Finding jobs still a struggle for Iraq and Afghanistan veterans

Unemployment reports show Iraq and Afghanistan veterans struggle to find jobs
News 13
Kelsey Riggs
Posted: October 22, 2013

LITTLE RIVER, S.C.
The latest job report shows veterans from the Iraq and Afghanistan War struggle to find jobs.

The national unemployment rate fell to 7.2%, as more workers said they got jobs and joined the labor force.

But the unemployment rate for Iraq and Afghanistan War veterans grew to 10.1%.

Army National Guard veteran Mark Cooper said the number does not surprise him.

Cooper was deployed to Iraq and served six years in the military, from 2001 to 2007.

"I was preparing myself to go over there with all the training, but I never got prepared to come back. I was trying to adjust from what I was doing over there, and then slow things down and try and come back over here and do things. It's a big change," Cooper said.

He said the reasons for the high number are clear.

For starters, many of the veterans just returning from overseas struggle with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, and often do not get the help they need.

Cooper said that was also the case for him.

"I kind of wanted to stay home, did not want to get around people. They might have issues that they're dealing with that makes it harder for them to find a job," Cooper explained.
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