they can to help veterans find a job, but there has to be a more effective system to match employers with uniquely skilled and qualified veterans. My most recent job referral was for a sewage maintenance position, requiring frequent out-of-state travel and temporary lodging. I’m tired of “temporary housing,” and I have no experience with that kind of maintenance work. I passed on the referral.
Veterans are a proud group. We are not asking our government for a handout, just a helping hand.
Ramiro G. Hinojosa of Dallas is a former paratrooper and a veteran of Operation Iraqi Freedom. His e-mail address is ramiroghinojosa@hotmail.com.
Popularity: 25% [?]
Combat vets having tough time in job market
Sep 14th
Posted : Saturday Sep 12, 2009 16:16:34 EDT
The unemployment rate for Iraq and Afghanistan veterans is 21 percent higher than the rate for all Americans, a sign of trouble for newly separated or retired service members looking for work in a tight job market.
A Labor Department report shows an unemployment rate of 11.3 percent for Iraq and Afghanistan veterans in July, up from 5.9 percent one year ago and well above the 9.7 percent overall U.S. unemployment rate — itself the highest in 26 years.
To put that in another perspective, the number of out-of-work but job-seeking Iraq and Afghanistan veterans is at 185,000 — just 9,000 fewer than the number of troops deployed to those two combat operations, said Justin Brown of Veterans of Foreign Wars.
Brown said he is unsure why the jobless rate has jumped for recent combat veterans, but he said separating service members may find it especially difficult to get work in a job market that has few openings and a lot of competition.
“A 22-year-old getting out of the service right now has networks of friends and family who are not employment networks,” Brown said. “The primary way they are finding jobs are those listed in the paper or on the Web, and those are the hardest jobs to get because that’s where there is the most competition.”
Discrimination against veterans does not appear to be an issue, Brown said.
“I have seen nothing or heard nothing that would indicate employers are unwilling to hire veterans,” he said.
The government can and should be doing more to help, Brown said, by strengthening transition classes for separating and retiring service members to give them better job-hunting skills and by ensuring veterans have a fighting chance to get new jobs created by federal tax dollars.
Because the stimulus package granted money directly to states, some rules for federally funded
projects that would have helped veterans do not apply, such as certain preferential hiring rules and requirements to ensure veterans employment services are notified of openings.
Brown noted that Sen. Bernard Sanders, I-Vt., tried without success to get veterans preferences added to the stimulus package.
Popularity: 15% [?]
Unemployed Iraq and Afghanistan veterans at all-time high.
Sep 4th
America’s heroes return home to fight another war on unemployment and poverty.
By Justin Brown
Bureau of Labor and Statistics unemployment data for August shows an increase to 9.7% unemployment for the general population, a slight drop in the overall veterans population, and a dramatic increase in the number of unemployed veterans of Iraq and Afghanistan. In fact, the number is at an all time high of 185,000 unemployed at 11.3%. There are only 9,000 more servicemembers serving in both Iraq and Afghanistan then there are unemployed Iraq and Afghanistan veterans in the streets of the United States.
The economic stimulus offered little to veterans with the exception of a small tax break for recently separated servicemembers that was championed by Virginia’s Representative Glenn Nye. Much of the stimulus spending in fact circumvented federal veteran laws by giving federal money to states in the form of state grants, particularly for transportation projects. Senator Bernie Sander’s (VT) attempted to introduce legislation that would have stipulated states acceptance of federal employment and small business laws regarding veterans but was rebuked for fear it would “slow the stimulus down.”
Please contact your members of Congress and ask them to prioritize our veterans returning home to the toughest economic situation in our lifetime. Our brothers and sisters should not be returning home to unemployment particularly at a time our Congress, and our President, agreed to pass a stimulus that would provide 3-3.5 million jobs.
I am asking for 185,000 of those jobs—for our men and women who deserve them most.
Popularity: 32% [?]
Virginia awards $500,000 in stimulus funds
Jul 30th
The Virginia Department of Rehabilitation Services has awarded $500,000 in stimulus 
funds to 12 employment services organizations, Gov. Timothy Kaine announced Wednesday.
The funds are for projects designed to increase employment opportunities for Virginians with disabilities.
SOC Enterprises in Arlington won $50,000 to provide employment assistance and job placement to veterans with service-related disabilities. Falls Church-based PRS Inc. received $25,723 for a training and placement program for young adults with Autism Spectrum Disorders in Loudoun County.
The DRH received a total of 34 grant proposals worth $1.3 million.
Kaine said the recovery funding will create more than 200 jobs in Virginia for people with disabilities.
“People with disabilities have always faced a high unemployment rate compared to those without disabilities, but this economic downturn has created an even larger gap as people with disabilities struggle to compete in this tight labor market,” he said.
Other recipients included Rappahannock Goodwill Industries in Fredericksburg, Chesapeake Services Systems Inc. in Chesapeake and ARC Industrial Services in Richmond.
Washington Business Journal – by Sarah Krouse Staff Reporter
Popularity: 12% [?]
Virginia Veteran Seeks Veteran Jedi’s
Jul 13th
Virginia Veteran Making Moves for the Future
Dear friends and colleagues I am writing you today to notify you that the Virginia Veteran is seeking skilled veteran Jedi’s, or those proficient in veteran karate. We have not been around for long and consider ourselves mildly successful in that we do have a small following, mostly ourselves, love veterans, and want to deliver a quality product that is both beneficial to veterans of Virginia and the nation. In order to make these changes and take it to the next level we are looking for:
- Additional writers, we do not require you to be a veteran so long as you have Jedi skills and bring veteran knowledge and abilities—sorry this is not an entry veteran Padawan position.
- A Veteran News Ninja, we are looking for a willing soul to update our site in real-time with the best of the best information of importance to both veterans in Virginia, the nation, and any other disturbing trends or stories of interest.
- A cyber commando, we are looking for he who has mastered the force of the cyber world and is extraordinarily and inordinately the man/woman. HTML, Linux, and all of the other things that leave me extraordinarily angry, upset, and feeling limited are required. If you have not seen daylight in a week, live on food that you buy at 7-11 at midnight, and talk to the majority of your friends via your computer—having not ever really met them—you are the woman/man we want. Or if you lack all of these qualities and are still the man/woman we might find that acceptable.
- Outreach Messiahs, we are looking for any veterans that believe they have solid networks that can help us bridge relationships with businesses interested in hiring our contingent of unemployed brothers and sisters. If this is you, we need you!
- Additional Obi-Wans, if you think you have any veteran specific kung-fu we want you!
Of greatest importance these are all paid positions. On occasion we will get together and I will buy beer, with an option of cool-aid, for our Jedi roundtables across the great state of Virginia. Sadly, considering the budget is my wallet I cannot offer more. We are truly looking to build one of the best resources/networks available to veterans and I would hope you would be interested in being a part of that for your brothers and sisters. Thank you for your interest and please email me with any serious inquiries at vavet@live.com or shoot an email to me on facebook.
The Force is Calling, Please Answer the Call!
-Justin
Popularity: 6% [?]
Nye Bill Seeks to Keep Veterans in their Homes
Jun 30th
From the Office of Representative Nye
06/30/09
Washington, DC – Veterans on the brink of homelessness may soon have a new source of support, if a bipartisan bill introduced by Congressman Glenn Nye (D-VA) becomes law.
The Nye-Hunter Veterans Homelessness Prevention Act (H.R. 3073), introduced jointly by Congressman Glenn Nye and Congressman Duncan Hunter (R-CA) is a new approach to combating homelessness among veterans. Unlike traditional programs which primarily assist veterans who are already homeless or impoverished, the program would offer assistance to prevent veterans from losing their homes.
“With today’s tough economy, some veterans are just a paycheck or two from losing their homes. Instead of waiting for them to lose their homes before giving them a hand up, I want to prevent veterans from becoming homeless in the first place,” said Congressman Glenn Nye, who serves on the House Veterans Affairs Committee and the House Armed Services Committee. “This bill will help bridge the gap for veterans who are struggling and give them the chance to get back on their feet.”
Nye announced the bill last Saturday during a visit to VetsHouse, Inc. in Virginia Beach, a shelter that provides food, clothing, housing, and other assistance to homeless veterans in Hampton Roads.
The bill would authorize a program in the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to provide short-term assistance to veterans in danger of losing their homes. Veterans who demonstrate that they are on the verge of losing their homes due to an inability to make mortgage or rent payments would be eligible to apply for support.
Payments would be made on behalf of the veteran to the landlord, mortgage company, or utility company for up to three months. Veterans would also be provided with support services to prevent future homelessness, which may include job training, mental health and substance abuse treatment.
Popularity: 9% [?]
VCU Receives Grant to Aid Veterans
Jun 30th
Published: June 30, 2009
Virginia Commonwealth University has received $424,800 from the U.S. Department of Labor to provide job training to veterans.
The grant was among 98 totaling more than $25 million announced yesterday. The money will be used to provide job training to about 15,000 veterans nationwide under the U.S. Department of Labor’s Homeless Veterans Reintegration Program.
This is the third year VCU has received grant money for the program. — Karin Kapsidelis
Popularity: 9% [?]
Representative Nye to host Veterans job fair Tomorrow in Norfolk
Jun 26th
First Annual Hampton Roads Veterans Job Fair
07/02/09
First Annual Hampton Roads Veterans Job Fair
On Thursday, July 2nd, 2009 Congressman Glenn Nye will host his first annual Hampton Roads Veterans’ Job Fair at VFW Post 4809 in Norfolk.
The fair is intended to bring together employers in Hampton Roads with local veterans who have valuable skills and training from their military service.
The fair will feature:
- Twenty local employers, including the public and private sector, as well as staffing firms.
- Résumé counseling and interview training sessions
- Up to several hundred local veterans with valuable skills and training from their service in the military, and
- The world premiere screening of a new episode from the In Their Boots documentary series. The episode “Vets for Hire,” focuses on the stories of three veterans battling to find work after returning home from Iraq and Afghanistan. Congressman Nye was interviewed for the program, discussing his Veterans Business Center legislation, which recently passed the House of Representatives.
- A panel discussion of veterans employment issues with the producers of In Their Boots, representatives of the Veterans of Foreign Wars, and Congressman Glenn Nye.
The fair will take place on Thursday, July 2nd, 2009 from 12:00 noon until 5:00 PM at Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 4809 at 5728 Bartee Street, Norfolk, VA 23502.
For more information, call 757-326-6201
Also, I will be in attendance on behalf of the VFW. Hope to meet you there.
-Justin
Popularity: 11% [?]
The Stick it to Veterans Stimulus
Jun 19th
How America’s veterans are getting short changed by the economic stimulus
A quick reading of the economic stimulus quickly reveals a lack of interest in stimulation for America’s veterans. As of May, there are more unemployed veterans then we have had in decades. To be exact there are 1,045,000 unemployed veterans across the United States. Of those, 180,000 are OEF/OIF veterans.
What does that mean? Well, there are more unemployed Iraq and Afghanistan veterans then there are men and women serving in those wars. One would think that with America’s heroes returning home from war to fight another on unemployment, our nation’s lawmakers would go full hog to help them out. Not really. So what did veterans gain from the stimulus.
A $250.00 windfall–Don’t spend it all it once.
and
In fairness, the only decent provision veterans did receive was provided by freshman Virginia Representative Glenn Nye, which provides a tax break for employers that hire recently separated servicemembers.
So where are we getting shortchanged?
In reading today’s Washington Post metro section I was disappointed to say the least.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/06/16/AR2009061603086.html
Two events are about to occur simultaneously. First, the State of Virginia is about to start issuing contracts for stimulus related projects. Once these companies receive these contracts they will start to employ individuals.
This my friends is where veterans receive the shaft. Currently, there are no Virginia specific laws that require companies receiving contracts to do anything for veterans, nor are there any requirements for these companies to do anything for veterans’ employment. But there are requirements for contractors receiving federal contracts. Additionally, 3 percent of all federal contracts are supposed to be awarded to small disabled veteran owned businesses (SDVOSB’s). But wait, isn’t stimulus money federal money? It would seem that these same requirements should apply to this grant money.
Thanks for asking but—No!
Indeed, so our federal tax dollars that otherwise would provide employment and contract opportunities for veterans are being bypassed in the stimulus! Since stimulus funds are technically state grants, the states are not required to adhere to the federal veteran requirements even though the money is federal.
When approached for a fix many of our legislators turned their back/ear/leg in fear it would slow the rate of recovery—no worries over the skyrocketing unemployment numbers of veterans, particularly recently separated servicemembers.
In conclusion, Virginia lawmakers need to stipulate that all companies receiving stimulus dollars have a veteran employment preference for those projects. Also, 3 percent of all Virginia contracts and sub-contracts being funded by federal stimulus money ought to be set-aside for small disabled veteran owned businesses from Virginia.
Anything less is sticking it to Virginia Veterans!
Popularity: 6% [?]
