Life after service can be a trying time for a veteran, especially if a former servicemember has trouble finding a job in a fickle labor market. However, veterans are in luck. There are a slew of organizations and citizens ready to help veterans make the shift back to civilian life. According to the Muskegon Chronicle, a job fair tailored to veterans attracted a large crowd, with an estimated 400 veterans flocking to the delve into job opportunities and resume-building at the fair in Muskegon.
Fertile job opportunities for veterans
"The companies that come here are serious," said recruiter Robert Wells, according to the news source. "They're willing to hire you even if it's outside of your field."
Wells' comments are emblematic of the fears of many that the current job market is only geared to employment seekers with a trade that brings with it significant prosperity, such as engineering. To dispel misconceptions about the job market, a key component of the fair is a workshop dedicated to assisting with job hunting techniques. This workshop also helps to burnish the resumes of veterans.
The options found in life after military may seem radically different for some veterans, but there are many skills a soldier gains that contribute to success in the job market. These include hierarchical organizational skills, work ethic and fortitude. As the job market becomes more and more competitive these skills will become even more invaluable then they are now.
Many institutions dedicated to helping veterans
There are also many organizations dedicated to helping veterans obtain success in the job market. According to The Des Moines Register, Wal-Mart has pioneered a program called "The Veterans Welcome Home Commitment" which ensures that a servicemember will have a job, provided they were honorably discharged from service, within a year. This clearly demonstrated Wal-Mart's commitment to helping veterans readjust to the cadences of civilian life, in the process bringing them the stability a job offers.
"Veterans bring invaluable skills including leadership, commitment and hard work, which make our workforce even stronger," Bill Simon, Wal-Mart U.S. president and CEO, told The Des Moines Register.
The source noted that this program has lead to the hiring of 42,000 veterans since it started in 2013. This is an impressive number, all the more when the economic situation of the U.S. is taken into account. The recession has impacted both civilian and military life, making a job hard to find. While military insurance is provided by the Veterans Administration, getting a job is still a necessity for a veteran. Therefore, Wal-Mart's program may have the potential to install many veterans in suitable positions throughout the U.S.
Veterans can also make transition to public service
Another option veterans have after life in the military is to work for the federal government. Feds Hire Vets has an excellent website that provides information on federal job opportunities for veterans. The website displays pages on essential forms of information a veteran will have to know when tracking down federal employment. These include an agency directory, veterans employee, hiring officials and a page that describes the mission of Feds Hire Vets. This website serves as a handy tool for a veterans trying to find a job.
Administration assists veterans in finding jobs
Another excellent resource for veterans looking for jobs is the Veterans Administration's website. This has a page specifically dedicated to putting a veteran in touch with various organizations, such as Feds Hire Vets and VA for Vets, that will help a veteran build a flourishing career.
With a the great resources at a veterans disposal, now is the perfect time to look for a job.
Military Spouse Appreciation Day provides a way to show solidarity and support to veterans returning from life after service. The Huffington Post listed various organizations devoted to assisting the spouses of soldiers and veterans – in the process helping soldiers with life in the military and veterans adjusting to civilian life.
Ways to help build solidarity within military families
With a warm and loving family, it's possible for people to have a long and happy life. These bonds are severely tested due to the nature of military life – frequent moves around the country, soldiers being sent to war overseas and spouses spending significant time alone while soldiers are training. Thankfully, there are many organizations that seek to alleviate the burden placed on military families.
The Huffington Post offers a comprehensive list of civic organizations that seek to assist military families. For example, the National Military Family Association is an organization that helps military families obtain military benefits.
The Veterans Administration is working tirelessly to ensure that service members who served in the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq are given equitable army benefits. However, this does not lessen the commitments of civil society to help impart the great resources veterans' families often need.
Ways citizens can help
Citizens can help philanthropic and civic organizations devoted to assisting veterans by donating money and volunteering. Organizations like the Wounded Warrior Project and Fisher House Foundation are merely a few organizations among many that are dedicated to helping soldiers, veterans and their spouses.
Appreciation Day is on Friday, May 9. The day of veneration has the firm approval of the President of the U.S., issuing a Department of Defense letter officially denoting May 9 as Military Spouse Appreciation Day. The letter suggested that the Obama administration will try to help veterans obtain education and career opportunities – making the chances that a veteran will have a successful time in life after military.
The president also conveyed the sentiments of many who fear that the opportunities for veterans after they leave the military are insufficient to provide a flourishing life. The letter spoke about the Joined Forces initiative pioneered by first lady Michelle Obama and Dr. Jill Biden, which seeks to bolster services for veterans and their families. Hopefully the many public and private institutions that are pushing for a greater focus on the families of veterans and soldiers produces tangible results that significantly help veterans.
Serving in the military is an often lauded career choice in the U.S. If you have been wondering how best to honor a veteran close to you, May is the perfect month to do so, as it is National Military Appreciation Month (NMAM), a time for veneration and celebration. Life after service presents interesting new opportunities for veterans – but it never hurts to have a special month dedicated to solidarity and support of the military community in the U.S.
Origins of National Military Appreciation Month
NMAM gained traction in 1999, when it was first championed as a serious cause. According to NMAM's official website, Sen. John McCain of Arizona and Sen. Duncan Hunter of Arizona helped foster legislation that eventuated in May being reserved for showing honor to veterans. The source noted that this cause has gained bi-partisan support – both houses of congress passed a measure officially making May National Military Appreciation Month.
"There is no inopportune time to thank a military member or veteran for their service and sacrifice," said Joe Davis, spokesman for the Veterans of Foreign Wars, according to Army Times.
Many facets of NMAM
The month in no way seeks to detract from habitual warm treatment of veterans – which helps to assist in the transition from life after military. Instead, the holiday designated for May seeks to deliver a firm reminder of the sacrifice of men and women overseas. NMAM.org noted that this also helps to serve as an educational reminder of the role of the military in the U.S. throughout the years.
The source suggested that learning about the role of the Continental Army in the American Revolution and other military events can help catalyze interest and respect for the military – a respect that the source believes has diminished over the years. In this vein, the source noted that encouraging educators to teach more military-related history is one of the goals of the appreciation month.
The site also noted more recent military references – such as the 38th Parallel and Normandy. Perhaps accounts of Allied troops storming Nazi-occupied France and General Douglas MacArthur's savvy military maneuver at the Inchon landing in the Korean War will whet the appetite of a generation of students who are unaware of these events.
Various ways to show support to veterans during celebration
The Huffington Post noted that there are numerous ways to show a veteran support – excellent news for individuals eager to participate in National Military Appreciation Month. The source suggested that an arduous aspect of soldiers lives is their spouses' experience in encountering the job market, which has not been the greatest since the 2008 recession.This is further exacerbated due to the fear among employers that military families may move swiftly, making a hire look unfeasible to employers.
"It's the inevitable question from potential employers: 'How did you end up in Hawaii?' I'm never quite comfortable answering this question, for one I feel it's a screening question to find out if I am a military spouse," said Melissa, a military spouse, according to The Huffington Post, "While my instinct is to be direct with a potential employer, there's a fear that being found out as a military spouse could hurt my chances of getting a job."
Therefore, a way to help soldiers and veterans during the May celebration may be to ensure that wives and husbands are able to obtain gainful employment. This, of course, will be hard to deliver, but the month will bring many opportunities. NMAM. org followed this sentiment, exhibiting the onus put on employees and employers when troops head to overseas locations. Regardless, consider doing something special for a veteran during NMAM.
Life after service opens up a bevy of options for returning veterans. Many soldiers are passionate about pursuing education in their years after the army, as this represents a great chance to gain an edge in a competitive job market. Understanding the education standards corresponding to veterans will help make post-service opportunities easily navigable, helping veterans flourish. Former servicemembers currently inhabit a small portion of undergraduate students, consisting of only 3 percent of students on campus. Therefore, many are eager to see army veterans seize the opportunities they are entitled to under the GI Bill, especially as the unemployment rate of veterans currently hovers around 9 percent. Pursuing education opportunities can help rectify this relatively high rate – and knowing options can dispel fears of what veterans may think the civilian world holds for them.
Veterans on campus- an eclectic variety of persons
According to the National Education Association, veterans on campus are an eclectic and diverse bunch, making uniform statements on veterans experience on campus difficult. Furthermore, 47 percent of veterans are married upon entering college, ensuring that their experience will differ vastly from a typical callow undergraduate. The source noted that fellow students should avoid asking offensive questions related to the war, as a civilian may think the battlefield is an acceptable topic for conversation, while a typical veteran will probably not want to dredge up the recent past. The source noted that this same principle applies to political statements related to the military, as they may prick the feelings of a nearby veteran. As thousands of soldiers have used the GI Bill to pursue an education, this a great point to keep in mind.
Ways veterans can integrate into campus life
According to Military.com, there are various ways a veteran on campus can get involved in campus activities, meeting friends and professors who share similar interests. The majority of veterans, about 47 percent, obtain a bachelor's degree, but smaller segments of veterans also pursue associate's and master's degrees. A veterans level of involvement will probably depend on time spent on campus, with the smallest level of involvement available through events like one day service trips, according to the source. If the veteran is satisfied with this, a move up to a semester-long commitment may be in order. An example of this could be joining a pep band if a veteran is a passionate instrumentalist, while an artistically inclined veteran can seek out local art galleries and attempt to make a mark. The source noted the innumerable ways to get involved – with Greek Life being another viable option.
Typical majors veterans pursue
CNN suggested a variety of jobs that are excellent for using the rigorous skills a veteran learned in the Military. Unsurprisingly, the source noted that law-enforcement is a common avenue that is pursued by soldiers in life after military. CNN noted that a security manager is suited to the particular set of skills needed to succeed in the military – such as hierarchy and coordination. Another option for military men and women is the lucrative field of analytics. According the source, a senior policy analyst helps craft policies that affect an entire company. For a veteran, who may have commanded entire army battalions during time in the military, this could present an easy shift. Making fast decisions can bring the fast paced and forthright life of a military policy maker to the equally competitive and ruthless business world, creating a civilian role that a veteran can flourish in.
This information can be a helpful primer for a returning veteran, allowing insightful decisions to be made regarding what to pursue in post-military-life.
Life after service can be a stressful time for veterans. The rhythms and cadences of civilian life are vastly different from the rigor of military life, which may require some mechanisms to cope with the stresses of daily life and the residual scars from the battlefield. Luckily, there are various ways for returning veterans to manage their stress, and some might be more surprising than others.
Ceramic art represents crafty way to manage stress
According to the Daily Sundial, arts therapy is an outlet for veterans who seek to vent pent-up stress. The source noted that a recent arts therapy workshop was run by a Marine Corp veteran, Thomas Dang, who also has a Master's in Fine Arts, which allows him to be supple in straddling the worlds of art and the more rigorous world of the military. The program garnered accolades from military men and women who participated in it, lending credence to the holistic benefits of certain kinds of arts and crafts.
Physicality is key in warding off anxiety
Military.com noted that an excellent way for veterans to diminish feelings of anxiety is to participate in physical sports. The source suggested that sports like jogging and tennis can be an excellent way to loosen feelings of anxiety. A more low-key sport such as golf may not be the best option here, however, as greater exertion will help create a more positive outlook on problems. Returning soldiers have to contend with various factors, such as obtaining army life insurance, that may create stress. Therefore, knowing what to do when stress sets in can be essential.
Yoga a viable resource in contending with stress
Yoga can also help veterans deal with feelings of stress. According to Reuters, many specialists have suggested that yoga can help diminish symptoms of post traumatic stress disorder.
"You want to feel comfortable with your instructor, especially if you're new to this – you want to know that they'll come around and help you align and feel comfortable with them doing that so you don't hurt yourself and also you have a more positive experience if you feel connected with the instructor," said Michelle Hamilton of the National Center for PTSD at the VA Boston Healthcare System, according to Reuters.
Hamilton's comments shed light on the necessity of veterans forming solidarity with instructors and others after military service. While this may be arduous, there are certainly benefits to be had in developing a closer relationship to a yoga instructor, working on establishing bonds and trust. The Veterans Administration Boston Healthcare system even cited a story in which a Vietnam veteran, who suffered from PTSD, was able to sleep better after he pursued yoga to help relieve stress. While no solution is a panacea, veterans may be sanguine about the benefits yoga presents.
Meditation helps veterans grapple with negative feelings
"All these practices are designed to foster a calm, non-judgmental awareness of your sensations and feelings," said Dr. Autumn Gallegos, a researcher at VA's Center of Excellence for Suicide Prevention, according to the Veterans Administration. "We call it Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction. The idea is to be present in the moment, to be fully aware and alive. And if you can do that, you can choose how you're going to respond to unpleasant events or memories. You become the captain of your own ship."
The source noted that meditation practices like mindfulness can help bring a veteran suffering from anxiety to feel more calm and tranquil, avoiding the deleterious effects of stress. Yoga often links up with this type of meditation, allowing a veteran to combine stress-releasing activities to help regain an inherent sense of placidness in oneself.
A veteran will probably have numerous interactions with organizations like the Veterans Administration and various philanthropic organizations in a lifetime. The latter includes such organizations as Wounded Warrior Stables, which donates cash that is derived from the winnings of horse races to veterans, according to Kentucky Derby.com. Wounded Warrior Stables is emblematic of the various ways altruism can permeate through numerous organizations, helping veterans in creative ways.
Uncle Sigh to wear purple heart in honor of troops
According to The Augusta Chronicle, George McEwen III is a long-time horse owner who decided two years ago to donate 10 percent of his winnings to veterans. This is excellent news for former servicemembers, news that is trebled due to the fast approaching Kentucky Derby on Saturday. The owner's horse in the race is named 'Uncle Sigh' and will wear a Purple Heart during the race to signify the owner's solidarity with veterans.
The Wounded Warrior Project is analogous to numerous civic organizations dedicated to benefiting veterans across the U.S. Other organizations in this vein include the Fallen Patriot Fund and Folds of Honor. Military benefits, of course, can be obtained through the Veterans Administration, but other services are often difficult to obtain for veterans. This accentuates the impact that private charity can have on the daily lives of veterans, helping facilitate easy adjustments to civilian life.
George McEwen's description of Wounded Warrior Stables Project
"It's not about me, it's about them, and getting them in the forefront of people's minds again because it's easy to forget we've been at war since 2001," said owner McEwen, according to The Augusta Chronicle. "It was then that I realized that I had to do more for people like that than buy a wristband or a T-shirt to support them."
McEwen's comments reflect a commitment to veterans services, which may lead many to zealously anticipate the outcome of Saturday's race. Owner McEwen has said that his decision to begin the Wounded Warrior Stables Project was precipitated by a procession for a wounded young soldier in North Carolina.
"That was the moment that changed everything for me," said McEwen, according to the Courier-Journal, "When you think about somebody who's been wounded in a war, you don't really think about their family members and how that entire dynamic is changed forever — all because they put their lives on the line to protect our freedom."
The race on Saturday promises to be exciting, as horse racing fans and military veterans alike passionately wait to see which thoroughbred will cross the finish line first.
Life after service displays large shifts for men and women who were in the armed services. Thankfully, there are sundry charities and civic groups that seek to help veterans readjust to civilian life. Recently, first lady Michelle Obama and Dr. Jill Biden announced that they are seeking to help veterans across the country – principally by promoting foundations and organizations in the U.S. whose stated goals are to give assistance to veterans. This charitable work can be a great complement to the work the Veteran's Administration does in helping returning soldiers track down army life insurance. Hopefully the first lady's passionate entreaty to provide more resources for veterans is both genuine and successful.
Obama calls for more resources for veterans in passionate opinion piece
In an opinion piece jointly written by the first lady and Dr. Biden in the Military Times, the two women called forcefully for more services to be available for veterans. The piece discussed the joyful occasion that a returning solider brings to many families – as veterans have been away from their families for extended periods of time, in overseas locations. The piece suggests that this is often seen as the terminus of a veteran's journey, while, according to the source, it is actually just the beginning.
Still work to be done after veterans return home
The two women noted the various difficult tasks inherent in civilian life, such as finding a well-paying job to provide for a family. Military benefits help with some of this, but, the source suggests that the onus of war mandates an intense response among civil society to bring veterans into a warm community.
"We cannot allow ourselves to forget their service to our country," said first lady Michelle Obama, as quoted by The Huffington Post, "We've got to show our military families that our country is there for them not just while they're in uniform but for the long haul."
Opinion piece emblematic of commitment to veterans
In line with Obama's rousing rhetoric, the opinion piece clearly shows that this will be backed up by a significant amount of capital. According to the piece, the Veterans Philanthropy exchange, a collection of charity organizations dedicated to helping veterans in life after military, have pledged 102 million dollars in just the next five years. This comes on top of previous multi-million dollar donations, accruing a viable charitable avenue for veterans to pursue.
"The Phoenix tragedy, Fort Hood shooting and the latest Pentagon suicide numbers all sadly underscore the urgent need for a sustained, national effort to ensure all our vets get the care and support they deserve," said Paul Rieckhoff, CEO of Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America, according to The Huffington Post, "This challenge is much more than the government can handle alone. These leading foundations have made a bold, visionary commitment."
Returning soldiers who may have heard about the first lady's initiative, but are unsure of how to track down military benefits, should peruse Military Times, and visit the websites of organizations like Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America to elicit further information on the many benefits available to veterans of the recent conflicts that the U.S. has been involved in.
The opinion piece concludes with a call to action, suggesting that complacency and apathy will be inimical to a process that requires the commitment and participation of citizens and philanthropists alike. The writers equate this commitment to helping show returning veterans the love that will help build dignity, an indispensable virtue to have when navigating the new environment of civilian life. Veterans should check out the information pertaining to this philanthropic initiative, as they will gain handy resources they may have been previously unapprised of.
Civilian life throws veterans back into the quotidian tasks of civilian life – concern over obtaining veterans benefits, getting a job and creating a warm and loving family. A New Jersey insurance company, Zufall Health, is seeking to ease this burden, by giving veterans the chance to obtain more affordable dental insurance. Veterans benefits are often harder to come by then most people expect, so the company's initiative could help give veterans the chance to obtain quality dental care.
Affordable dental clinic open to veterans
According to the Independent Press, Zufall Health is using its resources to bring a health van to a clinic at a Veterans center twice a month. This allows veterans a number of opportunities to obtain discount dental insurance per month, making the chances of festering cavities and other mouth-related problems easier to deal with. If caught early, these issues can be dealt with quickly, excellent news for returning soldiers concerned about what their veterans insurance covers.
"It was nearly 14 years ago that the Morris Freeholders joined with the Veterans Administration and Congressman Rodney Frelinghuysen to open our clinic, which greatly improved convenience and health care options for veterans in Morris, Sussex, and Warren Counties," said Freeholder John Krickus, according to the news source. "This program is a perfect complement to the services already provided, and we're really proud to join with Zufall so that our veterans can take advantage of all it offers."
Veterans residing in New Jersey who are interested in the program should check out Zufall Health Center's website, which provides information on the company's goals and resources. The site also provides a calendar that clearly shows where the dental van is slated to arrive. The month of May will bring the van to Morristown and Hackettstown, viable New Jersey locations that a resident veteran should travel to if interested in having a check up done.
Zufall's CEO welcomes initiative
"This initiative gives us a great opportunity to better serve our region's veterans population," said Eva Turbiner, Zufall's chief executive officer, according to the Independent Press. "We are indeed grateful for the county's collaboration and the cooperation of the Veterans Administration without which this would not have been possible."
The coordination of the Veterans Administration might make the process of obtaining dental care more efficient, allowing veterans to discover information on Zufall's initiative through a worker at the Veterans Administration. The New Jersey Veterans Administration has various links to sources for dental care, that will be a helpful complement to Zufall's dental van.
"This really completes the portfolio for needed health care, not only for veterans enrolled in the VA Health System, but for veterans who for various reasons are unable to participate," said Charles Jurgensen, Morris County veteran's service officer, according to the source, "Now, every veteran will have an opportunity for affordable dental care."
Hopefully Zufall's plan helps veterans obtain necessary dental care, further easing the adjustment back to civilian life.
Life after service represents a time of transition for numerous veterans looking to get back in the swing of civilian life. The recent grant that the U.S. Paralympics gave to returning veterans who are disabled in some way presents a great way for athletically oriented veterans to participate in visceral competition, helping to bring some of that famous military rigor to civilian life. According to Scuttlebutt Sailing News, the Olympic board will subsidize United States Sailing Association, Inc., to help disabled veterans tap into their seafaring side.
Enterprise gives veterans a chance to participate in sports
According to the source, the program pioneered by the U.S. Paralympics and the Veterans Administration helps provide grants ranging from $13,000 to $500,000 to local communities passionate about helping veterans with life after service.
It is truly an honor to be able to introduce the sport of sailing to wounded, ill and injured service men and women," said Betsy Alison, Paralympic coach for U.S. Sailing and the U.S. Sailing Team Sperry Top-Sider, the national sailing team, as quoted by the source. "US Sailing and the US Sailing Team Sperry Top-Sider are so pleased to be able to offer an experience which we hope will lead to ongoing pipeline programming for those with a physical disability and other accompanying injuries like TBIs (traumatic brain injuries) and PTSD (post traumatic stress disorder)."
Veterans Administration provides ample funds
The Chicago Tribune noted the visible extent of the Veterans Administration's involvement in supplying funds for local communities, as the administration has contributed $7.5M to numerous community organizations across the country. This could be a wonderful complement to essentials for veterans that the Administration provides, such as military life insurance. However, the Veterans Administration understands that sports can be a great way to further integrate a former service member in a community, so the funds help to serve a purpose that many civilians and veterans alike may see as noble.
"This funding has allowed thousands of veterans and service members with physical disabilities to participate in Paralympic sport at the community level," Charlie Huebner, chief of Paralympics, USOC, told the Chicago Tribune. "Through the leadership at Veterans Affairs and within Congress, these funds have a tremendous impact on the availability of programs across the country, not to mention thousands of lives."
Military benefits comprise a vast swathe of necessities for veterans – and the addition of Paralympics offers the chance for disabled veterans to display their prowess on the athletic field, helping build avenues for recreation and community.
'Miss Saigon' is a play that features a plot derived from the famous dark themes of "Madame Butterfly," which featured a Vietnam veteran who returns to Saigon to a former lover. According to The Observer, a local New York Paper, Miss Saigon is coming to the Center for Performing Arts in Rhinebeck in May. Returning veterans should considering checking out the play, given that the actors consulted veterans of the Vietnam War to make their roles authentic, full of the realism of the '60s and '70s conflict.
Actors consult veterans to establish realism
"Hearing the first-hand accounts of the war from the vets … was very inspiring and moving, to say the least," said actor Jarek Zabczynsk, according to the source. "As an actor, it makes a role like this feel all that more real when you hear from people who have actually experienced some of what you are trying to portray. It reminds you that this isn't all fantasy, some of these things really happened."
The source noted that some of the actors in the cast had experience contending with post traumatic stress disorder, which may have given insight into the psychological makeup needed to represent a convincing portrait of life for a distraught Vietnam veteran. Former service members who have settled in Rhinebeck for life after service may be interested to see if the play can persuasively show an authentic portrayal of the war.
High School solicits similar advice for play
'Miss Saigon' was also performed in March by Union High School students in New Jersey, according to NJ.com. Like the play being performed next month in New York, the high school actors benefited from the counsel of Vietnam War veterans.
"This whole experience has made me realize the importance of the veterans past, present and future. I will never forget the moment they presented us with the 'Endless Wall' for as long as I live," said high school student Jonathan Duvelson. "The 'Endless Wall' will go on display in the theater room for the cast and those future theatre students to remember the commitment soldiers then and now continue to make."
Life after military, especially for veterans of the Vietnam War, has been an arduous experience. The dedication of actors across the country – seeking to produce a play that is faithful to an honest depiction of life in Indochina during the conflict may pique the interest of former solders. Regardless, whatever your status, civilian or military, get down to New York for 'Miss Saigon.'