Issue 13:05, Tuesday, May 1, 2012
www.vetjobs.com
The Veteran Eagle is a newsletter for veterans, transitioning military, their family members and friends and supporters of VetJobs. Feel free to forward the newsletter to veterans and friends and encourage them to subscribe.
This month’s Veteran Eagle is sponsored by: BNSF Railway, TECHEXPO Top Secret and iVetConnect
Contents:
1. Message from the Top
2. Scam Letter
3. No Firearms on VA Properties
4, The Department of Defense releases fiscal 2011 Annual Report on Sexual Assault in the Military
5. Veterans Retraining Assistance Program (VRAP)
6. Camps for Military Teens
7. President Signs Executive Order Protecting Veterans from For Profit Schools
8. National Guard (in Federal Status) and Reserve Activated as of May 1, 2012
9. Significant Events this Month in Military History
Thank you for reading this VetJobs Veteran Eagle newsletter. If you like the newsletter and what VetJobs, the VFW and endorsing veteran service organizations do to assist veterans and their family members find employment, please go to www.weddles.com/poll.htm and vote VetJobs for the WEDDLE’s User’s Choice Award!
- – - – - From the VFW – - – - – - – -
VFW Sponsored Insurance Programs
For information about various insurance plans sponsored by VFW National Headquarters, please visit www.vfwinsurance.com or call 1-800-821-2606, opt. 1
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NOTE: If you have a resume in the VetJobs database, be sure to update your experience and refresh your resume at a minimum of every two weeks. VetJobs has many new customers using the resume database and as a general rule, they do not look at resumes over 30 days old.
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1. Message from the Top
As reported in the past, VetJobs is involved in the problems certain for-profit training schools, for-profit online schools and for-profit universities have been causing for active duty military, veterans and their family members. I was interviewed by PBS Frontline for a second program in the PBS Frontline series that is investigating and exposing problems surrounding this issue. As I mentioned in the interview, not all for-profit educational programs are bad. There are many excellent pro-profit schools that meet a definite need in the market place.
Last week the president signed an executive order to start the process to curtail certain for-profit schools (see article 7 below). While not what many wanted, this is at least a start. As we move forward into next year, VetJobs and other veteran service organizations will continue to push for legislation to protect veterans from the “predatory” for-profit schools.
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The special days of recognition this month include:
Loyalty Day – May 1
National Day of Prayer – May 3
Cinco de Mayo – May 5
Victory in Europe Day – May 8
Mother’s Day – May 13
Military Spouse Appreciation Week – May 7 to 11
Armed Forces Day – May 19
National Maritime Day – May 22
Memorial Day – May 28
Loyalty Day is on May 1 each year. It is a special day for people to reaffirm their loyalty to the United States and to recognize the heritage of American freedom.
In 1933, Congress decreed May 22 as National Maritime Day and each year since then it has been a day for the United States to observe its proud maritime heritage, honor the men and women who serve and have served as merchant mariners, and recognize the many benefits that result from our American maritime industry.
Victory in Europe Day marks the date when the World War II Allies formally celebrated the defeat of Nazi Germany and the end of Adolf Hitler’s Third Reich. Of interest, the Allies had agreed to mark May 9, 1945 as Victory in Europe Day, but Western journalists broke the news of Germany’s surrender prematurely (some things never change!), precipitating the earlier celebration. If you know a World War II veteran, tell them thank you for freeing our world from the Nazi socialist tyranny and for preserving the freedoms and our free market economy we enjoy today!
Memorial Day, originally called Decoration Day, is a day of remembrance for those who have died in our nation’s service. There are many stories as to its actual beginnings, with over two dozen cities and towns laying claim to being the birthplace of Memorial Day. There is also evidence that organized women’s groups in the South were decorating graves before the end of the Civil War. While Waterloo, NY, was officially declared the birthplace of Memorial Day by President Lyndon Johnson in May 1966, it’s difficult to prove conclusively the origins of the day. It is more likely that it had many separate beginnings; each of those towns and every planned or spontaneous gathering of people to honor the war dead in the 1860s tapped into the general human need to honor our dead.
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On the economic front, the American economy is still not making much progress.
Amid disappointing unemployment numbers that fell 80,000 jobs short of projections, another number is raising eyebrows: the number of Americans not in the labor force has hit a record high 87,897,000 per the Department of Labor and reported by many economists. This figure helps to explain why overall unemployment dropped from 8.3% to 8.2%, as the Department of Labor’s unemployment figure does not include people who have given up hope and are not actively seeking employment. When the number of individuals who have stopped looking for a job and/or who are working part-time but desire full-time employment is included–a figure known as the “underemployment rate”–real unemployment stands at 19.1%
On the negative side:
-The ADP employment report shows the private sector added 119,000 jobs in April, significantly fewer than the 177,000 jobs expected.
-Leading economist says this is the weakest recovery since WWII
-U.S. housing starts slid 5.8% in March to a 654,000-unit rate, missing expectations of a 705,000-unit rate and marking the lowest level since October 2011. Housing permits rose 4.5% during the month to a 747,000-unit rate, topping estimates of a 710,000-unit rate.
-The New York Federal Reserve’s regional manufacturing gauge dropped to 6.56 in April from 20.21 in March, far short of expectations of 18. Readings above zero point to expansion, while those below indicate contraction.
-A preliminary reading on consumer sentiment for the month of April came in at 75.7, lower than a final March reading of 76.2, according to a survey by Thomson Reuters and the University of Michigan. Economists had expected the reading to remain unchanged.
On the positive side:
-Retail sales rose 0.8% in March, more than doubling expectations for a 0.3% rise. Excluding the auto segment, sales were up 0.8%, topping estimates of 0.6%.
-A preliminary reading on consumer sentiment for the month of April came in at 75.7, lower than a final March reading of 76.2, according to a survey by Thomson Reuters and the University of Michigan. Economists had expected the reading to remain unchanged.
- The U.S. economy grew at a modest-to-moderate pace in mid-February though late March, according to the Federal Reserve’s Beige Book. However, the central bank is growing increasingly concerned over what impact rising energy costs will have on consumers.
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As always, if there is anything we at VetJobs can do for you, please do not hesitate to call or email.
Remember, Freedom Is Never Free – Support Our Armed Forces and Veterans
Best regards,
Ted Daywalt
President
/—May Veteran Eagle sponsor is BNSF Railway—-\
BNSF Railway, a subsidiary of Berkshire Hathaway, Inc., is actively seeking applicants with military experience. At BNSF, we salute those with service, value their skills and welcome the unique experiences of our service members. From skilled craftsmen to first-line supervisors, we filled over 5,000 positions in 2011. BNSF offers challenging and rewarding career opportunities for those in transition from military to civilian life as well as veterans, retirees and members of National Guard and Reserve components.
Today’s BNSF Railway, a product of nearly 400 different railroad lines that merged or were acquired over the course of 160 years, has been quietly delivering cars, coal, clothing, games and nearly anything else found in homes and businesses. While many different railroads combined to form BNSF, the people who worked at those railroads shared many traits. The people who built BNSF were — and continue to be — a unique breed, blending the forward-thinking of dreamers with the pragmatism of results-oriented business leaders. This heritage played a central role in settling and growing the American West, and today, BNSF continues to have a significant impact in meeting the needs of shippers and serving the economy. If you are seeking a challenging and rewarding career with a company that appreciates your military experience, then visit http://www.bnsf.com/careers/military/index.html to apply.
\—–Please visit your Veteran Eagle sponsor BNSF Railway—–/
2. Scam Letter
A letter is making the circuit purporting to be from the Defense Finance Accounting Service (DFAS) asking military member’s fiancées to register in the system entitling them to benefits in the event of the member’s death, all for only a $350 fee. This is not a genuine DFAS letter — it is a scam. The letter is a typical scam phishers use to try and obtain your personal information and, in this case, money. DFAS will never send unsolicited e-mail messages with attachments.
/—May Veteran Eagle sponsor is TECHEXPO Top Secret—-\
TECHEXPO Top Secret’s next career fairs are:
5/9, TECHEXPO Top Secret Career Fair, BWI Marriott, 1743 West Nursery Road, Linthicum Heights, MD, 10:00 AM to 3:00 PM. Security clearance is required for attendance. Register at www.techexpousa.com
5/15, TECHEXPO Top Secret Career Fair, Tysons Corner Ritz Carlton, 1700 Tysons Blvd, McLean, VA,
10:00 AM to 3:00 PM. Security clearance is required for attendance. Register at www.techexpousa.com
5/22, TECHEXPO Top Secret Career Fair, Lee Club, Battle Drive, Building 9009 Fort Lee, VA, 10:00 AM to 4:00 PM. Security clearance is required for attendance. Register at www.techexpousa.com
Interview with leading government contractors! Full schedule, event details, & pre-registration are available at www.TechExpoUSA.com. The career fair is for professionals with active or recent security clearances only. Free admission. If you attend a TECHEXPO career fair, please indicate you learned of the career fair from VetJobs.
\—Please visit your Veteran Eagle sponsor TECHEXPO Top Secret at www.techexpousa.com—-/
3. No Firearms on VA Properties
Kevin Secor of the VA reports that in the continuing effort of ensuring a safe and secure environment, while still providing open and accessible service, the Department of Veterans Affairs would like to remind you that possession of firearms is illegal, under Federal law, at all VA facilities and properties. This applies even to those individuals who have a State-issued permit to carry a concealed firearm. Persons found in possession of a firearm on Federal property are subject to arrest, citation, and confiscation of their firearms. So, please ensure that you leave your firearm at home, and properly stored, when you visit any of our VA facilities or properties.
/—May Veteran Eagle sponsor is iVetConnect—-\
Veterans interested in learning about franchise ownership are invited to join a FREE webinar “Veterans Exploring Franchise Ownership”. Learn how you can leverage your military experience through franchise ownership and how your unique qualifications improve your chances for success.
Sr. Franchise Consultant, Laurie Pollock, and retired Army Captain and 2-time franchise owner, Christian Germain, will talk about how to evaluate franchise opportunities, best information sources, discounts for veterans, training, support, and how to get funding/financing. They’ll also talk about Boost A Hero, crowd-funding for veterans to raise the capital to buy a franchise, and iVetConnect, a new LinkedIn group to help veterans find veteran business partners. They’ll open up the lines at the end of the webinar to answer your individual questions.
This month’s webinar date is Monday, May 7th at 4pm CT / 5pm ET. To register, go to: http://www.anymeeting.com/PIID=ED54DA85814D
If you’re unable to make the webinar, email lauriepollock@franchoice.com or call 1.800.818.9929 to request a free one-on-one consultation.
\—Please visit your Veteran Eagle sponsor iVetConnect at www.franchoice.com—-/
4, The Department of Defense releases fiscal 2011 Annual Report on Sexual Assault in the Military
The report finds that in fiscal 2011, there were a total of 3,192 reports of sexual assault involving service members as either victims or subjects. This represents a 1.0% increase in reports of sexual assault compared to fiscal 2010. The report also details actions taken against the subjects investigated as a result of these reports. In fiscal 2011, the department had jurisdiction and sufficient evidence to take disciplinary action against 791 subjects for a sexual assault offense. Of these subjects, 489, or 62% had courts-martial charges preferred against them. That represents a 10% increase in the rate of courts-martial charges preferred compared to fiscal 2010. The proportion of military subjects against whom commanders decided to take disciplinary action for sexual assault offenses by preferring court-martial charges has increased steadily since fiscal 2007, when only 30% of subjects had charges initiated against them. Since August 2011, a two star general has overseen the Sexual Assault Prevention and Response Office and under the leadership of the secretary of defense, several new victim-focused policies have been implemented since the end of fiscal 2011. These included expanded legal assistance, expedited transfers for victims of sexual assault, and extended retention of forensic examination and investigative reports. The complete report is available at http://www.sapr.mil and you can view a fact sheet of the report at http://www.defense.gov/news/sexualassaultannualreportfactsheet.pdf . For specific information regarding the military departments, contact the Army at 703-697-2564, the Navy at 703-697-5342, and the Air Force at 703-695-0640.
5. Veterans Retraining Assistance Program (VRAP)
The Department of Veteran Affairs (VA) and the Department of Labor (DOL) are working together to roll out this new program on July 1, 2012. The VRAP offers 12 months of training assistance to Veterans who:
-Are at least 35 but no more than 60 years old
-Are unemployed
-Received an other than dishonorable discharge
-Are not eligible for any other VA education benefit program (e.g.: the Post-9/11 GI Bill, Montgomery GI Bill, Vocational Rehabilitation and Employment Assistance)
-Are not in receipt of VA compensation due to unemployability
-Are not enrolled in a federal or state job training program
The program is limited to 45,000 participants during fiscal year 2012, and to 54,000 participants from October 1, 2012, through March 31, 2014. Participants will receive a monthly payment equal to the full-time payment rate under the Montgomery GI Bill–Active Duty program (currently $1,473 per month). DOL will offer employment assistance to every Veteran who participates or applies to the VRAP program.
Participants must be enrolled in a VA approved program of education offered by a community college or technical school. The program must lead to an Associate Degree, Non-College Degree, or a Certificate, and train the Veteran for a high demand occupation. The VRAP will provide training for programs of education that lead to a high demand occupation, as determined by the Department of Labor
The Department of Labor and the Department of Veterans Affairs will begin accepting applications May 15, 2012. To complete the application, you will need to know your direct deposit information (bank routing number and account number), the name and location of your school, the program you wish to pursue, and the high demand occupation that your program leads to. Apply for VRAP on or after May 15, 2012. For more information, visit http://benefits.va.gov/vow/education.htm
6. Camps for Military Teens
Purdue University in partnership with the Office of the Secretary of Defense Military Community and Family Policy announced today the locations of the 2012 Extension-Military High Adventure Camps. Would you like to spend time whitewater rafting, hiking, rock climbing, winter camping, backpacking, mountain biking, exploring the environment, running ropes courses, geo-caching, or practicing wilderness skills? What if you could do these activities with other military youth just like you?
Military teens (14-18 years old) will have an opportunity to participate in adventure camps scheduled April 2012 through March 2013. These high energy, high adventure, and high experience camps are planned across the United States from Alaska to Maine and from Colorado to Georgia as well as states in between. There are even opportunities for military teens in the Pacific Rim. This is the perfect chance for you to experience the outdoors as you never have before! Each camp offers a unique outdoor experience that will allow you to build your leadership, self-confidence, and teamwork skills while participating in activities like camp cooking and archery. Camps have funding available to assist with transportation costs. Camps for youth with special needs (mental, physical, and emotional) are also planned in California, Ohio, and New Hampshire. There is something for everyone! For more information and how to register, visit http://www.extension.purdue.edu/Adventure_camps/
7. President Signs Executive Order Protecting Veterans from For Profit Schools
On a visit to Fort Stewart in Georgia on Friday, the President signed an Executive Order designed to protect veterans and servicemembers and their families from colleges that seek to mislead and swindle them. In his speech, the president said:
I’m not talking about all schools. Many of them — for-profit and non-profit — provide quality education to our servicemembers and our veterans and their families. But there are some bad actors out there. They’ll say you don’t have to pay a dime for your degree but once you register, they’ll suddenly make you sign up for a high interest student loan. They’ll say that if you transfer schools, you can transfer credits. But when you try to actually do that, you suddenly find out that you can’t. They’ll say they’ve got a job placement program when, in fact, they don’t. It’s not right. They’re trying to swindle and hoodwink you. And today, here at Fort Stewart, we’re going to put an end to it.
The goal of the Executive Order is to
-Provide students with educational and financial information to make informed decisions.
?End fraudulent and aggressive recruiting techniques on and off military installations.
?Ensure support services for service-members and veterans.
?Develop and collect service member- and veteran-specific student outcome data.
?Create a centralized complaint system for students receiving military and veterans’ educational benefits
?Begin the process to trademark the term “GI Bill.”
8. National Guard (in Federal Status) and Reserve Activated as of May 1, 2012
The total number currently on active duty from the Army National Guard and Army Reserve is 50,331; Navy Reserve, 4,557; Air National Guard and Air Force Reserve, 10,050; Marine Corps Reserve, 4,482, and the Coast Guard Reserve, 811. This brings the total National Guard and Reserve personnel who have been activated to 70,231, including both units and individual augmentees. A cumulative roster of all National Guard and Reserve personnel who are currently activated may be found on line at http://www.defense.gov/news/d20120501ngr.pdf
9. Significant Events this Month in Military History
1756 – French & Indian War began, lasting for seven years.
1846 – The U.S. declared war against Mexico. Mexican troops under General Mariano Arista were defeated at Palo Alto, Texas, by U.S. Army under General Zachary Taylor. (Mexican American War)
1863 – Confederate General Robert E. Lee defeated Union troops under Union General Joseph Hooker at the Battle of Chancellorsville, VA, with the considerable aid of Confederate General Thomas J. (Stonewall) Jackson, who decisively routed the Union right wing. (Civil War)
1940 – German troops invaded Belgium, the Netherlands, and Luxembourg. (WW II)
1942 – Congress created the Women’s Army Auxiliary Corps (WAAC).
1942 – Fall of Corregidor (WW II)
1942 – Battle of the Coral Sea, the first major naval action fought without either side having visual contact with enemy forces. (WW II)
1945 – German forces surrendered Berlin to the Russians. (WW II)
1945 – The German military in Europe surrendered unconditionally to GEN Eisenhower and other allied commanders in a French school building at Rheims, France, ending World War II in Europe. V-E Day (Victory in Europe Day) was formally proclaimed on 8 May. (WW II)
1968 – Mini-Tet (Vietnam War)
1972 – Operation Linebacker (Vietnam War)
1975 – Capture and Release of SS Mayaguez by Khmer Rouge forces, the first battle action of the United States Navy boarding a ship at sea since 1826.
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VetJobs is exclusively sponsored and partially owned by the Veterans of Foreign Wars of the United States (www.vfw.org) and endorsed by the Vietnam Veterans of America (www.vva.org), the Association of the US Navy (www.ausn.org), the Veterans of Modern Warfare (www.vmwusa.org), Student Veterans of America (www.studentveterans.org), Military Order of the Purple Heart (www.purpleheart.org), Hope4Heroes (www.hope4heroes.org), United States Army Warrant Officers Association (www.usawoa.org), The Retired Enlisted Association (www.trea.org) and the National Guard Association of the United States (www.ngaus.org)
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