Today on "Bring it On" I came across a link to a very interesting article. The article from Military.com, titled "Unemployment Rate Rises", states that the unemployment rate for soldiers between the ages of 20 - 24 coming out of the service is at 15%. The national average is approximately five percent. The article attributes the high unemployment rate partially to the fact that "most service members seriously injured in Iraq and Afghanistan are in the early stages of their military careers and possess limited transferable job skills or very little civilian work experience."
The article also states that veterans Affairs has just recently started a program called "Fulfilling the Commitment -- Coming Home to Work." I went to their website to get more info on the program, but unsuprisingly I couldn't find anything on it outside of their initial announcement that it had been formed. Perhaps someone with more time than me can find info on this program and send me more intel on it.
That said lets get to the bitching! That's right, I'm upset by the fact that veterans returning from the all holy War on Terror are in a pinch when it comes to finding a job. We truly live in strange times. We live in an era where everyone supports the troops no matter their stand on the war. I personally think it makes a really nice slogan that people can throw around which requires no action of themselves outside of a yellow ribbon attached to their car antenna. Yet, when it comes to helping these noble soldiers out what happens to the support??? Wait perhaps it is because they are no longer soldiers, they no longer receive the support. That seems to be the present way of things. Now I can here the conservatives and liberals alike already bashing me. The republicans are going to say that it's up to the individual to get a job, that the VA already offers plenty to the returning veteran. The liberals are going to stand up and start screaming that the conservatives control everything in DC so it is their fault that nothing is being done.
Well enough is enough already! It's time to stand up and do something on your own. My first question to why these veterans aren't finding jobs is what are they doing to find them? What kind of job skills do they have? Without knowing the individual it's hard to make a statement in favor or against. The second question is why aren't these businesses they are applying to not hiring them? Whatever happened to patriotism? Is it wrong to give a veteran a chance just because you want to be a good patriot? Or is the yellow ribbon and a strong supporting view of the war enough? See, overall I see America as weak when it comes to truly supporting something. We want to seem like good loyal people, but what it comes down to is money and chances. Why let patriotism blind you and hire that disabled veteran in a wheel chair when you can hire a perfectly healthy freshly graduated college student who chose himself over the greater good?
I wonder what really goes through the minds of the masses. That is directed world wide. I truly feel that the world is being ran by the chase for more money. It is a sad time we live in. I can only hope that I can find myself a community after I leave the Army that looks after and cares for one another. I had the semblance of that before I joined the Army, hopefully I will find it again.
The article also states that veterans Affairs has just recently started a program called "Fulfilling the Commitment -- Coming Home to Work." I went to their website to get more info on the program, but unsuprisingly I couldn't find anything on it outside of their initial announcement that it had been formed. Perhaps someone with more time than me can find info on this program and send me more intel on it.
That said lets get to the bitching! That's right, I'm upset by the fact that veterans returning from the all holy War on Terror are in a pinch when it comes to finding a job. We truly live in strange times. We live in an era where everyone supports the troops no matter their stand on the war. I personally think it makes a really nice slogan that people can throw around which requires no action of themselves outside of a yellow ribbon attached to their car antenna. Yet, when it comes to helping these noble soldiers out what happens to the support??? Wait perhaps it is because they are no longer soldiers, they no longer receive the support. That seems to be the present way of things. Now I can here the conservatives and liberals alike already bashing me. The republicans are going to say that it's up to the individual to get a job, that the VA already offers plenty to the returning veteran. The liberals are going to stand up and start screaming that the conservatives control everything in DC so it is their fault that nothing is being done.
Well enough is enough already! It's time to stand up and do something on your own. My first question to why these veterans aren't finding jobs is what are they doing to find them? What kind of job skills do they have? Without knowing the individual it's hard to make a statement in favor or against. The second question is why aren't these businesses they are applying to not hiring them? Whatever happened to patriotism? Is it wrong to give a veteran a chance just because you want to be a good patriot? Or is the yellow ribbon and a strong supporting view of the war enough? See, overall I see America as weak when it comes to truly supporting something. We want to seem like good loyal people, but what it comes down to is money and chances. Why let patriotism blind you and hire that disabled veteran in a wheel chair when you can hire a perfectly healthy freshly graduated college student who chose himself over the greater good?
I wonder what really goes through the minds of the masses. That is directed world wide. I truly feel that the world is being ran by the chase for more money. It is a sad time we live in. I can only hope that I can find myself a community after I leave the Army that looks after and cares for one another. I had the semblance of that before I joined the Army, hopefully I will find it again.
posted by L.J. Abershawe at 12:37
3 Comments:
Speaking as a disabled veteran, the facts you present in this are enough to really piss me off. I gotta agree with you that it is indeed a sad time we live in. As a former pawn in the game that is known as "Corporate America" I have seen way too many people overlooked.
Let me play the devils advocate for a second. Have you ever considered the proverbial "Big Picture" when it comes to hiring disabled veterans. First we all must overcome the problem of affirmative action. And let's face it, the disabled veteran will never find a spot on the quota list. Further, most big business has been taught to cover it's ass when it comes to the people they hire. While it might initially look patriotic to hire disabled veterans, it could lead to other issues down the road. For the sake of argument, let's assume this veteran turns out to be a "poor performer." How is this company ever going to get rid of them. Imagine you're the boss & you hear these words, "What's the public going to think when I call the media and tell them you fired me because I'm a disabled vet?" No doubt we have all heard the excuse, "They fired because I'm a woman!" Or, "They fired me because I'm black, hispanic...!" And, what about the additional loss of time that might be requested for future medical problems?
Having said that, the system is completely screwed up. The people who comprise our almighty government have the power to take action. When you consider the fact that a majority of college students receive some sort of federal financial assistance a resolution seems pretty obvious. There should be a system in place to cover the expenses to properly educate these returning warriors. For those who do not want to attend college, a vocational program should be an alternative. Legislation should be in place to protect these students while they are attending classes.
Finally, I've been out of the Army for 4 years & have yet to see a fucking dime of my disability $$$. In fact, my severance pay when I got was taxed...it should not have been. I was promised the money back for the IRS...need I say more! The VA is not a sufficient organization to prop up these heroes returning to the home-front. I will look into that program you mentioned a little further & get back to you.
Talk about being "Lost in The Sauce", the VA site is way behind. If you click on the Veterans Data Link, & open the statistics page you can see this ting hasn't been updated since 2002. No surprise that I still can't find shit on the "Fullfilling the Commitment" program. But, I'm still looking!
It's just like the Clinton Administration:
The announcement is the initiative.
Not only is there no follow-up, but nobody at the White House would even notice.
I am not kidding. Seriously.
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