Much of the focus on helping servicemember find jobs after leaving the military has been placed on connecting them to potential employment opportunities. However, there's much more to the job search than that, as veterans also need to sell their skills, and Google recently held a workshop in Washington, D.C. to provide tips on how to do just that, Stars and Stripes reports.
The recent event, known as "Help a Hero Get Hired," welcomed 20 veterans and offered them assistance on everything from resume building to how to appeal to civilian employers. Among those who were there to lend a hand was Harry Wingo, a former Navy SEAL and current employee for Google. He says vets looking for jobs should focus on quantifying their achievements.
"Use numbers," Wing told the news source. "[Say] 'I improved things this percent' or 'these are how many personnel I worked with,' 'this is the dollar value of some of the equipment that I used.' That translates. Numbers are the language of business."
Programs such as "Help a Hero Get Hired" seem to have been working. May statistics from the Department of Labor revealed the unemployment rate among post-9/11 vets dropped to 7.3 percent.
Many troops make a point to enroll in college after separating from service. And why wouldn't they? The Post-9/11 GI Bill offers considerable tuition assistance, and earning a degree can make it that much easier for them to find a civilian job. Yet, while there are undoubtedly advantages to going to school after the military, there are challenges that extend beyond payment. Older vets may not fit in with the students who came straight from high school, but many colleges are taking steps to accommodate the unique needs of their veteran students, according to Military Times.
Indiana sets an example
Veterans who have enrolled at Indiana University have many services at their disposal. In addition to traditional amenities such as assistance with financial aid and academic guidance, the school is also home to a Office of Veterans Support Services. The office gives students who have served overseas the chance to meet with classmates who have experienced the same thing.
"You have some students here who are 18, 19, who have never left the state of Indiana," Anthony Arnold, an Afghanistan vet, told the publication. "And their biggest concern is what they're wearing to the party Friday night. And then you have older students who have served in a war zone and fought in combat. And so their priorities are different."
Lessons to be learned
Indiana's legislature is in the process of approving a bill that would require schools to provide academic, career and financial counseling for veterans, and it's a move that states around the country should draw inspiration from. Already, some schools have taken steps to be more accommodating to veterans, a smart move especially as thousands of troops prepare to return home from Afghanistan. For instance, officials at Penn State University recently announced a plan that would provide servicemembers who have been honorably discharged with priority registration.
"They definitely deserve our gratitude, praise and admiration," said the school's president Rodney Erickson. "On a more practical note, our veteran students are tied to a set timeframe for degree completion, so this action provides them with the opportunity they need to gain an education."
Education important to vets
Servicemembers certainly are not letting their GI Bill benefits go to waste. According to statistics from the Department of Veterans Affairs, in 2012 an estimated 500,000 people made use of the GI Bill.
After leaving the military, many veterans may have a desire to continue their schooling at the collegiate level. If they do, career prospects and financial planning will likely be on their minds as they search for the right program.
What should come as welcome news to these individuals is that colleges and universities in Indiana will soon become more affordable to veterans, The Courier-Journal reported. Thanks to Act 177, which was recently passed by the state Senate, veterans who were honorably discharged, as well as active National Guard members from beyond Indiana's borders will be eligible for in-state tuition rates.
Not only is this a way to give back to the nation's veterans, but it will bring new talent to Indiana as well. Those who may never have considered pursuing a degree in Indiana could now make their way to the Hoosier State.
"They come here, get their degree, and then stay to join our workforce," Senator Jim Banks told the news source.
Of course, former servicemembers do not need to relocate to Indiana to receive help covering the costs of a college degree. Programs like the Post-9/11 GI Bill also provide financial assistance for education to individuals who have received an honorable discharge, according to the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs.
There's no denying that wounded warriors face a long list of challenges during recovery. Whether they're experiencing symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder or adapting to a new life with a disability, the transition is never easy, and veterans often have to find unique ways to meet these challenges. A growing number of wounded troops have turned to yoga and have found that it not only aids in their physical recovery, but also on the mental side of things, the Los Angeles Times reports.
This trend has been reflected in the fact that hospitals operated by the Department of Veterans Affairs have increasingly offered the practice as a supplement to traditional therapy. There's good reason why, as early studies suggest that the meditative aspect of yoga can help ease symptoms of PTSD. It's also an effective way to strengthen muscles and increase flexibility, all of which can help servicemembers who have suffered traumatic physical injuries.
"Yoga is something that our warriors will actively engage in: It's a challenge and it has readily evident results," Navy Capt. Robert Koffman told the newspaper particularly when patients adopt it as part of their lifestyle.
Alternative therapies could become increasingly important in the coming years. An estimated 20 percent of veterans from the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan experience symptoms of PTSD, according to the American Psychological Association.
Servicemembers are some of the most physically fit people in the world, so as the military looks for ways to combat unemployment, it should come as no surprise that many vets are looking to put their experience staying in shape to good use. The American Council on Exercise recently took steps to make this process a bit easier by announcing an initiative that will provide $1 million in scholarships to help veterans earn the certification they need to become personal trainers, according to Military Times.
Vets are a good fit
The effort by ACE will provide scholarships for as many as 1,000 servicemembers, who need to take a 10-week course to be certified. Earning recognition from ACE is seen as the gold standard in the personal trainer field, and there are often many positions available. ACE officials say that, aside from being in top physical condition, troops are a good fit for personal trainers largely because they are used to a similar lifestyle.
"Dedication and perseverance is also important, because working with people can be a little challenging," ACE chief Scott Goudeseune told Military Times. "People who have been to Afghanistan and Iraq have spent a large amount of time working with people to rebuild their lives, so in many ways these people are already qualified to help others rebuild their lives [through fitness]."
The latest effort
This new push by ACE to bring down unemployment among veterans is just one of many efforts dedicated to the same cause. There has been considerable success as of late, with the post-9/11 unemployment rate dipping to 7.3 percent in May – even below that of the national average. However, there is still much work to be done, especially as hundreds of thousands of troops are expected to separate form service in the coming years.
One of the most visible efforts is being championed by the White House. The Joining Forces initiative, which was created by first lady Michelle Obama more than two years ago, has seen some impressive success in its short existence. In that time, it has helped 290,000 servicemembers and military spouses find private sector jobs.
Many options available
Of course, troops separating from service have options outside of the Joining Forces initiative and the ACE. For instance, AFBA's Career Center, which helps connect servicemembers with private companies looking to hire new workers.
Congress and the White House are often at odds with one another, and it is no different when it comes to the proposed military budget. This was certainly the case recently when the House Armed Services Committee released its proposed 2014 budget. Although White House officials agreed on some of the bill's components, there are a number of areas they took issue with, including concerns surrounding veterans benefits and healthcare costs, Military.com reports.
TRICARE causes friction
The Pentagon has to cut hundreds of billions of dollars over the next decade, and an increase to TRICARE fees is one of the ways officials have proposed reducing spending. The new bill from the HSAC ran counter to urges from the DOD and the White House to implement a slight increase in the enrollment fees for TRICARE Prime, as well as implementing similar fees for TRICARE Standard/Extra and TRICARE for Life. In its response to the HSAC's bill, the White House said that while it recognizes veterans have earned these helpful health benefits, it's also important to take advantage of the substantial savings that exist.
"The projected fiscal year 2014 TRICARE savings of $902 million and $9.3 billion through FY 2018 are essential for DOD to successfully address rising personnel costs," White House officals wrote. "DOD needs these savings to balance and maintain investments for key defense priorities, especially amidst significant fiscal challenges posed by statutory spending caps."
Lower pay raises an issue
Increased TRICARE fees weren't the issue where government officials disagree. The Pentagon also floated the idea of lowering the annual pay raise active duty troops receive to 1 percent instead of the 1.8 percent that would put them in line with civilian pay. The White House says the original plan both recognizes the work of servicemembers while dealing with the reality of sequestration and budgetary concerns.
What lies ahead
It remains to be seen whether the HSAC's bill moves forward through Congress, but experts speculate that it would likely be vetoed should it reach the president's desk. Still, something needs to be done about healthcare costs. According to The Associated Press, military healthcare costs could hit $65 billion by 2017 and then reach $95 billion by 2030. In 2001, those figures stood at just $19 billion.
Transitioning from the military to civilian life can certainly be a challenge. Many servicemembers struggle with adjusting to the different lifestyle, but a new program from the Department of Defense aims to make it easier for troops to find employment opportunities, return to school or start a business, according to Military.com.
Known as Transition GPS, the program features several different components. For instance, the 5-Day Core Curriculum gives servicemembers the chance to sit in on classes focused on financial planning, what benefits are available to them and how to transition their skills to the civilian workforce. Additionally, the Pre-Separation Assessment and Individual Counseling component gives troops the chance to talk about their career goals and what they expect out of their transition.
The effort on behalf of the DOD may help make life after the military a bit easier for servicemembers. According to a 2011 study from Pew Research Center, approximately 44 percent of post-9/11 veterans had some difficulty re-entering civilian life.
Researchers also determined that there were a number of factors that made transition harder. Those who experience emotional or physical trauma during their service often encountered the greatest obstacles. Additionally, knowing someone who was killed or injured also had an impact.
Many servicemembers make use of the GI Bill to help them achieve their educational goals after leaving the military. In fact, nearly 500,000 people took advantage of this popular benefit in 2012, according to the Department of Veterans Affairs. Now, a new proposal is making its way through Congress that would help troops out even more, but it is meeting some pushback from schools. The two bills would require public universities to offer servicemembers and veterans in-state tuition, but critics claim that could cause a significant blow to the schools' revenue, according to Military Times.
Tuition changes have support
There are two bills that are causing issues. The first, the GI Bill Tuition Fairness Act, would require schools to reduce tuition rates for military students, while the other, the Veterans Education Equity Act, focuses on schools offering non-resident students resident tuition rates. So far, only the GI Bill Tuition Fairness Act has been approved by a congressional committee. Even still, any efforts to make it easier, and more affordable, for veterans and servicemembers to return to school have been applauded by advocacy groups, including the Veterans of Foreign Wars. They point to the fact that having to pay out-of-state rates often takes a significant toll on veterans' finances.
"This oversight forces veterans to either drop out or find other ways to pay for college through financial aid programs, full-time employment or amassing student loan debt even when they make a good faith effort to legally reside in a state and attend a public school," Ryan Gallucci of the VFW told the news source.
Not everyone's on board
Although the schools do not question the fact that troops deserve their well-earned education benefits, some of their criticisms stem from the fact that there isn't enough time to implement significant changes in their state laws. The biggest issues stem from the fact that the GI Bill Tuition Fairness Act requires states to change their laws by 2014. In testimony before the Senate, the American Association of State Colleges and Universities said that's simply not enough time.
A far reaching impact
Changes to the GI Bill could have an impact on a large number of troops in the near future. The U.S. is still on course to leave Afghanistan by the end of 2014, and the Army is looking to trim thousands of soldiers over the next several years.
As the economy continues to improve and a number of programs begin to take hold, the unemployment rate among post-9/11 veterans has been steadily dropping in recent months, and that trend continued in May. Recent data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics revealed that the unemployment rate among veterans of Iraq and Afghanistan fell to 7.3 percent last month, which may be an indication that the concerted effort to help vets find employment opportunities is paying off.
Significant progress
To truly appreciate how much the unemployment figures for young veterans have improved recently, the public need only look back one year. In May 2012, the unemployment rate for Iraq and Afghanistan vets sat at 12.3 percent. Ever since, that number has been steadily dropping, and although some critics suggest the sample size is too small to draw any substantial conclusions, the continued improvement suggests it's a long-standing trend. In fact, for veterans of all ages, the unemployment rate in May stood at about 6.6 percent – lower than the national average of 7.6 percent. Advocates are encouraged by the success, but say there's still more work to be done.
"This is an extremely positive step," Tom Tarantino, chief policy officer for Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America, told NBC News. "It's the result of a lot of hard work by a lot of people both in and out of the government. But this isn't the time to take our eye off the ball."
A collective effort
Bringing down the unemployment rate among the youngest veterans has been the result of collaboration between both private businesses and the government. At the center of the effort is the VOW to Hire Heroes Act, which made its way through Congress in 2011. The legislation included language geared toward making it easier for vets to find employment opportunities after separating from service. It aimed to expand education and training, improve transition assistance and help troops transfer the skills they learned in the service to the civilian world.
However, efforts to reduce unemployment weren't just limited to Congress. Servicemembers could also head to AFBA'S Career Center, which not only helps connect veterans with companies that are hiring but also offers assistance with networking and other important aspects of the job search.
After more than a decade of war, it's become readily apparent that post-traumatic stress disorder is one of the most pressing issues facing servicemembers upon their return home from the battlefield. An estimated 20 percent of veterans of Iraq and Afghanistan experience PTSD symptoms, and it can have a far-reaching impact on everything from their personal lives to their physical health, but new research suggests it may be preventable. Scientists from Emory University believe they have developed a drug that could alleviate many of the common symptoms associated with the disorder, according to the Los Angeles Times.
Mice hold the key
The findings are based on an extensive analysis of mice that had been subjected to a traumatic experience. Afterward, researchers administered a drug targeted at the receptors in the brain that respond to fear. The team found that mice who had been treated with the drug, which focused on a gene known as OPRL1, experienced less fear once they underwent a similar traumatic experience. Interestingly, researchers found that humans with a specific kind of OPRL1 also exhibited symptoms of PTSD. Experts hope that targeting this gene could provide a breakthrough in treating the condition.
Some experts are critical
Although some are hailing the findings as a success, others are not quite as convinced. Specifically, there are concerns surrounding what impact targeting the fear centers of the brain could have on a soldier's safety. Some point to the fact that feelings of fear keep troops vigilant in some instances.
"Some of these responses are there to protect the body and mind," neuroscientist Rachel Yehuda told the TImes. "I am not sure that I would want a soldier in the field to go to combat without his fear response, because this might actually kill him."
A problem that needs addressing
The findings highlight the pressing need to understand and treat PTSD, and it's one that has received a considerable amount of attention in recent weeks and months. Earlier this year, President Barack Obama asked for an additional $235 million in his proposed budget to study mental health, according to ABC News. He also opened a conference earlier this week to address the issue, and help remove some of the stigma attached to mental illnesses.