Iraq and Afghanistan veterans want to know where the jobs are

When people ran for office last year, there was a lot of talk about what the American people wanted but most of us were stunned. We were not sure what "people" they were talking about since we were out of work. We heard a lot about the tax discounts for the wealthy when they claimed this special minority group were the "job creators" but they didn't seem to make any jobs for us as the unemployment rate went up. As bad as it was for families of veterans along with everyone else in the country, young men and women were coming back from Iraq and Afghanistan, after doing their jobs for the country, without a job back in the country. Not good news but what was worse is the fact that no one in congress has done a damn thing all year to change this situation. There has not been one jobs bill out of this congress. It's been all about defending the tax discounts for the rich and cutting everything else the rest of us need.

Now, we've all heard from the Tea Party whining about taxes but since when does a minority of voters become so powerful they can take away everything from the rest of us while supporting the wealthy? Any clue? Do you know why the media gave them that power? Has anyone in the media asked them where all of this attention to the deficit was during the time when the GOP run congress was writing blank checks to fund what they wanted and drove the deficit up? What about the money missing in Iraq? What about the fact there were two wars going on back then and not in the budget?

That's part of the problem with all of this insanity going on. This congress has not been serious about anything other than bending to the Tea Party's will even if it meant cutting what we owe the troops and our veterans. They just don't care. Congress is on vacation getting paid but Iraq and Afghanistan veterans are coming home on extended vacations with no jobs because congress didn't do theirs.

Jobless vet: It was easier in Iraq than at home
By Bill Whitaker

(CBS News) The unemployment rate has been around nine percent for almost two years, but it is surprising to see that unemployment for Iraq and Afghanistan veterans is nearly triple that.

Twenty-six percent of vets between the ages of 18-24 are out of work. CBS News correspondent Bill Whitaker takes a look at two veterans struggling to find a job.

In Iraq, the Oregon National Guard's 41st Infantry Brigade combat team provided security for convoys day and night -- a dangerous job.

From July 2009 to March 2010, convoys were routine for gunners Lawrence Burnham and Stephanie Anderson. Both good soldiers, they risked their lives and did their jobs. They dreamed of returning home to routine civilian jobs, as Stephanie said in this video resume posted from Iraq:

"I just love to work and I love to get the job done."

Lawrence Burnham made a video too: "I'm motivated and I'll be ready to work."

They returned home to Oregon as heroes. But more than a year later, they're feeling nearly defeated. Lawrence can't find a job, is running out of savings, almost running out of hope.

"It's very frustrating," said Burnham. "It's almost like you get to the point of 'What's the point?' 'What's the point in even looking for a job?' I'm not going to find one."
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It was easier in Iraq than at home

At least President Obama is trying to do something but I'm sure the Tea Party folks will complain about all of this too.

Obama to unveil jobs push for veterans
By Alexander Mooney, CNN White House Producer
August 5, 2011 4:43 a.m. EDT

STORY HIGHLIGHTS
The initiative aims to help former members of the military find private sector jobs,
It is part of a renewed job creation effort that focuses on unemployed veterans
The president is expected to lay out a series of reforms that his administration is pledging
It includes a "Returning Heroes and Wounded Warrior Tax Credit"

(CNN) -- President Barack Obama will outline a new initiative Friday that aims to help former members of the military find private sector jobs, part of a renewed job creation effort focusing on unemployed veterans.

In a speech at the Washington Navy Yard, the president is expected to lay out a series of reforms that his administration is pledging will better prepare service members for the civilian work force and encourage employers to hire recent veterans.

Among the president's proposals will be a "Returning Heroes and Wounded Warrior Tax Credit," which would provide businesses that hire veterans a tax break, varying in size depending on how long the newly-hired veteran has been unemployed and whether he or she has a disability.

At minimum in the president's proposal includes a $2,400 credit for hiring a short-term unemployed veteran while a $9,600 credit would be available for hiring a long-term unemployed and disabled veteran.

Obama will unveil a new Department of Defense task force that, with help from the administration's economic and policy teams, is charged with implementing new programs that ensure service members have the skills and training needed to transition to private sector jobs.

The administration is dubbing this transition period a "reverse bootcamp," during which more access to career guidance and counseling will be made available.

Meanwhile, the labor department will unroll an "enhanced career development and job search service package" while The Office of Personnel Management will publish a manual for business managers outlining how they can locate veterans with skills and training that match open positions.
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Obama to unveil jobs push for veterans

Missing credentials harm jobless veterans
By Alexandra Alper
NEW YORK | Fri Aug 5, 2011 12:02am EDT
(Reuters) - Army officer Donna Bachler has not had a regular paycheck since she left active duty four years ago, even though she boasts the kind of skills employers vie for.

Bachler, 30, helped run the Army's postal service in Kuwait, tackling challenges such as how to crack down on mailed contraband and speeding the flow of mail to troops.

Now back in the United States, she gets by on her husband's salary, which will be cut by more than half when he retires from the military as soon as next year.

"One of the ways I sold (military service) to myself and my parents is 'it looks good on a resume,'" said Bachler, who estimates she has applied for at least 1,000 jobs since 2007. "Sadly, it doesn't."

As U.S. military operations in Iraq and Afghanistan wind down, tens of thousands of veterans are flooding the job market at a time when millions of civilians cannot find jobs.

In June, unemployment among recent veterans grew to 13.3 percent, more than 4 percentage points higher than the national average.

From 2008 to 2010, that rate rose from 7.3 percent to 11.5 percent and it is expected to climb as more troops come home this year -- 10,000 from Afghanistan and, unless Iraq requests some to stay, the remaining 46,000 from that country.
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Missing credentials harm jobless veterans