Vets/Military Resources
The unemployment news and headlines stand as daily reminders of one of the economy’s greatest challenge. And yet one group of Americans are unemployed today at a rate three times that of the national average. Who are they? Ex-cons? High School Dropouts? Heroin Addicts? Guess again – they are men and women, honorably discharged, from The US Armed Forces.

The statistics are clear and the results are potentially devastating, not only to the soldiers in question, but to every American who relies upon the protection of a volunteer Armed Force. Not only are the unemployment rates for RSS (Recently Separated Servicemen) at or over 20%, perhaps more shocking is the higher percentage of RSS who wind up with a job whose wages are under the poverty line. We’re breaking a fundamental promise to the men and women who serve this country, and if we don’t fix it, we’re going to have more than a big problem.

A shortage of tradesmen is bad. A shortage of soldiers is worse.

Good Numbers for Vets

From the outbox of Meyer’s inbox:

Hire a vet. Big fan of that. Looks like I’m/we’re not the only ones: According to the new stats the overall unemployment rate for veterans dropped a very nice 6% over the last year. That’s a marked improvement but there is still a ways to go. In an effort to keep this trend going, President Obama is getting out in front of a new conservation program that will put veterans at the head of the role call list. If you’re a vet and have found a new gig, let us know! We like those stories a lot!

VETERAN UNEMPLOYMENT RATE FALLS AS OBAMA ANNOUNCES NEW JOB PROGRAM

From the AP – WASHINGTON — In an effort to cut the unemployment rate among veterans, President Barack Obama is calling for a new conservation program that would put veterans to work rebuilding trails, roads and levees on public lands. Read More...

Help from Vets4Warriors Spreads Across the US

From the outbox of Meyer’s inbox:

The prevailing wisdom around getting help for emotional issues is to seek out those peers who have been there. This philosophy applies to a broad range of support groups, crisis hotlines and various forms of therapy. Now, a special group called Vets4Warriors is taking the good work they’ve done for returning vets in New Jersey and spreading that support in all 50 states. The need for this kind of assistance can’t be understated. Hats off to Vets4Warriors for all the good work they do.

NEW JERSEY HELP LINE FOR TROOPS EXPANDS TO NATIONWIDE PROGRAM

By James Dao

A peer-group counseling program that has proven successful in New Jersey is being expanded for reservists and National Guard troops nationwide, in part to help stem the continuing problem of suicides within the military, the Pentagon announced this week. Read More...