Big dip in unemployment rate for young veterans
By Rick Maze
Staff writer
Posted : Friday Jul 6, 2012
The jobless rate for Iraq and Afghanistan veterans fell dramatically in June despite an overall economy that produced few jobs and left the national unemployed rate unchanged.
The unemployment rate for Iraq- and Afghanistan-era veterans fell to 9.5 percent, down from 12.7 percent the previous month and from 13.3 percent in June 2011, according to the employment situation report released Friday by the Labor Department’s Bureau of Labor Statistics.
For veterans of all generations, the June jobless rate was 7.4 percent, a slight improvement over the 7.8 percent rate for May.
The national unemployment rate remains 8.2 percent in a sour economy that produced just 80,000 jobs last month.
Big month-to-month changes in veterans’ unemployment can be the result of statistical flukes because the Labor Department’s monthly report is based on a survey of about 200,000 people, of whom just 22,000 are veterans. The June survey included just 2,600 people who left active duty since Sept. 11, 2001, to draw conclusions about the jobless rate for the newest generation of veterans.
Still, the statistical improvement comes amidst a continuing expansion of federal and private-sector programs aimed at helping veterans get jobs.
read more here
Friday, July 6, 2012
Over 200 soldiers re-enlist during Fort Hood July 4th Freedom Fest
More than 200 Fort Hood soldiers re-enlist on Independence Day
by ASHLEY GOUDEAU KVUE News
Photojournalist DATHAN HULL
kvue.com
Posted on July 5, 2012
FORT HOOD, Texas -- What better way to celebrate America's birthday than to celebrate it with America's heroes?
"It's good to see people come out and support the military," said Fort Hood Solider 1st Lieutenant Kenneth Tarpley.
"You know, being a service member, in uniform, you know it kind of gives us the opportunity to reflect back on all those that served before us to be able to enjoy these freedoms that we're actually enjoying today," added Fort Hood Command Sergeant Major Antonio Dunston.
More than 50,000 people from across Central Texas traveled to "The Great Place," or Fort Hood, for Freedom Fest 2012.
There was a cannon salute to each U.S. state and territory, and food, music and games.
A day for soldiers to spend time with the people they're protecting.
"Because we've been on the ground so long from all the years of fighting the global war on terrorism, it's just good to see them get out and enjoy their families on a day like today," said CSM Dunston.
read more here
by ASHLEY GOUDEAU KVUE News
Photojournalist DATHAN HULL
kvue.com
Posted on July 5, 2012
FORT HOOD, Texas -- What better way to celebrate America's birthday than to celebrate it with America's heroes?
"It's good to see people come out and support the military," said Fort Hood Solider 1st Lieutenant Kenneth Tarpley.
"You know, being a service member, in uniform, you know it kind of gives us the opportunity to reflect back on all those that served before us to be able to enjoy these freedoms that we're actually enjoying today," added Fort Hood Command Sergeant Major Antonio Dunston.
More than 50,000 people from across Central Texas traveled to "The Great Place," or Fort Hood, for Freedom Fest 2012.
There was a cannon salute to each U.S. state and territory, and food, music and games.
A day for soldiers to spend time with the people they're protecting.
"Because we've been on the ground so long from all the years of fighting the global war on terrorism, it's just good to see them get out and enjoy their families on a day like today," said CSM Dunston.
read more here
Army Battles War-Stress Stigma
Army Battles War-Stress Stigma
Written by
Derry London
WLTX news
Jul 6, 2012
Washington, DC (written by Gail Sheehy/Special for USA Today) -- Daniel Rodriguez joined the Army when his home life collapsed. His parents split. His father dropped from a heart attack. He was 18 and on the runty side for a high school football player, but with a dream of playing at a Division I college.
Three weeks after burying his father, the angry teen made his way to an Army recruitment center. Like so many of today's volunteers, he was looking for a new home, discipline and the directions for becoming a man.
But Iraq and Afghanistan are unique in America's wars, clouding that traditional coming-of-age road map. The invisible wounds of post-traumatic stress disorder, depression and family breakup have soared for the military there, along with repeated redeployments and a 360-degree combat-alert range. The most glaring result is the 80% increase in suicides, averaging nearly one a day this year - the fastest pace in the nation's decade of war. This is the second year in a row that more active-duty soldiers have been lost to self-inflicted death than to combat.
These appalling statistics have given the Army a new mission - to treat those invisible wounds of war before soldiers come home with their mental composure shattered.
Pvt. Rodriguez was a prime candidate to join the epidemic of military suicides. During 12 months of walking patrols in what he calls the "concrete jungle" of Baghdad during the surge of 2007, he dodged more than 1,000 roadside bombs. But he lost a dozen of his buddies. And in Afghanistan, he was thrown together in a remote outpost with Afghan soldiers who betrayed the Americans and sided with the Taliban.
read more here
Written by
Derry London
WLTX news
Jul 6, 2012
Washington, DC (written by Gail Sheehy/Special for USA Today) -- Daniel Rodriguez joined the Army when his home life collapsed. His parents split. His father dropped from a heart attack. He was 18 and on the runty side for a high school football player, but with a dream of playing at a Division I college.
Three weeks after burying his father, the angry teen made his way to an Army recruitment center. Like so many of today's volunteers, he was looking for a new home, discipline and the directions for becoming a man.
But Iraq and Afghanistan are unique in America's wars, clouding that traditional coming-of-age road map. The invisible wounds of post-traumatic stress disorder, depression and family breakup have soared for the military there, along with repeated redeployments and a 360-degree combat-alert range. The most glaring result is the 80% increase in suicides, averaging nearly one a day this year - the fastest pace in the nation's decade of war. This is the second year in a row that more active-duty soldiers have been lost to self-inflicted death than to combat.
These appalling statistics have given the Army a new mission - to treat those invisible wounds of war before soldiers come home with their mental composure shattered.
Pvt. Rodriguez was a prime candidate to join the epidemic of military suicides. During 12 months of walking patrols in what he calls the "concrete jungle" of Baghdad during the surge of 2007, he dodged more than 1,000 roadside bombs. But he lost a dozen of his buddies. And in Afghanistan, he was thrown together in a remote outpost with Afghan soldiers who betrayed the Americans and sided with the Taliban.
read more here
Tim McGraw Awards U.S. Army Sergeant With Mortgage-Free Home
Tim McGraw Awards U.S. Army Sergeant With Mortgage-Free Home
Posted Jul 6th 2012
Erin Duvall
Chicago fans may be anxious for the Brothers of the Sun tour stop at Soldier Field on Saturday (June 7), but none more so than U.S. Army Sergeant Linda Brashears. Earlier this year, Tim McGraw, who is co-headlining the trek with Kenny Chesney, launched HomeFront, in conjuction with Operation Homefront and Chase, to provide mortgage-free homes to American veterans. During their stop in the Windy City, Tim will congratulate Sergeant Brashears on her new home.
"My sister's a veteran of the first Gulf War," says Tim. "My uncle was a Vietnam veteran and my grandfather was a World War II veteran. I've always felt a deep sense of respect and obligation to our troops. Being able to reward them for their dedicated work with a new home is even more rewarding for us. It feels so good to give back to them, and to have the opportunity to entertain them is something I'm honored to do."
read more here
Posted Jul 6th 2012
Erin Duvall
Chicago fans may be anxious for the Brothers of the Sun tour stop at Soldier Field on Saturday (June 7), but none more so than U.S. Army Sergeant Linda Brashears. Earlier this year, Tim McGraw, who is co-headlining the trek with Kenny Chesney, launched HomeFront, in conjuction with Operation Homefront and Chase, to provide mortgage-free homes to American veterans. During their stop in the Windy City, Tim will congratulate Sergeant Brashears on her new home.
"My sister's a veteran of the first Gulf War," says Tim. "My uncle was a Vietnam veteran and my grandfather was a World War II veteran. I've always felt a deep sense of respect and obligation to our troops. Being able to reward them for their dedicated work with a new home is even more rewarding for us. It feels so good to give back to them, and to have the opportunity to entertain them is something I'm honored to do."
read more here
Cape Fear Nam Knights returns Dog Tags to families
Veteran's family reunited with long-lost dogtags
Submitted by Cliff Pyron
07/05/2012
WILMINGTON, NC (WWAY) -- A piece of military and personal history is back in the hands of a veteran's family. Nearly half a century after he lost them in Vietnam, Richard Wiler's family now has their dad's dog tags back.
Nearly 20 years ago a man named Ray Milligan was on a medical aid mission in Vietnam when he bought about 400 dog tags being sold by a street vendor. One of them was Richard Wiler's.
The Cape Fear Chapter of the Nam Knights made the trip from North Carolina to New Jersey and back, giving families like the Wilers a special moment to honor their father.
"It's kind of surreal," Wiler's son Jeff said. "It's really cool, I'll probably wear them for a few days before I pull them off."
read more here
Submitted by Cliff Pyron
07/05/2012
WILMINGTON, NC (WWAY) -- A piece of military and personal history is back in the hands of a veteran's family. Nearly half a century after he lost them in Vietnam, Richard Wiler's family now has their dad's dog tags back.
Nearly 20 years ago a man named Ray Milligan was on a medical aid mission in Vietnam when he bought about 400 dog tags being sold by a street vendor. One of them was Richard Wiler's.
The Cape Fear Chapter of the Nam Knights made the trip from North Carolina to New Jersey and back, giving families like the Wilers a special moment to honor their father.
"It's kind of surreal," Wiler's son Jeff said. "It's really cool, I'll probably wear them for a few days before I pull them off."
read more here
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)