Three years ago, I got an email from an Iraq veteran from Arlington, Virginia named Joe Tryon. His wife, Melissa, also a disabled combat veteran, was undergoing treatment at Walter Reed. Joe and Melissa are one of the more than 115,000 dual-military couples today. Together, they faced countless bureaucratic hurdles and endless red tape as they fought to get Melissa the care she had earned.
Today, Joe is facing a new fight: finding a job. For the last 14 months, this West Point graduate and Army Ranger has been unemployed. With his wife 100% disabled and unable to work, they are scraping by solely on savings and disability income.
In addition to graduating from one of the top schools anywhere, Joe also holds an MBA in health care administration. He was an officer in the Army for 6 years until he was injured and medically separated from the military. In Iraq, he was platoon leader and later an executive officer in an Anti-Tank company with the 101st Airborne Division. And now he’s hoping to get a job doing veterans advocacy work.
Despite his superior qualifications and a good attitude, Joe is still jobless; and he’s just one of the hundreds of thousands of unemployed Iraq and Afghanistan veterans relying on savings and unemployment checks nationwide. Last month, unemployment among Iraq and Afghanistan-era vets was an astounding 14.7%.
Joe said, “In the military, I was on a good career path, and was developing invaluable leadership skills that I thought would translate to a productive and rewarding professional career. Although I strongly believe any combat leadership outweighs any boardroom experience, again and again I have found this not to be true. I know that me and my veteran peers have far more to offer than what can be expressed on two-dimensional paper and I hope civilian employers can soon recognize that too.”
This week as Joe continued his job search, he spoke for veterans nationwide by standing on the Senate lawn to discuss the broader issue of veteran unemployment with some members of Congress who have been paying attention. Senators Murray, Begich and Klobuchar introduced bi-partisan legislation (a rare feat these days) to address the veteran unemployment crisis. For Joe and his fellow veterans, who are coming home from combat to one of the worst economies since the Great Depression, this news could finally mean some relief.
Some folks in the corporate sector are stepping up too. We’ve partnered with Microsoft on a historic jobs initiative that could impact thousands of new veterans and their families. And in the coming months, we hope to see even more support from corporate America on this issue.
At IAVA, we’re also doing our part to take on that unemployment number, one job at a time. To quote the old Marine Corps advertisement, we’re looking for a few good men (and women).
Finding jobs for vets may not be as headline-stealing as financial reform or nominees to the high court. But it’s an issue that impacts every sector of our country—from the economy to national security. And we can all do our part. If you’re a business owner, consider hiring a veteran. And as the cover of Fortune Magazine recently highlighted, they make great employees. Believe me, I know from personal experience.
Every American, employer or not, can educate themselves on to the value of serving in the military and what type of skills veterans bring to the table. And, you can tell your representative in Congress that you want them to take action on this issue and help pass a jobs relief bill for Iraq and Afghanistan veterans now.
So, if you’re looking to hire some folks who are exceptionally disciplined, tough, dynamic, smart and ready, give me a call. I’ve got about a few thousand leaders like Joe Tryon who are ready to go.
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If I could though, I would also find nothing but scorn and sleepless nights for the military and civilian leaders that sometimes used them so poorly, or for sometimes dishonorable missions. It takes very cynical leadership working AGAINST the best interests of OUR country to want perpetual occupations and to create perpetual enemies, at the expense of OUR military readiness, for years to come.
This is a great call to action on behalf of OUR brothers, sisters, moms, dads and children in uniform. Thank you, as always, sir.
I detect some DISCRIMINATION HERE :(
Ten bucks a month from every service family and individual a month would invest in America and would give this force the power to help threw politics and economics.
Instead of hire those who have served we can have the economic power to make the jobs, training and support that now lacks. You once choose to serve. Your family was with you, you and they are a force that can lead this nation. Here is a road map for you, them and America.
the iraq and afganistan war have gone on long enough only because of the big government socialistic military. if we used a free enterprise military. sent it out for bid with specific objectives and a time line the war would have been over years ago.
"a lie repeated often enough becomes the truth"
glenn beck
information czar fox news
the view 5/20/09
"when the truth is found to be lies"
jefferson airplane
Would someone explain to me why a retired Lieutenant Colonel with 15 + years in Command and Control/Operations and much of the rest in Emergency Management can not get a job?
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R/ PRONESE
In what perverse alternate reality separated from that common cause and sense do we now live? If you dispute the veracity of the cause of war, it in no way tarnishes the honor of the persons who were sworn to do as their country bid them do. To do as asked, when in a political fortnight the cause for which you fight becomes less compelling, is nevertheless what was asked when undertaken. They were not fickle in their duty, politicians were.
Don't require the vets of Afghanistan/Iraq to bear the wrath of political winds as did their forbearers in Vietnam. I knew too many of that earlier conflict that were cast aside, to remain silent while their children and grand children are served the same portion of baseless blame. Condemnation is for those that sent them, not those that went.
Any employer that finds his bottom line too precious to risk on employment of a vet is a coward unworthy by any measure of sacrifice of the men and women he would now scorn. They fought for you as asked, now step up for them.
And, no, the illegals are not only taking the lower-paying jobs, they also work in construction and other areas where the pay is above average. If Ike could do it then, it can be done now.
In 2009, Exxon-Mobile reported making a $37.3 Billion profit.
How much did it pay in federal income taxes? $0.00 (zero dollars).
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=389x8187415
I guess what I am saying is that soldiers all made a conscious decision to enter their profession and must live with the consequences of that decision just like the rest of us. Perhaps they should all get jobs with Blackwater or other mercenary organizations.
The BLS statistics are governmental statistics. Governmental statistics have been wrong before.