The Media Center at » Veteran Eagle

Ted Daywalt — Mon, 01 Mar 2010 14:19:04 +0000

VetJobs Veteran Eagle
Issue 11:03, Monday, March 1, 2010
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.

This month’s Veteran Eagle is sponsored by Excelsior College, Your Community PhoneBook and TECHEXPO Top Secret.

Contents:

1. Message from the Top

2. Veterans Emergency Care Fairness Act of 2009

3. Lowe’s Expands Military Discounts

4. Joint Basing

5. VFW Wants Changes in Jobs Bill

6. USS Arizona Memorial is now the World War II Valor in the Pacific National Monument

7. OIF Renamed Operation New Dawn (OND)

8. GI Bill Telephone Hotline

9. Great Rates on Auto Insurance through the VFW

10. National Guard and Reserve Mobilized as of February 23, 2010

11. 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!

“Some people spend an entire lifetime wondering if they made a difference in the world. Members of our Armed Forces don’t have that problem.” Ronald Reagan

Have you updated or refreshed your resume on VetJobs? Employers generally will not consider an old resume in a resume database.

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1. Message from the Top

In March we wish a Happy Birthday to the United States Military Academy (USMA). It was in March of 1802 that the United States Congress established the United States Military Academy at West Point, NY. USMA has graduated many outstanding leaders who have been instrumental in the leadership not only of the Army, but the country as well. If you meet a West Point graduate this month, say “Happy Birthday”!

On March 2, 1915, the United States Congress established the United States Naval Reserve by combining 17 state naval militias into a single federal force. This year is the 95th birthday of the United States Naval Reserve. So if you meet a Naval Reservist this month, tell them “Happy Birthday” as well. The U.S. Navy Band celebrates its 85th birthday on March 4 and the U.S. Navy Seabees celebrate 68 years of “Can Do!” spirit on March 5.

On March 17 many will be celebrating St. Patrick’s Day.

Be sure to remember to change your clocks forward an hour on March 14 for Daylight Savings Time.

The first day of Spring is March 20.

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On the economic front I am not encouraged about what is happening and fear it will be quite some time before our economy is healthy again, especially with some of the economic policies that are being fostered in Washington. History has shown that what leads our economy out of every recession has been when small businesses start hiring. 80% plus of new jobs are created by small businesses and over 60% plus of the United States workforce works in a small business. But small businesses are not yet hiring. There are several reasons for this. Prime among the reasons is the political turmoil in Washington and the threat of raising taxes in a recession which is what kept America in the Great Depression.

To put this recession in historical perspective, we are nowhere near the unemployment rate of the Great Depression which was 25% plus. The current unemployment rate has exceeded the 1975 recession of 9.0% but is less than the 1982 recession which was 10.8%. The lack of plentiful jobs and the changing skill sets makes it difficult for those who are unemployed. Many economists are predicting a slow, at best a marginal growth rate for 2010.

The unemployment rate surprisingly fell from 10% in December to 9.7% in January. Many people question how the national unemployment rate could fall when the country lost 20,000 jobs in January. The answer lies in the way the DOL reset the numbers. To quote DOL Secretary Hilda Solis in her report to Congress; “Accounting for revisions during the benchmark and post-benchmark periods, the previously published level of total nonfarm employment for December 2009 was revised downward by 1,363,000“. And thus we conveniently moved from 10% unemployment to 9.7% unemployment while jobs were still being lost!

Calendar year 2008 saw a net loss of 3.6 million jobs, making it the worst year for U.S. employment since 1945. Calendar year 2009 saw a loss of 4.8 million jobs, shattering the 2008 painful record. That’s the most jobs lost in any recession as a percent of total employment since World War II.

To quote the economic futurist Jeff Thregold; “The historic net loss of more than 4.0 million jobs since President Obama took office on January 20, 2009 reflects 1) the terrible nature of the economy he inherited, and 2) the disincentives that his proposed policies have had on the desirability of adding new jobs in the eyes of business owners.”

Thregold also points out the “underemployment” rate, which includes the number of people unemployed, those part-time workers who would prefer to work full time and those discouraged workers who have recently left the labor force, fell sharply to 16.5% in January, down from December’s 17.3% rate. While good news, the 16.5% level is still nearly double that of just three years ago

On the plus side, real consumer spending rose .3% in January and this recession still has companies who are hiring. During the last recession, we had a jobless recovery. That is not the case in this recession. This time, companies who had built up cash reserves and diversified their customer base are still hiring!

There are currently over 28,000 jobs posted on VetJobs from employers who want to hire veterans!

The manufacturing sector added 11,000 net new jobs in January, the first rise in over three years. Also likely to boost manufacturing employment in coming months was the rise of 52,000 temporary workers in January, the fifth consecutive monthly rise. Retailers added 42,000 jobs, the most since November 2007. Education and health services added 16,000 jobs. The federal government added 33,000 jobs. However, federal employment will be somewhat distorted in coming months as hundreds of thousands of temporary workers will be hired to conduct the 2010 census. So there are jobs out there, but the competition for those jobs is very tight.

Expect the unemployment rate to move back up in the coming months as thousands of people are likely to return to the labor force when they hear of more jobs available. Due to a growing population, economists say the U.S. economy needs to add roughly 150,000 jobs monthly just for the unemployment rate to remain unchanged. As the economy is not adding that volume of jobs, unemployment will rise.

For the above reasons and more, the American jobless rate is expected to stay painfully high for months to come if the current administration does not change its policies quickly. The Administration and the Congress are belatedly focusing on job creation as national elections near. However, unless the government removes proposals for massive tax increases off the table, as well as exude a more business-friendly tone from Washington, too many potential job creators will simply remain on the sidelines.

The bottom line is the government needs to provide stability and implement proven policies so that small businesses begin hiring again. To date, the government is not doing what is necessary. Until it does, the United States is going to remain in a very stagnant economy.

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As an example of the conflicting currents running through our economy, a Business Roundtable study conducted late last fall revealed that the War for Talent is still being fiercely contested. An astonishing 62% of the respondents said they were having “difficulty in finding qualified applicants to fill vacancies.” We hear this frequently at VetJobs. For many professions, our educational system is not keeping pace with the requirements of commerce.

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The response to the new articles in the Employment Assistance section of VetJobs has been very positive (http://vetjobs.com/vetEmpAssistance.htm). We added How to Find a Job, Niche Job Board Sites and State Job Board Sites. While VetJobs has been extremely successful assisting transitioning military, veterans and their family members find jobs, we understand that not everyone will find a job exclusively through VetJobs. Thus, as a public service VetJobs provides the listing of niche and state job sites to assist those in the job market. These listings are the most comprehensive of their kind on the Internet. We hope they are of assistance to you. Watch for more changes on the site to provide assistance to the job seeker!

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Finally, VetJobs is now on Facebook. We are also setting up pages on LinkedIn and Plaxo, so you can now follow VetJobs on the social networking sites. Come visit and be a friend of VetJobs!

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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

/—-March Veteran Eagle sponsor is Excelsior College—-\

Success. On time and on target. Excelsior College is the college of choice for Veterans.

Veteran supports are in place at Excelsior College to guide you through the process of reaching your educational goals which lead to future civilian career success. We will walk you through the application process, enrollment procedures, and qualifications for financial aid.

Excelsior College makes the most of your prior military training to provide the maximum transfer of credit. We’ve developed degree programs specifically for military careers and beyond.

You’ll also have the advantage of Excelsior’s Success Strategy for Military and Veterans program. An online course specifically designed to assist veterans. This course increases your success in college by providing orientation information, activities for personal growth and relevant skill development, and perspectives on educational and career planning. By the close of the course, you’ll have a degree completion plan and earn 3 college credits.

Excelsior College offers many special amenities for incoming veterans. Our veteran friendly web site, the latest new social and academic online communities for information and discussion in the form of a Military/Veteran Facebook Page and Blog, programs through our Center for Professional Development (over 60 programs approved for VA benefits) and deferred payment for those using Post 9/11 benefits.

As an accredited leader in distance education, Excelsior College applies the college credit already earned to a respected degree in Liberal Arts, Business, Technology, Nursing or Health Sciences, providing the best start toward degree completion.

Visit www.veterans3.excelsior.edu today.

\—–Please visit your March Veteran Eagle sponsor Excelsior College at the above URL—–/

2. Veterans Emergency Care Fairness Act of 2009

President Barack Obama recently signed the Veterans’ Emergency Care Fairness Act of 2009. The new law will enable the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to reimburse veterans enrolled in VA health care for the remaining cost of emergency treatment if the veteran has outside insurance that only covers part of the cost. Previously, VA could reimburse veterans or pay outside hospitals directly only if a veteran has no outside health insurance.

/—-March Veteran Eagle sponsor is Your Community PhoneBook —-\

Your Community PhoneBook is one of the largest independent yellow page publishers in the U.S. and have been publishing since 1971. We recently merged with Yellow Pages Group of Canada to become part of the #1 Independent Yellow Pages Publishing team in the world! We provide protected territories, revenue accounts, and leads to help you become immediately successful in your profession. We provide yellow pages print and online products so you are truly a multi-media advertising consultant! Our openings are in Maryland, Virginia, North and South Carolina, Georgia, Florida, Arkansas, Oklahoma, and Texas.

Check us out on VetJobs today! Immediate openings with Your Community PhoneBook! Realistic first year earnings in the $40K to $60K range. Unlimited salary potential! Benefits include: Three weeks paid initial training; 401K with partial matching; comprehensive medical and dental; car allowance; paid vacation; contests; incentive programs; awards; corporate functions. Apply today in the VetJobs Search Jobs section!

\—–Please visit your March Veteran Eagle sponsor Your Community PhoneBook—–/

3. Lowe’s Expands Military Discounts

Lowe’s Companies, Inc. recently announced that it is expanding its support of the military by offering a 10% discount 24/7 to all military personnel who are active, reserve, retired or disabled veterans and their family members, with a valid, government-issued military ID card. All other military veterans will receive the 10% discount only on Memorial Day, Fourth of July and Veterans Day weekends. The discount is available on in-stock and Special Order purchases up to $5,000. Excluded from the discount are sales via Lowes.com, previous sales, and purchases of services or gift cards. In addition, Lowe’s has also extended benefits for its employees serving in the military and offers employment opportunities to military personnel after their military service has ended. Currently, more than 12,000 Lowe’s employees are military veterans or reservists.

/—March Veteran Eagle sponsor is TECHEXPO Top Secret—-\

TECHEXPO Top Secret’s next job fair is:

3/9, TECHEXPO Top Secret, BWI Marriott, 1743 W. Nursery Road, Linthicum, MD, 10:00 AM to 3:00 PM

3/10, TECHEXPO Top Secret, Ritz-Carlton Tyson’s Corner, 1700 Tysons Boulevard, McLean, VA, 10:00 AM to 3:00 PM

Interview with leading government contractors. Full schedule, event details, & pre-registration on www.TechExpoUSA.com For professionals with active or recent security clearance only. Free admission

If you attend a TECHEXPO career fair, please indicate you learned of the career fair from VetJobs.

\—Please visit your March Veteran Eagle sponsor TECHEXPO Top Secret at www.techexpousa.com—-/

4. Joint Basing

Although the signs at some gates are changing, joint basing has had very little impact on services and support for retirees. In fact, things should only get better. Efficiencies and effectiveness are the driving forces behind joint basing. By pulling together the best of what each service has to offer, the best practices are being gleaned to become a joint base’s standard. This means the best possible service to customers. Unlike normal Base Realignment and Closure actions, joint basing closes no installations meaning retirees living nearby will still have access to the same support they are used to receiving. Joint basing is being done in two phases. Phase 1 bases have already stood up and are fully operational. These joint bases include: McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst, Myer-Henderson Hall, Andrews-Naval Air Facility Washington, Little Creek-Fort Story, and Joint Region Marianas, which includes Andersen Air Force Base). Phase 2 bases will be transitioning people, real property and services to the joint base command over the next eight months. They should be fully operational by 1 OCT. The joint bases in Phase 2 include: Lewis-McChord, Anacostia-Bolling, Elmendorf-Richardson, Pearl Harbor-Hickam, Charleston, Langley-Eustis, and San Antonio involving Randolph, Lackland and Fort Sam Houston.

5. VFW Wants Changes in Jobs Bill

The nation’s largest organization of combat veterans is demanding changes in the $15 billion jobs bill that passed the Senate on 24 February because veterans were left out of a package of tax credits and highway projects aimed at increasing employment. “Despite having more than 1.1 million unemployed veterans, the 60-page package failed to mention ‘veteran’ or ‘veterans’ even once,” said Justin Brown, a legislative associate with the Veterans of Foreign Wars. Brown was referring to HR 2847, the Hiring Incentive to Restore Employment Act, or HIRE Act, that passed the Senate by a 70-28 vote and is pending before the House. Speaking before the House Veterans’ Affairs Committee’s economic opportunity panel, which is considering legislation that would expand vocational training for veterans, Brown said the VFW “finds it unconscionable that American’s veterans, who have left their families, risked their lives and limbs and left civilian career pursuits behind to answer the nation’s call, do not have the attention of Congress for this important matter.” The unemployment rate for Iraq and Afghanistan combat veterans is almost 15.8%, higher than the average 10.6% overall unemployment rate, as well as the 11.8% rate for foreign-born U.S. citizens — a sore point among veterans groups such as the VFW.

There are things Congress could do as part of the jobs bill, Brown said. For example, an existing tax credit for employers is worth $2,400 for hiring a veteran and $4,800 for hiring a disabled veteran. That credit could be doubled and expanded to include more veterans, Brown said. The tax credit now applies only to veterans unemployed for four weeks or longer who were separated from the military after February 25, 2008. At a minimum, eligibility should be extended to anyone separated from the military since September 11, 2001, Brown said, and the number of weeks spent unemployed should not be considered. Brown also suggested an overhaul of the veterans rehabilitation and employment program to widen eligibility and to make it more accommodating by providing things such as child care services for veterans who are receiving training. Expanding grants and loans to veterans who own a small business or want to start one also could be included in the bill, he said. There is an opportunity to make changes in the HIRE Act when the House takes up the measure, but House passage is not a sure thing. There are objections to many of the provisions, such as which states would get the job-creating highway projects and proposed payroll tax relief for businesses that hire new workers over the next 10 years.

6. USS Arizona Memorial is now the World War II Valor in the Pacific National Monument

On February 19 thousands of visitors poured into the first phase of a new USS Arizona Memorial Visitor Center, designed to replace the old buildings that have sunk nearly three feet into the unsteady ground around Pearl Harbor. The new visitor center offers a new bookstore that’s nearly twice the size of the old one, an education and research center, a snack bar, administrative offices, addition of more and larger bathrooms, and a centralized ticketing operation so visitors can more easily attend the other World War II-era attractions around what’s commonly referred to as the USS Arizona Memorial: the USS Bowfin Museum, USS Missouri Memorial and Pacific Aviation Museum-Pearl Harbor. By congressional proclamation, the USS Arizona Memorial has been renamed the “World War II Valor in the Pacific National Monument.” Its land-based visitor center also will get a new name, but for now it’s being called the “USS Arizona Memorial Visitor Center replacement and expansion project.”

7. OIF Renamed Operation New Dawn (OND)

On September 1, 2010, Operation Iraqi Freedom (OIF) will officially become Operation New Dawn (OND) to recognize the continued progress that is being made in the country. In a February 17 memo approving the name change to General David Petraeus, the commander of U.S. Central Command, Defense Secretary Robert Gates said the change sends a strong signal that “our forces are under a new mission. It also presents opportunities to synchronize strategic communications initiatives, reinforce our commitment to honor the Security Agreement, and recognize of evolving relationship with the Government of Iraq.”

8. GI Bill Telephone Hotline

The VA has announced the reopening of the GI Bill telephone hotline. The number is 1-888-GIBILL-1 (1-888-442-4551). Starting February 17 the phone line is open from 7:00 AM to 5:00 PM CST Monday through Friday. The VA says that improvements have been made. When it first stood up there were tremendous delays and 90% of the calls never went through. Furthermore it was operating only three days a week. As a result numerous veterans never were able to speak to an education counselor. If a student or school is calling from outside of the United States and can’t use the non-toll number they should call the VA’s Buffalo N.Y. regional office for help. The non-toll numbers are: (716) 857-3196 or (716) 857-3197 and then chose “option one” when asked.

9. Great Rates on Auto Insurance through the VFW

As a member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars, receive VFW members-only rates with VFW-Sponsored Auto Insurance through 21st Century Insurance.

The program includes member preferred rates and coverage for VFW members and their families

VFW-Sponsored Auto Insurance through 21st Century Insurance offers you both the savings you want when you buy your policy, and the security you need when you get behind the wheel.

Additional benefits at no cost include:
• 24-Hour Roadside Assistance
• Identity Theft Restoration Service*
• Emergency Travel & Medical Assistance

Call 1-800-354-0181 for a no-obligation rate quotation or request a quote online at https://auto.21st.com/AutoQuoteWeb/partners/VFW/index.jsp

Find out about VFW eligibility at: http://www.joinvfw.org/engine.html

Insurance provided through 21st Century Insurance and Financial Services (or in Michigan through 21st Century Insurance Agency). Wilmington, DE, agent for its affiliated personal lines insurance companies.

*Identity Theft Restoration Service is not available to NY policyholders

10. National Guard and Reserve Mobilized as of February 23, 2010

The total number currently on active duty from the Army National Guard and Army Reserve is 110,806; Navy Reserve, 6,574; Air National Guard and Air Force Reserve, 16,790; Marine Corps Reserve, 6,399; and the Coast Guard Reserve, 762. This brings the total National Guard and Reserve personnel who have been activated to 141,331, including both units and individual augmentees. A cumulative roster of all National Guard and Reserve personnel who are currently activated may be found at http://www.defense.gov/news/d20100223ngr1.pdf .

11. Significant Events this Month in Military History

1802 – Congress established the U.S. Military Academy at West Point, N.Y.

1815 – Congress declared war against the Barbary Pirates in Algeria, seeking an end to their interference with American shipping in the Mediterranean Sea.

1836 – End of 13 day siege of the Alamo, San Antonio TX, where 183 Americans held off 3,000 Mexican troops before being overwhelmed.

1846 – American forces under General Zachary Taylor moved across the Rio Grande River into Mexican territory, officially beginning hostilities during the Mexican War.

1862 – Confederate ironclad CSS Virginia destroyed Union vessels USS Cumberland and USS Congress, and damaged the USS Minnesota in waters off Hampton Roads and Fort Monroe, VA.

1915 – Congress established the U. S. Naval Reserve.

1918 – Second Battle of the Somme in France began with a German offensive.

1941 – General Erwin Rommel began his first offensive against the British Army in Libya.

1942 – The first American “Seabees” saw action in New Caledonia, an island in the southwest Pacific, as they landed and began construction of base facilities.

1949 – U.S. Air Force Captain James Gallagher completed the first non-stop flight around the world, refueling several times in mid flight.

1965 – First US ground combat force, the 3,500 man 9th Marine Expeditionary Brigade, arrived at Danang, South Vietnam.

1972 – North Vietnamese forces launched a massive attack south across the Demilitarized zone, during the Vietnam War.

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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.navy-reserve.org), the Veterans of Modern Warfare (www.vmwusa.org), the Student Veterans of America (www.studentveterans.org), the Military Order of the Purple Heart (www.purpleheart.org) and Hope4Heroes (www.hope4heroes.org).
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770-993-5117 Office
770.993.2875 Fax

Veterans make the best employees!
Freedom Is Never Free – Support Our Armed Forces and Veterans!

VetJobs is an appropriate employment service delivery system for EEOC, VEVRAA/JVA and OFCCP compliance support!

Seven year recipient of AIRS Top Recruiting Site
Seven year recipient of WEDDLE’s User’s Choice Award
Four year recipient of Workforce Management Top 10 Recruiting Site
Only military job board selected by Reader’s Digest
Only military job board selected by BusinessWeek

VetJobs is a Service Disabled Veteran Owned Small Business

Ted Daywalt — Mon, 01 Feb 2010 11:33:41 +0000

VetJobs Veteran Eagle
Issue 11:02, Monday, February 1, 2010
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.

This month’s Veteran Eagle is sponsored by Excelsior College, and TECHEXPO Top Secret.

Contents:

1. Message from the Top

2. A note from the Veterans of Foreign Wars of the United States (www.vfw.org)

3. 2010 WEDDLE’s User’s Choice Award Recipients

4. VetJobs Recommends – 4Troops

5. Some Soldiers Face Involuntary Separation

6. Ohio Military Injury Relief Fund

7. Stop-Loss Payments Continue, But Some No Longer Eligible

8. Veterans Saluting the Flag

9. National Guard and Reserve Mobilized as of January 26, 2010

10. Significant Events this Month in Military History

“Some people spend an entire lifetime wondering if they made a difference in the world. Members of our Armed Forces don’t have that problem.” …Ronald Reagan

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1. Message from the Top

I am pleased to announce that VetJobs is a recipient of the 2010 WEDDLE’s User’s Choice Award (www.weddles.com)! This award marks VetJobs not only as one of the top 30 job boards out of 50,000 career sites on the Internet, but one of only eight job boards that have received this prestigious award seven years in a row! Your votes have confirmed once again that VetJobs is the leading military related job board and one of the top career sites on the Internet! The staff of VetJobs wants to personally thank all of you who voted. We appreciate your support and will continue to work hard to earn your votes again for the 2011 WEDDLE’s User’s Choice Award.

See article 3 below for the thirty recipients of the 2010 WEDDLE’s User’s Choice Award. The eight elite sites who have received the award for all seven years are: CareerBuilder.com, DICE.com, EmploymentGuide.com, Execunet, HotJobs, Monster.com, Net-Temps.com and VetJobs.com. I congratulate these eight sites as they are the cream of the employment web sites on the Internet.

In addition to the WEDDLE’s award, this past year VetJobs was selected as the leading military site by Reader’s Digest and BusinessWeek. These are incredible achievements for a niche job board and reaffirms again that VetJobs is the leading military related job board on the Internet and that employers want to hire veterans!

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On Sunday, February 14, we celebrate Valentine’s Day! Be sure to remember your special person.

On February 15 the country celebrates President’s Day. The original purpose of President’s Day was to honor Washington and Lincoln, but it is now the day we honor all of the presidents who have served the United States.

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VetJobs is pleased to announce the addition of some great new resources to the Employment Assistance section (http://vetjobs.com/vetEmpAssistance.htm).

First is an article titled How to Find a Job! The article briefly lists the 22 things you need to be doing to find a job, especially during a recession.

Next are articles that list internet job board sites. Last month Department of Labor Secretary Hilda Solis commented that trying to find a job using the internet can be very difficult. I concur. There are hundreds of rip off sites and scam sites that prey on candidates seeking work. There are job board sites that provide “application forms” that collect your address, birth date and social security number (NEVER FILL THESE OUT!). Some want you to pay monthly fees to use the sites. As a general rule, I tell people DO NOT PAY anyone to help you find a job. There are plenty of legitimate job boards on the internet that you should not have to be paying to find a job. And of course there are the many front sites collecting resumes for third party recruiting firms and front sites for job aggregators.

While VetJobs has been extremely successful assisting transitioning military, veterans and their family members find jobs, we understand that not everyone will find a job through VetJobs. But when VetJobs does not have the job for you, we want to be able to direct you to legitimate sites to assist you in your job search.

Thus, as a public service VetJobs added four articles to the Employment Assistance section that provide lists of niche job board sites, state job board sites, comprehensive job board sites and aggregator job board sites. These are the most comprehensive listing of job board sites on the Internet. The lists are not intended to be all encompassing or mention every site available as sites come and go fairly regularly. But after over three months of research, we came up with these legitimate job boards currently on the internet.

The Niche Job Board Sites article lists job board sites by occupational category. The State Job Board Sites lists job boards by geographical emphasis by state. There are hundreds of sites in these listings.

We hope you will find these new resources helpful. Be sure to tell all your friends about the lists!

If you are still trying to ascertain what you want to do for a career please the VetJobs Career Advisor at www.vetjobs.com/careerAdvisor.htm and take the free career assessment.

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Be sure to check out the Upcoming Career Fairs page. VetJobs strives to list all military related job fairs worldwide. If you know of a job fair that is not listed, please forward the information to info@vetjobs.com.

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Over the past two weeks I was twice interviewed on FOX Business News. The interview on Monday’s Scoreboard with David Asman was particularly good. For those who did not see it, here is the link:

http://video.foxbusiness.com/#/v/3986350/helping-vets-get-jobs/?playlist_id=87066

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On the economic front, the country is getting mixed signals. According to the Department of Commerce, the U.S. economy grew at the fastest pace in six years during the fourth quarter of 2009, even as consumer spending and business investment remained tepid. Real gross domestic product increased at a 5.7% seasonally adjusted annual rate in the final three months of the year. However, 3.4% of the growth came via the swing in inventories which were severely depleted. Growth just to replace inventories is not sustaining growth that creates jobs. But even with healthy growth in the second half of the year, the overall economy shrank 2.4% in 2009, the worst drop since the 10.9% decline in 1946. It was also the first annual decline since 1991. We have had two growth quarters, which technically means the recession is over, but things are still tough.

The mixed signals are hopeful, but not sustaining as unemployment still remains high at 10% and many predict unemployment will increase. Most economists point out that the REAL unemployment rate is 17% to 20% when you add in those who have dropped out of the workforce or are working part time jobs to make ends meet. Mark Zandi, chief economist at Economy.com, and Bill Cheney, chief economist at John Hancock, agree that the economy would have to grow roughly 5% for all of 2010 which would equal 3 million net new jobs just to ratchet down the unemployment rate for the year by 1%. Yet even optimists think the creation of just 1 million net new jobs is probably out of reach for 2010 given the current administration’s policies. That means the unemployment rate is not coming down anytime soon. High unemployment poses a risk to a recovery because it leads consumers to spend less, keeping economic growth weak. Too sharp a pullback in spending might even push the economy back into recession.

The bottom line is the country is not going to make significant progress and reduce unemployment until small businesses start hiring. The economic history of the United States has been that small businesses are what led America out of every recession over the last 100 years. Roughly 80% plus of new jobs come from small businesses and 60% plus of all workers in the United States work for a small business. But small businesses are not hiring because they are scared by the activities of this administration!

While the administration has proposed a small business hiring tax credit, such a move means nothing to small businesses. They cannot spend a tax credit to hire new employees! Small businesses need cash. Until the administration takes significant steps to improve the economy, we are going to be stuck just like in 1932 when Hoover made bad decisions that kept the United States in the Great Depression while the rest of the world moved forward. The same is happening today. The rest of the world is now out of the recession but the United States is going deeper.

If the administration is serious about moving America forward, it would be doing the following:
1. Work on lowering taxes
2. Work on freeing up the capital markets to start lending
3. Work on reducing the size of the federal government
4. Work on reducing onerous federal regulatory and reporting requirements
5. Quit trying to force the healthcare bill in its current form and move toward tort reform to improve the healthcare process in America
6. Quit having the federal government take over businesses, and
7. Support free enterprise.

Time will tell. In the meantime, there are millions of people out of work with no real prospect for a job!

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Finally, please keep the victims of the Haiti earthquake in your prayers. A good way to help is to contribute to CARE at www.care.org. Every time there is a major tragedy, the United States is the first on the scene with substantial relief. And it is it our military that has led the way in providing assistance!

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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

2. A note from the Veterans of Foreign Wars of the United States (www.vfw.org)!

Dignity Memorial offers VFW members pre-planning and at-need funeral services. Dignity Memorial® providers serve more veterans than any other funeral service provider, and our professionals are knowledgeable in veterans’ burial benefits provided by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs. When you choose a Dignity Memorial provider, you can be confident you’ll understand what your VA burial benefits include and how to apply for them.

In addition to this expertise, we support veterans through programs such as the Dignity Memorial Vietnam Wall and the Dignity Memorial Homeless Veterans Burial Program. We also offer the free Veterans Planning Guide as an educational resource, and special pricing for members of the VFW. For more information or to request your Veterans Planning Guide, visit www.DignityVeteransVFW.com.

3. 2010 WEDDLE’s User’s Choice Award Recipients

For the last seven years, WEDDLE’s has been conducting year-long ballots of human resource personnel, recruiters and job seekers to determine which employment-related sites they like best. The balloting is open to all and covers all job boards and career portals, including those operated by commercial enterprises, associations and societies, trade organizations, college and university alumni organizations and affinity groups.

The WEDDLE’s User’s Choice Award is unique. It is the only award recognizing job boards where the winners are picked not by pundits and so-called experts, but by the actual users of the job boards. As there is no higher accolade than to be recognized by one’s users, the WEDDLE’s User’s Choice Award is highly coveted by the winners. These 30 recipients are simply the best employment sites on the Web!

The 2010 recipients are: 6FigureJobs.com, Absolutely Healthcare, AfterCollege.com, AllHealthcareJobs.com, AllRetailJobs.com, CareerBuilder.com, CollegeGrad.com, CollegeRecruiter.com,
Dice.com, DirectEmployers.com, DiversityJobs.com, EmploymentGuide.com, Execunet, GetTheJob.com, Hcareers, HealthCareerWeb.com, HEALTHeCAREERS Network, HotJobs, Indeed.com, Job.com, JobFox.com, Jobing, JobsinLogistics.com, Monster.com, Net-Temps.com, SimplyHired.com, SnagAJob.com, TheLadders.com, TopUSAJobs.com and VetJobs.com.

Of the 2010 recipient sites, eight have won this coveted award all seven years. The top eight recipients are: CareerBuilder.com, DICE.com, EmploymentGuide.com, Execunet, HotJobs, Monster.com, Net-Temps.com and VetJobs.com!

The 2010 winning sites break out as follows:
• 19 are niche sites that specialize in a particular career field, industry, geographic location or personal attribute;
• 11 are all-purpose sites that serve job seekers and employers in a wide range of professions, crafts, trades and industries;
• Among the niche sites, 4 focus on healthcare, 3 serve recent college graduates and/or alumni, 3 specialize in senior level workers, and 2 serve special affinity groups within the workforce (DiversityJobs.com and VetJobs.com).
• Among the niche sites, 6 industries are represented: healthcare, retail, information systems, hospitality, logistics and staffing.

/—-February Veteran Eagle sponsor is Excelsior College—-\

Success. On time and on target. Excelsior College is the college of choice for Veterans.

Excelsior College makes the most of your prior military training to provide the maximum transfer of credit. We’ve developed degree programs specifically for military careers and beyond.

Visit www.veterans3.excelsior.edu today.

\—–Please visit your February Veteran Eagle sponsor Excelsior College at the above URL—–/

4. VetJobs Recommends – 4Troops

Four powerful American voices come together for one important cause – to support the American veteran and honor their sacrifices through song. 4TROOPS are not only seasoned vocalists, but also United States combat veterans that served on the front lines in Iraq and Afghanistan. The CD includes a collection of patriotic and uplifting songs designed to entertain and spread their positive message to all serving troops, veterans and American citizens who are inspired by them every day. A portion of the proceeds from the sales of 4TROOPS products will benefit charities that support American veterans. For more information, visit http://www.4troopsmusic.com/. You can contact 4Troops with questions, comments and suggestions at 4troops@sonymusic.com

/—February Veteran Eagle sponsor is TECHEXPO Top Secret—-\

TECHEXPO Top Secret’s next job fair is:

2/9, BWI Marriott, 1743 West Nursery Road, Linthicum Heights, MD, 10:00 AM to 3:00 PM. Pre-register at http://www.techexpoUSA.com/index_VJS.cfm

2/10, The Ritz Carlton, Pentagon City, 1250 South Hayes Street, Arlington, VA, 10:00 AM to 3:00 PM. Pre-register at http://www.techexpoUSA.com/index_VJS.cfm

\—–Please visit your February Veteran Eagle sponsor TECHEXPO Top Secret at www.techexpousa.com—-/

5. Some Soldiers Face Involuntary Separation

American Forces Press Service reports soldiers who don’t want to extend their enlistments in units slated to deploy on or after January 1 may be involuntarily separated up to three months early. The new Enlisted Involuntary Early Separation Program will affect active-duty Soldiers scheduled to separate during the first six months of their unit’s deployment. The program applies only to regular Army enlisted Soldiers with more than 36 months of active service and less than 71 months of total service when they have an ending term-of-service date during their unit’s first six months of deployment.

6. Ohio Military Injury Relief Fund

The Ohio Military Injury Relief Fund gives money to those injured during active service as part of Operation Iraqi Freedom or Operation Enduring Freedom. The injury must have occurred while the servicemember was in receipt of hazardous duty, combat or hostile fire pay. Qualifying injuries include any physical injury suffered in the line of duty or a diagnosis of post-traumatic stress disorder while serving in country under either operation. For more information, contact your local County Veterans Service Office in Ohio, telephone the Ohio Department of Veterans Services at: 1-888-296-7541 (option 5), or visit http://dvs.ohio.gov/home/veterans_benefits/military_injury_relief_fund.aspx

7. Stop-Loss Payments Continue, But Some No Longer Eligible

American Forces Press Service reports the fiscal 2010 defense budget extends payments to servicemembers involuntarily extended on active duty under the so-called “Stop Loss” program, but those who received a bonus for voluntarily re-enlisting or extending their service no longer qualify for retroactive Stop Loss pay. The Defense Department has put the new policy into effect, modifying eligibility for retroactive special pay to comply with Section 8108 of the 2010 Defense Department Appropriations Act, which took effect December 19, 2009. Servicemembers affected by the new policy who already received Stop Loss payments will not be required to repay them, defense officials said. However, all outstanding applications from affected servicemembers will be returned, along with an explanation of the change in law that makes them no longer eligible to receive the payments, officials said.

8. Veterans Saluting the Flag

Section 594 of the National Defense Authorization Act, which was signed into law as Public Law 110-181 on Jan. 28, allows veterans out of uniform to salute the flag.

Section 9 of Title 4, United States Code, was amended by striking “all persons present” and all that follows through the end of the section, and inserted the following: “All persons present in uniform should render the military salute. Members of the Armed Forces and veterans who are present but not in uniform may render the military salute. All other persons present should face the flag and stand at attention with their right hand over their heart, or if applicable, remove their headdress with their right hand and hold it at the left shoulder, the hand being over the heart. Citizens of other countries who are present should stand at attention. All such conduct toward the flag in a moving column should be rendered at the moment the flag passes.”

9. National Guard and Reserve Mobilized as of January 26, 2010

The total number currently on active duty from the Army National Guard and Army Reserve is 112,553; Navy Reserve, 6,988; Air National Guard and Air Force Reserve, 16,604; Marine Corps Reserve, 6,392; and the Coast Guard Reserve, 771. This brings the total National Guard and Reserve personnel who have been activated to 143,308, including both units and individual augmentees. A cumulative roster of all National Guard and Reserve personnel who are currently activated may be found at http://www.defense.gov/news/Jan2010/d20100126ngr.pdf.

10. Significant Events this Month in Military History

1763 – Treaty of Paris ended the Seven Years War in Europe

1778 – The American frigate Ranger carried the Stars and Stripes to a foreign port for the first time as it arrived in France

1795 – Navy Supply Corps established

1813 – The American ship USS Hornet sank the British sloop HMS Peacock in an action off the coast of Guiana (north coast of South America) during the war of 1812

1836 – Mexican General Antonio Lopez de Santa Anna began his siege of the Alamo Spanish mission in San Antonio, Texas.

1863 – General Joseph Hooker organized the Army of the Potomac

1863 – The Confederate ship Nashville was destroyed by the Union ironclad vessel USS Montauk on the Ogeechee River in Georgia during the American Civil War

1865 – The battle of Petersburg (American Civil War)

1898 – The battleship USS Maine was sunk following an explosion in the harbor of Havana, Cuba.

1916 – The German Fleet was given orders to attack armed Allied merchant ships without warning during WWI.

1916 – Beginning of the battle of Verdun, in France, which lasted ten months (WW I)

1917 – British intelligence intercepted the “Zimmerman telegram,” sent to the Mexican government by the German foreign minister, promising Mexico that the lands taken from it by the U.S. during the 1846-1848 war would be returned if Mexico entered World War I on Germany’s side and the Germans won. The message was promptly relayed to the U.S. Government

1942 – A Japanese submarine surfaced off the coast of California, shelling the coastline near the town of Ellwood.

1943 – Women’s Marine Corps Auxiliary established.

1943 – The German Afrika Korps defeated American forces during the battle of Kasserine Pass, in Tunisia (WW II)

1944 – Beginning of the German Army offensive against the Anzio bridgehead in Italy (WW II)

1944 – U.S. Marines seized Parry Island from Japanese forces, completing their takeover of the Marshall Islands in the Central Pacific (WW II)

1945 – U.S. Marines began the invasion of Iwo Jima in the Western Pacific (WW II)

1966 – Operation White Wing, a search and destroy mission during the Vietnam War.

VetJobs
P. O. Box 71445
Marietta, GA 30007-1445
770-Vet-Jobs (877-838-5627)
770-993-5117 Office
770.993.2875 Fax

Veterans make the best employees!
Freedom Is Never Free – Support Our Armed Forces and Veterans!

VetJobs is an appropriate employment service delivery system for EEOC, VEVRAA/JVA and OFCCP compliance support!

Seven year recipient of AIRS Top Recruiting Site
Six year recipient of WEDDLE’s User’s Choice Award
Four year recipient of Workforce Management Top 10 Recruiting Site
Only military job board selected by Reader’s Digest
Only military job board selected by BusinessWeek
CareerXRoads Top Recruiting Site

VetJobs is a Service Disabled Veteran Owned Small Business

Ted Daywalt — Sat, 02 Jan 2010 02:50:55 +0000

VetJobs Veteran Eagle
Issue 11:01, Friday, January 1, 2010
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.

This month’s Veteran Eagle is sponsored by: Excelsior College, Alstom, ESGR and TECHEXPO Top Secret.

Contents:

1. Message from the Top

2. Interesting Facts

3. DOD Study Expands to Include Families

4. History: VEVRAA

5. Stop-Loss Pay

6. Choices Let Guard, Reserve Members Transition with TRICARE

7. VA Pharmacies Among the Best

8. Law Allows Spouses to Keep Residency While Under Orders

9. Military Divorce Rate Continues to Climb

10. NPRC Provides Access to DD-214s Online

11. National Guard and Reserve Mobilized as of December 29, 2009

12. Significant Events this Month in Military History

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1. Message from the Top

Welcome to 2010! You have 525,600 minutes to spend in 2010. How successful you are in your career and if looking, your job search depends greatly on how you spend those 525,600 minutes and the attitude you take when facing problems! Even when times are tough, keeping a positive attitude can mean a lot.

VetJobs is now in its eleventh year of service to transitioning military, veterans and their family members. 2009 was a difficult but good year for VetJobs. When many job boards are down from 30% to 70% in sales and many, many job boards have gone out of business, VetJobs finished 2009 nearly even with 2008. In this deep recessionary market, that is an accomplishment! Fortunately, we have many loyal customers who have and continue to make hires using VetJobs and are repeat customers.

2009 saw VetJobs recognized as the leading military job board by Reader’s Digest and BusinessWeek. Coupled with the recognitions from Workforce Management Magazine, AIRS and WEDDLE’s, VetJobs is universally recognized as the leader in the military niche and VetJobs is a dominant player in the security clearance space. As a result, VetJobs has been called to provide information to Congress and participate with various government agencies on veteran employment issues. VetJobs was honored to be one of the four small businesses invited to participate at the White House Jobs Summit last month, which I will discuss more below.

While recognitions are nice, the bottom line is that veterans and their family members are getting excellent assistance in their job searches and many are getting jobs directly through VetJobs.

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I know it has been a rough time for job seekers in many areas of the country over the last year. But all is not gloom. Unlike the last recession which had a true jobless recovery, I prefer to call this recession a less jobs recovery. Many employer employers are hiring. There are still labor shortages in IT, engineering, skilled trades and healthcare. All is not lost, but you may need to go back for further training and education.

Today VetJobs has 37,082 jobs on the site, an increase of 37.82% over the same day last year. That is good. But candidates now have more competition for the same jobs. If you are in the job market, I would strongly recommend that you read the articles in the VetJobs Employment Assistance section, especially the articles on behavioral interviewing. You will not get a second chance to make a good first impression in your interview, so be prepared.

VetJobs is working to get more jobs in rural areas on the site. This month we are joined by Intermountain Healthcare who will be posting hundreds of jobs in Utah and surrounding states. They have 160 jobs on the site today. Additionally, the National Native American Law Enforcement Association is looking to hire Police Officers, Corrections Officers and Special Agents/Criminal Investigators in Tennessee, Oklahoma, New Mexico, Arizona, Montana, South Dakota and North Dakota. These two employers offer outstanding opportunities in rural areas and are very military friendly, so apply today!

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This month on January 18 we celebrate Martin Luther King Day. Martin Luther King Day was founded as a holiday promoted by labor unions. After King’s death in 1968, Congressman John Conyers introduced a bill in Congress to make King’s birthday a national holiday, highlighting King’s activism on behalf of trade unionists. Unions did most of the promotion for the holiday throughout the 1970s. In 1976, trade unionists helped to elect Jimmy Carter, who endorsed the King Day bill. At the White House Rose Garden on November 2, 1983, Reagan signed a bill creating a federal holiday to honor King. It was observed for the first time on January 20, 1986.

And in January we say Happy Birthday to the United States Coast Guard! It was on January 28, 1915, when President Wilson signed the Act that established the United States Coast Guard. The Coast Guard has been an important player in maintaining the freedoms of the United States over the last 95 years and is a vital player in the current wars. So when you meet a member of the Coast Guard this month, say Happy Birthday!

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On the economic front, I am not encouraged about what is happening. Long time readers know that I prefer to look on the bright side of every problem, but that has become increasingly difficult in this economy.

Recently there have been news reports and some administration officials (although, administration officials have contradicted each other on several occasions) saying the recession is over or nearly over. It may be in some areas. I use the word area to mean both geographic as well as industry sectors. But the economy is not one big monolith that moves uniformly. While a few segments of the economy may be in recovery, most are still heading down. The good news is the U.S. economy is not shedding as many jobs on a monthly basis. The bad news is unemployment is still high at 10% and is expected to remain high for several more quarters. America is in a time of economic flux.

I was one of the few small business CEOs invited to the White House Jobs Summit last month. This was a great honor. You can see a list of who attended at http://www.whitehouse.gov/the-press-office/background-forum-jobs-and-economic-growth

I went with great expectations because we were told the administration wanted to hear from business what is necessary to get the economy going again. Before leaving, I spoke with many small businesses that use VetJobs as well as members of the two Chambers of Commerce of which VetJobs is a member and heard their concerns.

Their major concerns were:

-the lack of access to capital due to tightened credit markets;

-the ever expanding federal government bureaucracy and who is going to pay for the expanding bureaucracy;

-increasing onerous regulatory demands levied on businesses by the federal government;

- the way the leaders of Congress are attempting to raise taxes in the middle of a deep recession similar to what happened in the 1930s which kept America in the Great Depression for ten years when Europe came out in less than four;

-the threats of mandatory increased health care costs which will cause businesses to cut employees; and

-the way the federal government is now intervening and taking control of major industries and the financial system, thus destroying our free enterprise system and potentially leading the United States into socialism.

I heard nothing at the Jobs Summit that would alleviate these concerns.

Every time a business CEO raised an issue, the administration response was they were going to spend more money and create more bureaucracy. The administration position clearly is the private sector cannot get the job done so the government must step in and control the economy. It came across loud and clear that this administration considers business and free enterprise to be the problem. The attitude became very clear when administration officials were asked why the US Chamber of Commerce and the National Federation of Independent Business, the two organizations that could have contributed the most to the Summit, were not invited. The blunt answer was the administration did not need to hear from those organizations. Such an attitude was disturbing to members of the business community. The result was several CEOs left the Summit early. They felt the administration was not listening or interested in hearing from them.

Every solution presented by the administration to questions raised by CEOs in the meetings that I attended was more government bureaucracy and spend more money, which means more taxes and wealth redistribution. One had the feeling that no one in this administration has studied what happened in the Great Depression. So the bottom line is the US is racing into Socialism and deeper into this recession when most of Europe and Asia have recovered.

I know that statement will bother some readers, but I have to look at reality, what is actually happening and how it affects our transitioning military, veterans and their family member’s ability to get meaningful jobs. All the above is cause for concern in this effort.

History has taught us that what brought the US out of every recession since the Great Depression was when small business started hiring. Small business creates over 80% of the new jobs and employs over 60% of the people in the US.

I am concerned that we have an administration that has the attitude that business is the problem and government can fix the economy by expanding the bureaucracy and spending tax money. The economic history of the United States indicates that tax and spend has not been a solution that has ever worked.

To date, other than the military and the WWII GI Bill, every major government program (Medicare, Medicaid, welfare, Social Security, Community Reinvestment Act, Cash for Clunkers, etc) has failed, is going broke and/or do not work well. It is disturbing that the US Treasury and the Congressional Budget Office reports that our government is now spending $2.09 for every $1.00 of revenue. Any household or business with this unsustainable 2:1 spending-to-income ratio would be filing for bankruptcy, which brings us back to the fact that governments historically do not pull economies out of recessions. Rather, businesses pull economies out of recessions. Members of our government have to understand this economic fact. The government has to remove the governmental hindrances to recovery and provide the necessary incentives before the United States will make any meaningful move out of the recession.

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While this is normally the newsletter I would make predictions on what will happen in the job market for the rest of the year, I am not comfortable doing so at this time, other than to say it is going to be a continuing difficult job market. One reason for this is the commercial sub-prime market is a problem that will hit this quarter. While BusinessWeek and the Wall Street Journal have addressed the commercial sub-prime problem, no one seems to know if it will be as deep as the housing sub-prime debacle.

So for predictions, I want to present to you the predictions of Joyce Gioia, president of The Herman Group, one of the leading futurist and consulting firms in the country. The Herman Group distributes an outstanding Trend Alert which is well worth reading. You can subscribe at www.hermangroup.com. I totally agree with what Joyce Gioia is predicting for 2010. Enjoy!

1. Cutbacks and Re-Engineering will continue into 2010

Expect ongoing reductions in force as some employers continue to optimize their workforces and eliminate “redundancy”. We caution these employers to be very careful, because we know that 54 percent of today’s employees are ready to jump, as soon as the economy improves. They are currently “Corporate Cocooning”.

2. Shortages of Certain Skill Sets will become More Acute

As the economy begins to recover, certain skill sets will be more critical and difficult to find. These high-demand workers will be more demanding about their work schedules, environment, etc. The wisest employers will embrace not only flex-time, but flex-place as well.

3. Employers will embrace Innovative Ideas to Reward their Valued Workers

This innovation will include non-financial ways and even non-reward (recognition only) ways to add value for their top talent; these innovative ideas will come from the employees themselves. Employers that do not mine the collective intelligence of their workers will find themselves unable to optimize profits.

4. Fear and Apprehension continue to reduce Productivity

A significant percentage of employees continue to worry about the future. These negative feelings will persist, unless addressed. Transparency, besides being one of those elements employees seek, will be imperative.

5. More Employers will invest in a Variety of Healthcare Cost-Cutting Strategies

Besides wellness programs to address expensive unproductive behaviors (like smoking and over-eating), more large employers will embrace ideas like onsite clinics and health coaches. For some candidates, the cost of not complying with the prospective companies’ wellness programs will change their employee value propositions so drastically that they will choose to work elsewhere.

6. Focus on Engagement will replace the Focus on Retention

Recognizing that with engagement comes not only retention, but greater productivity and profitability, too, employers will change their focus. We will see Directors of Retention morph into Directors of Employee Engagement. The next step (coming much later than 2010) will be to recognize the importance of the total “Internal and External Customer Experience”.

7. Increasing Attention to Succession Planning

Around the globe, we see an increasing attention to succession planning and management. However, the issue of succession preparation continues to take a backseat to succession planning. This big mistake will begin to be felt in 2010, when Baby Boomer retirements combine with the lack of trained people becomes a critical problem. Succession management continues to be critical to long-term success.

8. Employers that did not build Bench Strength will pay More to hire Experience

Organizations that did not take the opportunity presented by this business slowdown to send their people for more training, will have to pay more to hire trained, experienced people.

9. Some Employers will eliminate Reward Programs

Misunderstanding Dan Pink’s new book, “Drive: The Surprising Truth about What Motivates Us”, some employers will abolish their reward programs altogether. This ill-advised shift will cause significant, negative, unintended consequences.

10. Burned out Employees will begin Leaving Employers

Over 80 percent of today’s employees feel overworked and under-appreciated. Too many organizations have survived and maintained some level of profitability by over-loading their long-term employees. Once we begin to see positive job growth in the second half of 2010, some employees will feel confident enough to leave their companies.

11. Employers will accommodate Older Workers like Never Before

The exodus of their long-term employees will challenge some employers to get the work done, without resorting to hiring expensive contract help or paying high fees to recruiters. Enlightened employers will mine the rolls of their retired workers and hire them back on a part-time, temporary, or seasonal basis. These seasoned professionals will be welcomed back, in spite of the fact that they will dictate their own terms.

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Did you or do you know of someone who suspects they were denied a job or lost their job because of their participation in the National Guard and Reserve? If so, I want to talk to them. VetJobs has been asked to gather more data on this issue and is in the process of preparing a report. Please contact me at info@vetjobs.com if you have information. Your input will be kept confidential.

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Finally, please read the ESGR sponsorship below about the Freedom Award. If you know of a deserving company, please submit the company for recognition. It is very important that corporate America support our members of the National Guard and Reserve! Also note we have two new sponsors this month, Alstom and Excelsior College.

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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

/—-January Veteran Eagle sponsor is Alstom—–\

Alstom – Shaping the future today?

Through the development of advanced public transport and cleaner electric power production, more than 80,000 Alstom employees in over 70 countries are helping to address some of the key issues that face this planet today. If you are looking for a world of economic, social and environmental change, look no further. Act and think of the future. Your future at Alstom. Copy this link to your browser to view jobs. (http://www.alstom.com/home/careers_sections/index.EN.php?languageId=EN&dir=/home/careers_sections/)

About Alstom: One in four of the world’s light bulbs is powered by Alstom technologies:
The company is the world leader in integrated power plants for the production of electricity and air quality control systems. Alstom has solutions for all energy sources (coal, gas, nuclear, fuel-oil, hydropower, wind) and is a leader in innovative technologies for the protection of the environment (reduction of CO2 emissions, elimination of pollutant emissions). Alstom is providing the conventional island for the future EPR nuclear power plant in France. The Group is also developing CO2 capture processes and has integrated this technology in pilot plants in Germany and USA.

The world leader in very high speed and high speed transport ; Alstom supplies rolling stock, transport infrastructure and signaling, maintenance equipment, and global rail systems. From the very first TGV* delivered in 1978 to the AGV, the fourth generation of very high speed trains, Alstom has developed a world leading position in this market sector. Alstom’s technological advances allowed the company to achieve the world rail speed record at a speed of 574.8 km/h on 3 April 2007. The company is number two worldwide in urban transport: one in four metro systems and one of three tramways in the world have rolled off Alstom’s production lines.

\—–Please visit your January Veteran Eagle sponsor Alstom at the URL above—-/

2. Interesting Facts

According to the US Census Bureau, of the 23.2 million veterans in the United States in 2008, 7% are women. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, there were 22,037,000 veterans alive in the United States in November, 2009. That means 1,163,000 veterans passed away over the last year.

/—-January Veteran Eagle sponsor is Excelsior College—-\

Success. On time and on target. Excelsior College is the college of choice for Veterans.

Excelsior College makes the most of your prior military training to provide the maximum transfer of credit. We’ve developed degree programs specifically for military careers and beyond.

Visit www.veterans3.excelsior.edu today.

\—–Please visit your January Veteran Eagle sponsor Excelsior College at the above URL—–/

3. DOD Study Expands to Include Families

Elaine Wilson of American Forces Press Service reports a Defense Department study that explores the long-term health effects of military service, including deployments, will expand its scope to military families starting in June, 2010. With nearly 150,000 service member participants, the Millennium Cohort Study is the largest prospective health project in military history. The study launched in 2001 and will span 21 years by the time it concludes in 2022. The objectives of the family component are to answer important health-related questions about military service members and their families in the context of deployment and other occupational exposures and to assess the importance of family support and other factors on the health outcomes. Experts will ask spouses about their physical and mental health and also about the status of their service member. Both will be asked about the quality of their relationship with each other and, if applicable, about how deployments are affecting their children. Researchers project they’ll have some findings by 2012

/—-January Veteran Eagle sponsor is Employer Support of the Guard & Reserve—-\

Nominate Your Employer for the 2010 Secretary of Defense Employer Support Freedom Award!

It is only possible for our National Guard and Reserve members to perform at their best with the support of loved ones, friends, neighbors and, particularly, employers. Thousands of employers across the nation employ National Guard and Reserve members, fully aware that at any moment they may be called to serve. And when this happens, both the employee and employer face challenges. We are grateful for the many employers who remain patriotically steadfast in support of their military employees, both financially and emotionally, going well beyond the law. Supportive employers allow service members to perform their duties while alleviating concerns about their jobs and loved ones back home.

Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve (ESGR), a Department of Defense agency, invites nominations for the 2010 Secretary of Defense Employer Support Freedom Award

Freedom Award recipients support their Guard and Reserve employees and their families in important ways, both large and small. Past recipients have provided differential pay during deployments, continued insurance benefits and sent comfort items in care packages. Some of the most valued assistance has been the support extended to deployed service members’ families. When one National Guard member was deployed, his employer filled his seat at his sons’ sports games. After another service member’s family hit hard times during a deployment, his employer stacked gifts under the family’s Christmas tree. And during the deployment of a single father, his employer sent his daughters off to school each morning with a wake up phone call. These seemingly small acts have a significant impact on the lives of National Guard and Reserve members and their families.

Any employer supportive of its National Guard and Reserve employees or their families is eligible for Freedom Award nomination. Past recipients of the award have ranged from a small family-owned farm in Iowa to large corporations, including Chrysler and Microsoft, to public sector employers like the City of Austin, Texas.

The 2010 recipients will be announced in the spring and honored in September at the 15th annual Secretary of Defense Employer Support Freedom Award ceremony in Washington, D.C. Recipients of the 2009 award met with President Barack Obama and Secretary of Defense Robert Gates, and received their awards at a ceremony with the keynote given by Dr. Jill Biden.

Visit www.freedomaward.mil/nominate.aspx? to submit a nomination.

\—–Please visit your January Veteran Eagle sponsor Employer Support of the Guard & Reserve at www.esgr.mil—–/

4. History: VEVRAA

Last month marked the 35th anniversary of the Vietnam Era Veterans’ Readjustment Assistance Act of 1974 (VEVRAA). The law requires employers with federal contracts or subcontracts of $25,000 or more to provide equal opportunity and affirmative action for Vietnam era veterans, special disabled veterans, and veterans who served on active duty during a war or campaign/expedition for which a campaign badge has been authorized. Under VEVRAA, federal contractors must annually report the number of employees and new hires that belong to the categories of veterans protected under this statute. For more information, visit http://www.dol.gov/ofccp/regs/statutes/4212.htm

/—January Veteran Eagle sponsor is TECHEXPO Top Secret—-\

TECHEXPO Top Secret’s next job fair is:

1/13, TECHEXPO Top Secret Career Fair, Ritz Carlton Tysons Corner, 1700 Tysons Boulevard, McLean, VA, 10:00 AM to 3:00 PM. Pre-register at http://www.techexpoUSA.com/index_VJS.cfm

1/14, TECHEXPO Top Secret Career Fair, DoubleTree Colorado Springs, 1775 E Cheyenne Mountain Blvd, Colorado Springs, CO, 10:00 AM to 3:00 PM. Pre-register at http://www.techexpoUSA.com/index_VJS.cfm

1/27, TECHEXPO Top Secret Career Fair, Huntsville Marriott – 5 Tranquility Base Huntsville, AL, 10:00 AM to 3:00 PM. Pre-register at http://www.techexpoUSA.com/index_VJS.cfm

\—–Please visit your January Veteran Eagle sponsor TECHEXPO Top Secret at www.techexpousa.com—-/

5. Stop-Loss Pay

DOD reports that the Defense Finance and Accounting Service (DFAS) will start making initial Stop-Loss payments December 16, 2009. As they are confirmed, the applications are being sent in bundles of 1,000 from DOD to DFAS. This means that probably the majority of members due will not see any money until well into 2010. If you still have not applied use the below to make your application:
Army: https://www.stoplosspay.army.mil
Navy: send email to NXAG_N132C@navy.mil
Marine Corps: https://www.manpower.usmc.mil/stoploss
Air Force: www.afpc.randolph.af.mil/stoploss

6. Choices Let Guard, Reserve Members Transition with TRICARE

The activation and deactivation cycle of National Guard and Reserve members can be a challenging process for service members and their families. TRICARE now offers many options for recently deactivated guardsmen, reservists and their families to maintain their health during the transition from active duty back to civilian life. To learn more visit http://www.tricare.mil/pressroom/news.aspx?fid=571

7. VA Pharmacies “Among the Best”

J.D. Power and Associates, a firm specializing in consumer surveys, has given VA pharmacies some of the highest customer satisfaction scores in a national sampling of pharmacy customers. J.D. Power surveyed about 12,000 pharmacy customers who use pharmacy retailers, including independent and mail-out pharmacies, chain drug stores, mass merchandisers and supermarkets. VA received an “Among the Best” ranking for the mail order category, the same overall ranking as Kaiser Permanente Pharmacy and Prescriptions Solutions. Among the factors examined in the 2009 National Pharmacy Study were pharmacy environment, price and value of prescription drugs, experience with online ordering and mail delivery, and experience with pharmacist and non-pharmacist staff.

8. Law Allows Spouses to Keep Residency While Under Orders

Samantha L. Quigley of American Forces Press Service reports a new law protects military spouses from being taxed for work performed in states where they’re living outside their home states as a result of military orders. The president signed the Military Spouses Residency Relief Act, an amendment to the 2003 Servicemembers Civil Relief Act, on Nov. 11, 2009. The president said the act, among other things, would provide that when a servicemember leaves his or her home state in accord with military orders, the servicemember’s spouse may retain residency in his or her home state for voting and tax purposes, after relocating from that state to accompany the servicemember. The law does not necessarily mean that someone who makes their permanent home in one state will never be taxed in the state they’re living in because of a servicemember’s military orders. The act states only that income earned from work performed in the nondomiciliary state is not taxable. That doesn’t mean the spouse wouldn’t have to pay income tax on such income to the state of legal residency. While the new law can be confusing, help is only as far away as the nearest legal assistance attorney. It is suggested that servicemembers check with appropriate state tax authorities for any rules they may have put out, especially with respect to refunds for tax year 2009.

9. Military Divorce Rate Continues to Climb

The divorce rate in the armed forces continues to grow, despite efforts by the military to help struggling couples. The Pentagon recently reported there were an estimated 27,312 divorces among roughly 765,000 married members of the active-duty Army, Air Force, Navy and Marine Corps in fiscal year 2009. That’s a divorce rate of about 3.6%t, compared with 3.4% a year earlier, according to figures from the Defense Manpower Data Center. Marriages among reservists failed at a rate of 2.8% compared to 2.7% the previous year. The reported 3.6% is a full percentage point above the 2.6% reported in late 2001, when the U.S. began sending troops to Afghanistan in response to the September 11 terrorist attacks. As in previous years, women in uniform suffered much higher divorce rates than their male counterparts: 7.7% compared to 3% for men in 2009. Critics believe that the divorce rate reported by the Pentagon comes nowhere close to depicting the damage done to marriages and families by the two ongoing wars. The Pentagon number doesn’t count veterans, who divorce after leaving the services, let alone reflect other possible wartime consequences on families, such as increases in alcoholism or the toll on orphaned or emotionally stressed children of troops. In an Army battlefield survey taken in Iraq in the spring, nearly 22 percent of young combat soldiers questioned said they planned to get a divorce or separation, compared to 12.4 percent in a survey conducted in 2003. For more information, visit http://www.ptsd.va.gov/public/reintegration/returning-war-zone-guide-fam

10. NPRC Provides Access to DD-214s Online

The National Personnel Records Center (NPRC) has provided the following website for veterans to gain access to their DD-214s online: http://vetrecs.archives.gov/

11. National Guard and Reserve Mobilized as of December 29, 2009

The total number currently on active duty from the Army National Guard and Army Reserve is 105,243; Navy Reserve, 6,281; Air National Guard and Air Force Reserve, 15,706; Marine Corps Reserve, 7,600; and the Coast Guard Reserve, 774. This brings the total National Guard and Reserve personnel who have been activated to 135,604, including both units and individual augmentees. A cumulative roster of all National Guard and Reserve personnel who are currently activated may be found at http://www.defense.gov/news/Dec2009/d20091229ngr.pdf

12. Significant Events this Month in Military History

1777 – General George Washington defeats the British led by British General Lord Charles Cornwallis, at Princeton, New Jersey (War of Independence)

1911 – Naval Lieutenant Eugene Ely became the first man ever to land an airplane on the deck of a ship, the converted cruiser USS Pennsylvania, in San Francisco Bay.

1915 – Congress established the United States Coast Guard.

1923 – American occupation forces, stationed in Germany since the close of World War I, were
recalled.

1942 – U.S. and Filipino troops complete their withdrawal to a new defensive line along the base of the Bataan peninsula (World War II)

1944 – Allies Land at Anzio, Italy (World War II)

1945 – The Battle of the Bulge ended (World War II)

1951 – Chinese communist forces captured Seoul, Korea, from United Nations troops (Korean War)

1951 – Operation Thunderbolt began (Korean War)

1959 – Fidel Castro took control of Cuba.

1966 – American forces move into the Mekong Delta for the first time (Vietnam War)

1967 – Operation Cedar Falls began against the Communist-held Iron Triangle area north of Saigon (Vietnam War)

1968 – Battle of Khe Sanh began (Vietnam War)

1968 – Tet Offensive began (Vietnam War)

1968 – Battle of Hue began (Vietnam War)

1973 – Signing of the Vietnam Peace Accord (Vietnam War)

1991 – Allies start Operation Desert Storm with attacks on Iraq (Persian Gulf War)

VetJobs
P. O. Box 71445
Marietta, GA 30007-1445
770-Vet-Jobs (877-838-5627)
770-993-5117 Office
770.993.2875 Fax

Veterans make the best employees!
Freedom Is Never Free – Support Our Armed Forces and Veterans!

VetJobs is an appropriate employment service delivery system for EEOC, VEVRAA/JVA and OFCCP compliance support!

VetJobs is a Service Disabled Veteran Owned Small Business

Ted Daywalt — Tue, 01 Dec 2009 15:47:23 +0000

VetJobs Veteran Eagle
Issue 10:12, Tuesday, December 1, 2009
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.

This month’s Veteran Eagle is sponsored by: Employer Support of the Guard & Reserve and TECHEXPO Top Secret

Contents:

1. Message from the Top

2. VetJobs Recommends: Never Fly Solo by Rob “Waldo” Waldman

3. Where the Jobs Are

4. Top Ten White Collar Jobs

5. America’s Slowest-Growing White-Collar Paychecks

6. America’s Fastest-Growing White-Collar Paychecks

7. Xerox – Lets Say Thanks

8. DOD will not Appeal Widows Court Win in SBP/DIC Case

9. Aid and Attendance

10. Space-A Travel an Option for Retirees

11. National Guard and Reserve Mobilized as of November 24, 2009

12. Significant Events this Month in Military History

For Holiday Gift ideas available at the VFW Store please visit:

http://www.vfwstore.org/SearchResult.aspx?CategoryID=236

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1. Message from the Top

December finds Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) sponsored VetJobs starting its eleventh year of service to veterans and their family members! This year saw more veteran service organizations joining the VFW in support of VetJobs, notably Hope4Heroes (www.hope4heroes.org) and the Military Order of the Purple Heart (www.purpleheart.org).

In spite of the recession, I am proud to announce that VetJobs for the last month is averaging over 29,000 jobs a day representing hundreds of employers who are active daily on the site! These are all quality jobs with good employers who want to hire transitioning military, veterans and their family members.

Being able to maintain an average of 29,000 real jobs is a feat in the face of the deepest recession since the Great Depression. While job postings on major comprehensive sites are down 18% to 40% and more, VetJobs postings are still up over last year. Keep in mind that VetJobs does not scrape or copy jobs from other sites like job aggregators. Ours are real jobs.

And while some economists are calling this a “jobless recovery”, I prefer to call it a “less jobs” recovery. Compared to the last recession, there are a lot of jobs available. But the requirements have changed faster than most candidates can acquire the new skills required in the work place. That is a problem.

The recession is causing many employers to be more selective as to where they advertise their jobs. Fortunately, many want to hire veterans and VetJobs is recognized as the leading military related job board. Many of our readers saw where the November 16 issue of BusinessWeek selected VetJobs over all of our competitors. To be selected by BusinessWeek says a lot!

This year also saw VetJobs recognized by AIRS, Workforce Management Magazine, Reader’s Digest and the prestigious WEDDLE’s User’s Choice Award. These recognitions confirm again that VetJobs is the leading military job board on the Internet!

So for now, VetJobs is still on the positive side of where we were last year in terms of job postings. That is good for you as a candidate!

Over the last ten years VetJobs has been able to assist tens of thousands of veterans and their family members find a job with thousands of employers who have used VetJobs! Many new resources have been added to the site with more to come. The renewal rate by employers remains well above the industry average and more employers are joining the site every month. So tell your friends that if they want a job with a military friendly company, VetJobs is the place to search!

We appreciate your using VetJobs to assist you in your career and find employment!

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December 7 is National Pearl Harbor Remembrance Day. Let us never forget that 68 years ago Japanese planes attacked the United States Naval Base at Pearl Harbor and Hickam Air Field, killing more than 2,300 Americans. The following day President Franklin Roosevelt, addressing a joint session of Congress, called December 7, 1941, “a date which will live in infamy.” Declaring war against Japan, Congress ushered the United States into World War II and the United States abandoned isolationism. Our parents and grandparents became the “greatest generation” for liberating the world from the threat of fascist domination which at that time was dominant in Germany, Italy and Japan. Today our youth defend us from a new threat of tyranny from religious Islamic zealots whose sole goal is world domination and the murder of anyone who disagrees with their fanatical interpretation of religious beliefs. Keep our military that fight for our freedoms in your prayers this holiday season. This will be a long war fraught with political and religious problems.

On December 13 we celebrate the 373rd birthday of the National Guard! The National Guard traces its origin to an event in 1636 when the first muster of three militia regiments took place in Salem, MA. The National Guard is an integral part of today’s military and is active in nearly 100 countries around the world. The National Guard has been called up for combat more times in the last decade than in its entire history. So if you meet a member of the National Guard, say Happy Birthday and THANK YOU for defending our freedoms!

And December is when people celebrate Hanukkah (December 11), Christmas (December 25) and Kwanzaa (December 26).

* * * * * * * * * *
On the economic front, the news is not great but there are some bright spots. Consumer spending expanded at a 2.8% annualized rate in the third quarter, compared with a contraction of 0.7% in the prior quarter. Federal Reserve officials believe the recovery is going to expand at a slow rate while unemployment will continue to remain high. The unemployment rate hit 10.2% in November which is a 26-year high. Unemployment will probably rise more over the next six months.

On the positive side, see articles 3, 4, 5, & 6 for information about the best recession proof jobs are and what segments of the economy are hiring. The job you need may be on one of the lists.

Remember, all is not lost. Even in down times companies are still hiring. If you are in the job market, it means that you will have to just work harder. Studies show that the number one source of finding a job is using Internet job boards. Number two is networking. Number three is using a third party recruiter. You should also be checking newspaper ads, attending job fairs and letting everyone you know that you are in the job market. You may need to go back to school to learn new skills. Do not pay anyone to help you find a job. There is ample assistance in job centers, church job ministries and on the internet. Recessions mean you have to work harder and smarter to find a job. Visit the Employment Assistance section on VetJobs to learn more!

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Following on the tragedy at Fort Hood perpetrated by Major Nidal Malik Hasan, it has been suggested by some politically correct main stream media that Hasan’s behavior may have arisen from a nervous breakdown he suffered due to the stress of treating so many young soldiers returning from war. The media outlet further stated that Hasan “caught” PTSD.

Let me be very, very clear about this. PTSD is NOT a contagious disease. As the noted psychiatrist Dr. Scott Mendelson explained, “it is no more possible to get PTSD from listening to soldiers tell their tales of their traumatic war experiences than it is to catch gonorrhea from hearing one talk about an unfortunate sexual experience.”

I bring this up because a recruiter called who wanted to hire veterans, but asked how to tell if someone had caught PTSD. The recruiter had seen the report on a nightly news cast. It is unfortunate that people in our society are exposed to such blatant misinformation by elements of America’s main stream media, but it happens. The tragedy in such reporting is it puts former military at a disadvantage when applying to a job in the civilian sector. If you run across someone who thinks PTSD is a contagious disease, please make sure they understand that PTSD is not contagious. And remind them of all the good reasons why their company should be hiring veterans!

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Finally, each December I like to close with a poem. I do not know who wrote the poem, but as military people and veterans, I know you will understand the meaning and importance of this poem. Enjoy!

A Different Christmas Poem

The embers glowed softly, and in their dim light,
I gazed round the room and I cherished the sight.
My wife was asleep, her head on my chest,
My daughter beside me, angelic in rest.

Outside the snow fell, a blanket of white,
Transforming the yard to a winter delight.
The sparkling lights in the tree I believe,
Completed the magic that was Christmas Eve.

My eyelids were heavy, my breathing was deep,
Secure and surrounded by love I would sleep.
In perfect contentment, or so it would seem,
So I slumbered, perhaps I started to dream.

The sound wasn’t loud, and it wasn’t too near,
But I opened my eyes when it tickled my ear.
Perhaps just a cough, I didn’t quite know,
Then the sure sound of footsteps outside in the snow.

My soul gave a tremble, I struggled to hear,
And I crept to the door just to see who was near.
Standing out in the cold and the dark of the night,
A lone figure stood; his face weary and tight.

A soldier, I puzzled, some twenty years old,
Perhaps a Marine, huddled here in the cold.
Alone in the dark, he looked up and smiled,
Standing watch over me and my wife and my child.

What are you doing? I asked without fear,
Come in this moment, it’s freezing out there!
Put down your pack, brush the snow from your sleeve,
You should be at home on a cold Christmas Eve!

For barely a moment I saw his eyes shift,
Away from the cold and the snow blown in drifts.
To the window that danced with a warm fire’s light
Then he sighed and he said Its really all right,
I’m out here by choice. I’m here every night.

It’s my duty to stand at the front of the line,
That separates you from the darkest of times.
No one had to ask or beg or implore me,
I’m proud to stand here like my fathers before me.

My Gramps died at ‘ Pearl on a day in December,
Then he sighed, That’s a Christmas ‘Gram always remembers.
My dad stood his watch in the jungles of ‘ Nam ‘,
And now it is my turn and so, here I am.

I’ve not seen my own son in more than a while,
But my wife sends me pictures, he’s sure got her smile.
Then he bent and he carefully pulled from his bag,
The red, white, and blue… an American flag.

I can live through the cold and the being alone,
Away from my family, my house and my home.
I can stand at my post through the rain and the sleet,
I can sleep in a foxhole with little to eat.

I can carry the weight of killing another,
Or lay down my life with my sister and brother
Who stand at the front against any and all
To ensure for all time that this flag will not fall.

So go back inside, he said, harbor no fright,
Your family is waiting and I’ll be all right.

But isn’t there something I can do, at the least,
Give you money, I asked, or prepare you a feast?
It seems all too little for all that you’ve done,
For being away from your wife and your son.

Then his eye welled a tear that held no regret,
Just tell us you love us, and never forget.
To fight for our rights back at home while we’re gone,
To stand your own watch, no matter how long.

For when we come home, either standing or dead,
To know you remember we fought and we bled.
Is payment enough, and with that we will trust,
That we mattered to you, as you mattered to us.

* * * * * * * * * *
From all the staff at VetJobs, we wish you a Merry Christmas and Happy Hanukkah!

* * * * * * * * * * * * * *
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

/—-December Veteran Eagle sponsor is Employer Support of the Guard & Reserve—-\

Nominate Your Employer for the 2010 Secretary of Defense Employer Support Freedom Award!

Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve (ESGR), a Department of Defense agency, invites nominations for the 2010 Secretary of Defense Employer Support Freedom Award

Freedom Award recipients support their Guard and Reserve employees and their families in important ways, both large and small. Past recipients have provided differential pay during deployments, continued insurance benefits and sent comfort items in care packages. Some of the most valued assistance has been the support extended to deployed service members’ families. When one National Guard member was deployed, his employer filled his seat at his sons’ sports games. After another service member’s family hit hard times during a deployment, his employer stacked gifts under the family’s Christmas tree. And during the deployment of a single father, his employer sent his daughters off to school each morning with a wake up phone call.
These seemingly small acts have a significant impact on the lives of National Guard and Reserve members and their families.

Visit www.freedomaward.mil/nominate.aspx? to submit a nomination.

\—–Please visit your December Veteran Eagle sponsor Employer Support of the Guard & Reserve at www.esgr.mil—–/

2. VetJobs Recommends: Never Fly Solo by Rob “Waldo” Waldman

From time to time the staff at VetJobs comes across a book or program we want to recommend. This month we recommend Rob “Waldo” Waldman’s book Never Fly Solo.

Whether you´re a senior executive, mid-level manager, employee or an entrepreneur, you can´t earn your wings as a high performance leader or performer alone. Everyone needs wingmen—trusted partners—that we can depend on to help us overcome obstacles and prepare for success.
In Never Fly Solo, former fighter pilot and entrepreneur Rob “Waldo” Waldman charts an easy-to-follow flight plan that will help you maximize your relationships and reach your greatest potential in a challenging economy. You can purchase a copy at Amazon:http://tiny.cc/NeverFlySolo84 or at Barnes & Noble:http://tiny.cc/NeverFLySolo

/—December Veteran Eagle sponsor is TECHEXPO Top Secret—-\

TECHEXPO Top Secret’s next job fair is:

12/1, TECHEXPO Top Secret December Holiday Hiring Event, Pentagon City Ritz Carlton, 1250 South Hayes Street, Arlington, VA, 10:00 AM to 3:00 PM

Interview with leading government contractors. Full schedule of event details, & pre-registration at http://www.techexpoUSA.com/index_VJS.cfm. For professionals with active security clearance only. Free admission

\—–Please visit your December Veteran Eagle sponsor TECHEXPO Top Secret at www.techexpousa.com—-/

3. Where the Jobs Are

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the job market’s second-biggest gains after healthcare were in temporary help services, as employers who couldn’t invest in full-time staffers turned to part-time labor instead. In October, 34,000 employees entered the workforce in new temporary jobs. Seasonal jobs occupy the second and third spots. Retail work, including store manager and associate, ranks No. 2, and UPS driver helper is No. 3. Despite last year’s meltdown on Wall Street, financial specialists are back in demand. Financial advisors rank fourth on the Vault.com list, and financial analysts make the No. 9 spot. Here are the top ten spots

1) Registered Nurse – Salary: $55,000 to $90,000

2) Retail (including store manager, assistant store manager and retail sales associate) – Salary: Sales associates earn $15,000 to $30,000, while store managers can bring home as much as $80,000.

3) UPS Driver Helper (seasonal) – Salary: Part-time driver helpers receive hourly rates of $9.50 or more, depending on their locations.

4) Financial Advisor – Salary: Compensation varies according to the client base. Private bankers, who work with wealthy clients, can earn seven figures.

5) Occupational Therapist – Salary: $50,000 to $75,000

6) Sales (including sales representative and sales and marketing representative) – Salary: $30,000 to the high six figures.

7) Customer Service Representative – Salary: $25,000 to $40,000

8) Controller – Salary: $130,000 to $290,000

9) Accountant – Salary: $75,000 to $90,000

10) Financial Analyst – Salary: First-year analysts at top investment banks can earn six figures including bonus.

4. Top Ten White Collar Jobs

This information comes from Forbes.
1) Commercial Lending Director, average annual pay in 2009: $128,600
Year-to-year change: -1.4%, best-paying industry: Banking & financial services

2) General Manager, average annual pay in 2009: $118,300
Year-to-year change: -2.6%, best-paying industry: Manufacturing & distribution

3) Engineering Director, average annual pay in 2009: $116,700
Year-to-year change: +3.3%, best-paying industry: Services

4) Finance Director, average annual pay in 2009: $111,200
Year-to-year change: +4.2%, best-paying industry: Utilities

5) Information Systems Director, Average annual pay in 2009: $108,800
Year-to-year change: +1.1%, best-paying industry: Utilities

6) Operations Director, average annual pay in 2009: $108,200
Year-to-year change: +3.4%, best-paying industry: Banking and financial services

7) Information Security Director, average annual pay in 2009: $106,700
Year-to-year change: +1.6%, best-paying industry: Manufacturing & distribution

8) Controller, average annual pay in 2009: $105,800
Year-to-year change: -1.2%, best-paying industry: Utilities

9) Accounting Director, Average annual pay in 2009: $104,500
Year-to-year change: +3.8%, best-paying industry: Banking & financial services

10) National Sales Manager, Average annual pay in 2009: $104,100
Year-to-year change: -3.2%, best-paying industry: Utilities

5. America’s Slowest-Growing White-Collar Paychecks

Want to make the most you can without actually running a company? Watch out for these jobs. They are the five white collar jobs below C-level with the slowest pay growth–or greatest pay loss–over the last five years, according to the research firm Compdata’s Compensation Survey 2009, which amasses data from almost 5,000 companies. The figures are for base pay and do not include bonuses, options, expenses and other additional compensation.

1) Mortgage Lending Director, average annual pay in 2009: $95,400
Five-year change: -11.8%, best-paying industry: Banking & Financial Services

2) Development Officer, average annual pay in 2009: $102,400
Five-year change: -7.6%, best-paying industry: Nonprofit

3) Nursing Services Director, average annual pay in 2009: $93,200
Five-year change: +0.5%, best-paying industry: Health Care

4) Plant Engineering Manager, average annual pay in 2009: $85,300
Five-year change: +1.5%, best-paying industry: Services

5) Advertising and Public Relations Manager, average annual pay in 2009: $73,200
Five-year change: +2.7%, best-paying industry: Utilities

6. America’s Fastest-Growing White-Collar Paychecks

1) Finance Director, Average annual pay in 2009: $111,200
Five-year change: +35.0%, best-paying industry: Utilities

2) General Accounting Manager, Average annual pay in 2009: $77,000
Five-year change: +16.3%, best-paying industry: Utilities

3) Engineering Director, Average annual pay in 2009: $116,700
Five-year change: +14.0%, best-paying industry: Services

4) Marketing Director, average annual pay in 2009: $102,300
Five-year change: +12.3%, best-paying industry: Manufacturing & Distribution

5) Controller, average annual pay in 2009: $105,800
Five-year change: +11.6%, best-paying industry: Utilities

7. Xerox – Let’s Say Thanks

If you go to www.LetsSayThanks.com you can pick out a thank you card and Xerox will print it and it will be sent to a soldier that is currently serving in Iraq. You can’t pick out who gets it, but it will go to a member of the Armed Services. This is a nice way to tell our soldiers over there we are behind them. It takes just 10 seconds and it’s a wonderful way to say thank you.

8. DOD will not Appeal Widows Court Win in SBP/DIC Case

The Department of Defense (DOD) recently issued a Memorandum to Director of Defense Finance and Accounting Service (DFAS) regarding the status of Sharp v United States in which three military surviving spouses sued to receive both Survivor Benefit Plan (SBP) and Dependency and Indemnity Compensation (DIC) payments without offset, based on their re-marriage after age 57 and being otherwise entitled to payments under both programs. The US Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit ruled in favor of the plaintiffs. The DOD Memorandum states that the Department will comply with the court’s decision without further appeal, and will treat all similarly situated surviving spouses the same as the plaintiffs. This court victory coupled with DOD refusal to appeal could be the first step in an effort to eventually completely repeal the SBP/DIC offset.

9. Aid and Attendance

Aid and Attendance is an underutilized special monthly pension benefit offered by the Veterans Administration for veterans and surviving spouses who require in-home care or live in nursing homes. To qualify, a veteran (includes the surviving spouse) must have served at least 90 days of active military service, one day of which is during a period of war, and must be discharged under conditions other than dishonorable. The veteran’s benefit is $18,234 annually (paid monthly) and increases to $21,615 if the veteran has one dependent. The surviving spouse alone is $11,715 annually. For more information, call 1-800-827-1000 or visit http://www.va.gov (type “Aid and Attendance” in the search block), or contact your local VA office. Apply on-line at http://vabenfits.vba.va.gov/vonapp/main.asp

10. Space-A Travel an Option for Retirees

Retirees who dream of climbing an Egyptian pyramid, schussing down a black diamond ski slope in Bavaria, or walking on a Hawaiian beach can make these dreams come true with space-available travel. Space-A travel is free with the exception of customs or federal inspection fees on some chartered commercial air service missions. Military retirees with a retired ID card and who are eligible to receive retired or retainer pay, fly as Category VI passengers. Since missions can
be rerouted, delayed or cancelled for a variety of reasons — weather, maintenance issues or higher priority missions – retirees need to be flexible. They need to plan for any potential delays and added expenses for stays, especially in high-cost areas.

There are four different methods for signing up for Space-A travel: in person at the passenger terminal or remotely via telephone, fax or e-mail. Sponsors must provide their name and information on all traveling dependents, and their desired destination(s). Retirees can also use the DOD-chartered airlift missions for Space-A travel, if seats are available. For more information on Space-A travel, visit the AMC travel Web site at www.amc.af.mil/amctravel.

11. National Guard and Reserve Mobilized as of November 24, 2009

The total number currently on active duty from the Army National Guard and Army Reserve is 105,522; Navy Reserve, 6,482; Air National Guard and Air Force Reserve, 13,818; Marine Corps Reserve, 7,617; and the Coast Guard Reserve, 779. This brings the total National Guard and Reserve personnel who have been activated to 134,218, including both units and individual augmentees. A cumulative roster of all National Guard and Reserve personnel who are currently activated may be found at http://www.defenselink.mil/news/Nov2009/d20091124ngr.pdf

12. Significant Events this Month in Military History

1775 – The first official American flag (not the Stars and Stripes) was raised for the first time over the Navy flagship Alfred.

1778 – British troops under COL Archibald Campbell occupied Savannah, GA (American Revolution).

1812 – The US frigate Constitution defeats the British frigate Java (War of 1812).

1814 – Treaty of Ghent (Belgium) signed, ending the War of 1812 between the United States and England.

1846 – American troops occupied Ciudad Victoria in northeastern Mexico (Mexican War).

1860 – South Carolina secedes from the Union and South Carolina troops seize the Federal arsenal in Charleston (Civil War).

1898 – The Treaty of Paris was signed by American and Spanish representatives, ending the Spanish-American War.

1921 – The first helium-filled balloon, a U.S. Navy dirigible, flew from Hampton Roads, VA to Washington, D.C.

1941 – Japanese attack Pearl Harbor. The United States declared war on Germany, Japan and Italy (World War II).

1944 – Battle of the Bulge began (World War II).

1946 – The official end of World War II.

1972 – The Paris Peace talks temporarily fail and President Nixon orders a resumption of full-scale bombing of targets in North Vietnam (Vietnam War).

1989 – Operation Just Cause, the invasion of Panama, begins.

1991 – The USSR went out of existence after 74 years.

1992 – Operation Restore Hope – America’s intervention in Somalia began.

VetJobs
P. O. Box 71445
Marietta, GA 30007-1445
770-Vet-Jobs (877-838-5627)
770-993-5117 Office
770.993.2875 Fax

Veterans make the best employees!
Freedom Is Never Free – Support Our Armed Forces and Veterans!

VetJobs is an appropriate employment service delivery system for EEOC, VEVRAA/JVA and OFCCP compliance support!

VetJobs is a Service Disabled Veteran Owned Small Business

Ted Daywalt — Sun, 01 Nov 2009 18:48:16 +0000

VetJobs Veteran Eagle
Issue 10:11, Sunday, November 1, 2009
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.

This month’s Veteran Eagle is sponsored by: Employer Support of the Guard & Reserve and TECHEXPO Top Secret

Contents:

1. Message from the Top

2. Companies Honoring Active Military & Veterans on Veterans Day

3. Call to Action Assisting Student Veterans

4. AMVETS DVD Task Force

5. Board of Veterans Appeals Expanded

6. VA Links Parkinson’s to Agent Orange

7. VA Staffs Office for Survivors of Veterans

8. Droves of Recruits to Ease Burden on Troops

9. Veterans Curation Project

10. Flag Etiquette

11. National Guard and Reserve Mobilized as of October 27, 2009

12. Significant Events this Month in Military History

From the VFW:
VETERANS DAY – NOVEMBER 11, 2009
Show Your Pride and Patriotism http://www.vfwstore.org/SearchResult.aspx?CategoryID=238

VFW INSURANCE
The Veterans of Foreign Wars offers great insurance benefits including auto, health and life. To find out more about these plans and other Insurance Benefits go to www.vfwinsurance.com

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1. Message from the Top

Happy 10th Birthday to VetJobs! As of 11:00 AM on November 11, VetJobs will have been serving the employment needs of transitioning military, veterans, wounded warriors, disabled veterans and their family members for ten years!. During that time, millions of veterans have used the site as a resource for guidance on how to conduct a job search, interviewing, career advice, referral to other appropriate career sites, to find military related job fairs, and most of all, to apply to thousands of military friendly employers who want to hire transitioning military, veterans, wounded warriors, disabled veterans and their family members!

So many new items came with Version 4.0 it would take many pages to describe everything VetJobs offers today. Recent changes include the expansion of the veteran and spouse resource pages that are full of new information. A frequently used tool is the Career Advisor, a career assessment test from one of the country’s leading testing firms, Candidate Resources, Inc (CRI), of Grand Prairie, TX. The test would normally cost $250, but CRI has donated thousands of tests to veterans and their family members. CRI is a true supporter of the military!

VetJobs is pleased to be sponsored and partially owned by the Veterans of Foreign Wars. In fact, VetJobs been endorsed by more veteran service organizations than any other site. VetJobs has been endorsed and has alliances with the Vietnam Veterans of America, the Military Order of the Purple Heart, the Association of the United States Navy, the Veterans of Modern Warfare, the Student Veterans of America, Hope4Heroes, and various intelligence related organizations. Being recognized and used as their job board by so many important veteran service organizations has kept VetJobs in the forefront of assisting veterans who need help! Visit the VetJobs Alliances page to see the many companies and non-profits with whom VetJobs has become aligned over the last ten years. Additionally, VetJobs materials are now used in state and federal Department of Labor offices, DOD Transition Assistance Program and Army Career & Alumni Program offices worldwide, as well as Veteran Administration offices.

Due to VetJobs’ leading position in the industry, VetJobs is regularly cited in the press, radio and TV. VetJobs has been highlighted in USA Today, regularly quoted by Military Times, various news services, and was on the CBS 60 Minutes program regarding USERRA last November.

Due to the impact VetJobs has had in the employment market, VetJobs has been elected to the Board of Governors of the International Association of Employment Web Sites, been appointed to the Small Business Council of the US Chamber of Commerce and has been subpoenaed to testify before the President’s Commission on the National Guard and Reserve. VetJobs has testified before Congress and worked with members of Congress regarding veteran and employment issues on many occasions. VetJobs has developed a very strong national reputation for being a major advocate for transitioning military, veterans, wounded warriors, disabled veterans and their family members.

Importantly, over the last ten years VetJobs has come to be recognized by the industry evaluators as THE leading military related job board on the Internet. VetJobs awards include: CareerXRoads Top Site; seven year recipient of AIRS Top Recruiting Site; six year recipient of WEDDLE’s prestigious User’s Choice Award; four year recipient of Workforce Management’s Top 10 Recruiting Site; and was the only military job board selected by Reader’s Digest in its list of 18 top sites! Notably, BusinessWeek is running an article about VetJobs which identifies VetJobs as the leading military job board in the November 16 issue, which comes out November 7 in time for Veterans Day. No other military related job board has received these prestigious recognitions!

It has been an exciting ten years. But the bottom line for the staff at VetJobs and our veteran service organization partners is that millions of veterans and their family members have come to the site seeking and receiving help and guidance on their job search. Thousands over the last ten years have taken advantage of the ability to call and get personal job counseling. More importantly, tens of thousands have found jobs applying to the employers who use VetJobs. And many more were able to get good jobs elsewhere due to the career advice, guidance and referrals to other sources and employers they received from the VetJobs site, their calls and email inquiries. Our mission is to help our brothers, sisters and their family members get jobs, and over the last ten years VetJobs has met that mission!

It is you, the transitioning military, veterans, wounded warriors, disabled veterans and your family members who have made VetJobs what it is today. Because of your service and commitment to our country, VetJobs, our partner veteran service organizations and alliance partners are committed to serving your needs in finding quality employment.

Thank you for serving. I and the staff of VetJobs look forward to continue serving you in the coming years.

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In addition to VetJobs birthday, on November 11 we celebrate Veterans Day. Originally known as Armistice Day, it was created by an Act of Congress on May 13, 1938. It set the 11th of November of each year as a legal holiday to be dedicated to the cause of world peace and be known as Armistice Day, which was set in remembrance of the end of World War I. The Armistice was signed at 11:00 AM on the 11th day of the 11th month. In 1954, after World War II had required the greatest military mobilization in the history of the United States and following the Korean War, the 83rd Congress amended the Act of 1938 by striking out the word Armistice and inserting the word Veteran. With the approval of this legislation (Public Law 380) on June 1, 1954, November 11th became known as Veterans Day, a day to honor American veterans of all wars. We will forever be in the debt of our veterans as they are the guarantors of our freedoms. Let us honor them accordingly.

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On November 10 we celebrate the Marine Corps’ 234th birthday! If you see a Marine, say Semper Fi and Happy Birthday! To view an outstanding Marine Corps Birthday message, please visit http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V7Bicfc9dp0

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November is the month we celebrate Thanksgiving. The tradition of the Pilgrims’ first Thanksgiving is steeped in myth and legend. Few people realize that the Pilgrims did not celebrate Thanksgiving, though some of their descendants later made a “Forefather’s Day” that usually occurred on December 21 or 22. Several Presidents, including George Washington, made one-time Thanksgiving holidays. In 1827, Mrs. Sarah Josepha Hale began lobbying Presidents for the instatement of Thanksgiving as a national holiday, but her lobbying was unsuccessful until 1863 when Abraham Lincoln finally made it a national holiday with his 1863 Thanksgiving Proclamation. Now Thanksgiving is the fourth Thursday of November. This was set by President Franklin D. Roosevelt in 1939 and was approved by Congress in 1941, who changed it from Abraham Lincoln’s designation as the last Thursday in November, which could occasionally end up being the fifth Thursday and hence too close to Christmas for businesses.

As you celebrate Veterans Day and Thanksgiving, please remember our troops who are serving in defense of our country in Afghanistan, Iraq and many other overseas locations. For many of the troops overseas, their holidays will be celebrated at the tip of the spear as they continue the fight in the War on Terrorism.

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This past week I attended an incredible roundtable meeting of organizations working on the local level to assist wounded warriors. The roundtable is being run under the auspices of the CSRA Wounded Warrior Care Project. Executive Director Laurie Ott has brought together federal agencies, local schools, non-profits, politicians and businesses that can assist wounded warriors at the Eisenhower Army Medical Center. Importantly, she has created a forum for organizations to exchange information. Some of these organizations did not know the others existed or what they offered. As a result, the support for our wounded warriors in the August area is greatly enhanced! This is a program that needs to be duplicated nationwide. See Article 9 below to learn of a program that the CSRA Wound Warrior Care Project is assisting. To learn more about what the CSRA Wounded Warrior Care Project is doing please visit http://www.csrawwcp.org/, or contact Laurie Ott at laurie.ott@csrawwcp.org.

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On the economic front, the unemployment rate in September climbed to 9.8% while the unemployment rate for all veterans rose to 8.9%. The unemployment rate for many younger veterans who participate in the Guard and Reserve is exceptionally high due to DOD’s two year call up policy and heavy use of the Guard and Reserve to prosecute the wars. Too many employers will not now hire as a new employee someone who is active in the Guard and Reserve as the candidate will be gone for one to two years. Employers cannot run their businesses with employees gone for such extended periods.

The economy and what is happening to the job market seems to be on everyone’s mind. For many, it is a brutal job market. Yet even with 15 million people looking for work, many employers cannot find enough qualified people for good-paying career jobs. Economists say the main problem is an unequal match between available work and people qualified to do it. The unequal match will make it harder for the unemployment rate to drop down to a healthier level.

Millions of jobs with attractive pay and benefits that once drew legions of workers to the auto industry, construction, Wall Street and other sectors are gone, many forever. Many jobs moved to other areas of the country, but the emplyees cannot afford to move. And the people who lost those jobs generally lack the right experience for new positions popping up in healthcare, energy, biotechnology, information technology and engineering. Many of these specialized jobs were hard to fill even before the recession. But during downturns, recruiters tend to become even choosier and less willing to take financial risks on untested workers.

According to labor analysts, even during this recession companies are having a difficult time finding qualified accountants, health care workers, software sales representatives, actuaries, data analysts, physical therapists, morticians, pharmacists, and electrical engineers. In this last sentence note again the use of the descriptive adjective, qualified. Several pundants complain that there are six people for every job opening, the highest ratio on government records since 2000. They get these ratios by dividing the total number of unemployed by the total number of estimated jobs available. As the pundants generally are pushing a political or economic agenda, they disregard the fact that employers do not hire a candidate just to fill a job. Rather, employers hire “qualified” candidates who are capable of performing specified activities! That is the real world.

Recently there have been news reports that the recession is over or nearly over, and it may be in some areas. I use the word area to mean both geographic as well as industry sectors. But the economy is not one big monolith that moves uniformly. While some parts of the economy and sectors are in recovery others are still heading down. The bottom line is the U.S. economy is still shedding jobs and it is expected that the unemployment rate will rise above 10% in the months to come. While some have referred to this recovery as a jobless recovery, I prefer to use the term “less jobs recovery” as unlike the last recession, many employers are still hiring, but at a greatly reduced rate. There are jobs available, but the competition is fierce even if you are qualified.

What is disconcerting in this recession is the credit markets have not yet recovered. Small-business lending and consumer lending have contracted, if not completely stopped in many areas. And mortgage lending is being entirely underwritten by the government, meaning more taxes to those left working. I believe the lack of lending to small businesses is perhaps the largest cause for concern in this economy because small businesses are and always have been the engines of innovation and job creation that brought America out of past recessions. Small businesses account for the largest proportion of real employment in the United States.

I hear from many employers of all sizes that they know they need to hire new employees because the ones left in the business since the many lay-offs are being over worked. But employers, especially small to medium size companies, are hesitant to start hiring in the current political climate. They are concerned about the ever expanding federal government and who is going to pay for the expanding government; about the way the leaders of the current Congress are attempting to raise taxes in the middle of a deep recession; about the threats of mandatory increased health care costs; and about the lack of access to capital. They are concerned about the way the federal government is now intervening and taking control of major industries and the financial system, thus destroying capitalism, our free enterprise system, and potentially leading the United States into socialism which has failed miserably in Europe.

On top of all this, the United States has one more potential major shock to the economic system coming around the start of January when the commercial real estate sub-prime market is expected to hit. No one seems to know if it will be as bad as the residential sub-prime market collapse, but all agree it will hurt the economy in a major way.

If you are a student of history, you will remember that the Great Depression lasted ten years in the United States, but only about four years in Europe. Unfortunately, the current administration and Congress are repeating many of the same errors today that kept America in the Great Depression for so long during 1930’s. If you are concerned about these events, tell your members of congress that their behavior and activities are not helping the economy recover, making it harder for our veterans and family members to find quality jobs.

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Finally, we welcome the Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve (ESGR) as a new sponsor of our newsletters. Please read their message below. If your company has not signed a Statement of Support, then have your appropriate company representative visit www.esgr.mil and sign up immediately! Supporting our National Guard and Reserve is critical during this time of war. Your support is appreciated!

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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

/—-November Veteran Eagle sponsor is Employer Support of the Guard & Reserve—-\

Nominate Your Employer for the 2010 Secretary of Defense Employer Support Freedom Award!

Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve (ESGR), a Department of Defense agency, invites nominations for the 2010 Secretary of Defense Employer Support Freedom Award

Freedom Award recipients support their Guard and Reserve employees and their families in important ways, both large and small. Past recipients have provided differential pay during deployments, continued insurance benefits and sent comfort items in care packages. Some of the most valued assistance has been the support extended to deployed service members’ families. When one National Guard member was deployed, his employer filled his seat at his sons’ sports games. After another service member’s family hit hard times during a deployment, his employer stacked gifts under the family’s Christmas tree. And during the deployment of a single father, his employer sent his daughters off to school each morning with a wake up phone call.
These seemingly small acts have a significant impact on the lives of National Guard and Reserve members and their families.

Visit www.freedomaward.mil/nominate.aspx? to submit a nomination.

\—–Please visit your November Veteran Eagle sponsor Employer Support of the Guard & Reserve at www.esgr.mil—–/

2. Companies Honoring Active Military & Veterans on Veterans Day

Many restaurants, attractions and retail establishments now honor veterans (and some their families) on Veterans Day or days surrounding Veterans Day. Here is a list of those of which VetJobs is aware offering special deals. Requirements vary, but you will need one of the following: DD-214, military ID card, driver’s license indicating you were military, military leave and earnings statement, veterans service organization membership card or photograph in uniform or wearing uniform that identifies you as a veteran to participate with these great companies who are honoring veterans. As a general rule, when you are shopping or traveling, ask if the store, restaurant or hotel has a military discount. You will be surprised at how many offer these discounts. Enjoy and bon appetite!

-Free Applebee’s meals on Veterans Day

http://www.applebees.com/vetsday/

-McCormick & Schmick’s Seafood Restaurants, Sunday, November 8 http://www.mccormickandschmicks.com/featured-promotion/Veterans-Appreciation-Day.aspx

-Golden Corral Military Appreciation, Monday, November 16, http://www.goldencorral.com/military/#

-Knotts Berry Farm, November 1 through November 26

http://www.knotts.com/public/admission/prices/deals.cfm

-Lowes – 10% off on Veterans Day

http://www.lowes.com/lowes/lkn?action=pg&p=Promos/veteransDay07.html&lks=hpsm1

-Home Depot – 10% discounts

http://www.homedepot.com

-Disney’s Armed Forces Salute at Disney Parks

http://mousepad.mouseplanet.com/blog.php?b=322

-Anheuser-Busch Adventure Parks – free park admission

http://commerce.4adventure.com/store/os_application.asp

/—November Veteran Eagle sponsor is TECHEXPO Top Secret—-\

TECHEXPO Top Secret’s next job fairs are:

11/17, TECHEXPO Top Secret Career Fair, BWI Marriott, 1743 West Nursery Road, Baltimore, MD, 10:00 AM to 3:00 PM. Pre-register at http://www.techexpoUSA.com/index_VJS.cfm

11/18, TECHEXPO Top Secret Career Fair, Ritz Carlton Tysons Corner, 1700 Tysons Boulevard, McLean, VA, 10:00 AM to 3:00 PM. Pre-register at http://www.techexpoUSA.com/index_VJS.cfm

\—–Please visit your November Veteran Eagle sponsor TECHEXPO Top Secret at www.techexpousa.com—-/

3. Call to Action Assisting Student Veterans

VFW National Commander Tradewell has issued a ‘call to action’ by asking VFW Posts nationwide to mobilize their resources on behalf of student veterans and assist those needing transportation to a VA regional office or college campus. “Today, I urge every VFW Post to reach-out to their respective student veteran communities. One easy way to do this is to first determine if there is a Student Veterans of America (SVA) chapter on campus. The SVA has a chapter locator that can be accessed by going to their website: http://www.studentveterans.org/chapters/chapterlocator.php and makes it easy to contact the student group and offer assistance. Since one of the SVA’s primary goals is to connect with groups with resources from outside their campuses to help meet the common needs of student veterans, they can help coordinate with VFW Posts and students needing transportation assistance. Otherwise, I encourage any VFW Post with a college campus anywhere in their vicinity, to contact the campus veteran’s representative or Dean’s office to help facilitate assistance.”

4. AMVETS DVD Task Force

AMVETS Task Force DVD is an appeal to patriotic Americans to donate their new and used DVDs which will then be shipped to our fighting men and women overseas. For more information, visit http://www.amvets.org/taskforcedvd

5. Board of Veterans Appeals Expanded

Secretary of Veterans Affairs Eric Shinseki announced the addition of four new Veterans Law Judges to the Board of Veterans’ Appeals (BVA), which will enable the board to increase the number of cases being decided. BVA is an appeals body where veterans, their dependents, or their survivors can go when they’re not satisfied with decisions about claims for benefits administered by the Department of Veterans Affairs. The board currently has 60 Veterans Law Judges. VA provides a pamphlet entitled, How Do I Appeal, to anyone who isn’t satisfied with the results of a benefits claim that was decided by a VA regional office, medical center or another local VA office. For more information about BVA or to download a copy of the pamphlet, visit VA’s Gateway to VA Appeals webpage at www.va.gov/vbs/bva.

6. VA Links Parkinson’s to Agent Orange

Stars and Stripes reports Veterans Affairs officials added three new illnesses to the list of diagnoses connected to Agent Orange, allowing quicker health care claims for Vietnam veterans suffering from Parkinson’s disease, hairy cell leukemia and ischemic heart disease. The move follows a study by the nongovernmental Institute of Medicine. The group has been studying the effects of Agent Orange since the early 1990s and this summer suggested a link between those diseases and the toxic Agent Orange chemicals. In a statement, VA secretary Eric Shinseki said the additions bring to 12 the number of “presumed” sicknesses linked to Agent Orange. Others include prostate cancer and Hodgkin’s disease. VA officials said that up to 250,000 veterans may benefit from the latest change. In a statement, Veterans of Foreign Wars national commander Thomas Tradewell Sr., a Vietnam veteran, called the additions a significant change and praised Shinseki for the move.

7. VA Staffs Office for Survivors of Veterans

VA News service reports that to strengthen the Department of Veterans Affairs programs for survivors of the nation’s veterans and service members, the VA has staffed an office to serve as their advocate, with a charter that includes creating or modifying programs, benefits and services. The office serves as the primary adviser to the secretary on all issues affecting the survivors and dependents of deceased veterans and service members. It will monitor VA’s delivery of benefits to survivors, make appropriate referrals to VA offices for survivors seeking benefits, and explore innovative ways of reaching survivors who are not receiving the VA benefits for which they are eligible. VA benefits for eligible survivors include educational assistance, home-loan guaranties, health-care insurance, and dependency and indemnity compensation. Known as DIC, this is a monthly payment to the survivors of some people who die on active duty and some seriously disabled veterans. The establishment of this office was authorized in the Veterans Benefits Improvement Act of 2008. For more information, call 800-827-1000 or visit the VA Web site at www.va.gov/.

8. Droves of Recruits to Ease Burden on Troops

The U.S. military reported the biggest surge in recruits since the end of the draft – an increase that likely will relieve pressure on troops serving in Iraq and Afghanistan by allowing them to spend more time at home between overseas deployments. The U.S. Army, Navy, Marine Corps and Air Force sent about 169,000 new recruits for training in the fiscal year that ended September 30. The Pentagon said this was the highest figure since 1973, the first year of the modern all-volunteer force. The numbers also exceed the Pentagon’s goal for the year of 164,000 new service members.

9. Veterans Curation Project

The mission of the Veterans Curation Project (VCP) is to provide wounded veterans with job training through the rehabilitation and preservation of archaeological collections owned or administered by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. On October 20, 2009, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Center of Expertise (CX) for Curation and Management of Archeological Collections (CMAC), St. Louis District, conducted a public opening of a groundbreaking new project. At the VCP laboratory in Augusta, GA, Iraq and Afghanistan returnees along with Vietnam era veterans are taking part in archaeological curation training under the Wounded Warrior Care Project. Two additional laboratories will open in St. Louis, MO, and Washington, DC. The skills obtained by the Wounded Warriors participating in the VCP are readily transferable to jobs in health care, police, fire, administrative, government and engineering career fields. The Augusta VCP, working in collaboration with the CSRA Wounded Warrior Care Project, the VA and the Georgia Department of Labor will assist VCP participants in job preparation and placement. To learn more about this exciting new program, contact “Sonny” Trimble at Michael.K.Trimble@usace.army.mil.

10. Flag Etiquette

The “Star Spangled Banner” has been designated as the national anthem of the United States of America since 1931. During the playing of the anthem, when the flag is displayed, persons not in uniform should stand at attention facing the flag with their right hand over their heart. Those in uniform should begin saluting the flag at the first note of the music and hold the salute until the last note of the anthem is played. Veterans in civilian clothes have the option of saluting or placing their hand over their heart. Those veterans wearing veteran service organization caps or uniforms of other patriotic organizations should salute.

11. National Guard and Reserve Mobilized as of October 27, 2009

The total number currently on active duty from the Army National Guard and Army Reserve is 108,131; Navy Reserve, 6,432; Air National Guard and Air Force Reserve, 13,315; Marine Corps Reserve, 8,146; and the Coast Guard Reserve, 683. This brings the total National Guard and Reserve personnel who have been activated to 136,707, including both units and individual augmentees. A cumulative roster of all National Guard and Reserve personnel who are currently activated may be found at http://www.defenselink.mil/news/Oct2009/d20091027ngr.pdf

12. Significant Events this Month in Military History

1775 – Continental Congress establishes two battalions of Marines. Samuel Nicholas was appointed “Captain of Marines” on 28 November 1775, and promoted to major on June 25, 1776. Because of his senior status among other Marine officers of the Revolution, he is numbered as the first Commandant.

1775 – Americans under General Richard Montgomery capture the British fort of Saint Johns. (War of Independence)

1861 – The Confederate raider Nashville captured and burned the Union clipper ship Harvey Birch in the Atlantic Ocean. (Civil War)

1864 – Union General W.T. Sherman began his march to the sea from Atlanta, GA, in an effort to cut the Confederacy in two. (Civil War)

1865 – Dr. Mary E. Walker, the first female surgeon in the Union Army, is presented with the Medal of Honor, the first woman to receive that award.

1910 – First airplane flight from the deck of a ship.

1917 – American troops were first engaged in fighting attacking German troops near the Rhine-Marne Canal in France. (World War I)

1918 – World War I ends at the eleventh hour of the eleventh day of the eleventh month with the signing of an Armistice. (World War I)

1942 – Operation Torch begins with Allied landings in northwest Africa (World War II).

1943 – U.S. Marines landed on Tarawa in the Gilbert Islands, one of the bloodiest campaigns waged by American forces against the Japanese in the Pacific (World War II).

1965 – Battle of Chu Pon-ia Drang River, Vietnam. U.S. 1st Calvary fought North Vietnamese regulars for four days (Vietnam War).

1967 – American troops broke a North Vietnamese assault at Loc Ninh, near the Cambodian border (Vietnam War).

1968 – Battle of Nui Chom Mountain. The 4th Bn, 31st Infantry, 196th Inf Bde fought and destroyed the 21st NVA Regiment on Nui Chom Mountain southwest of Da Nang, Vietnam in a fierce six day battle. Cpl Michael Crescenz received the Medal of Honor as they fought inch by inch up the steep mountain. (Vietnam War)

1979 – Iranian militants seized the US Embassy in Tehran, held 65 Americans hostage.

1999 – VetJobs went live on the Internet.

VetJobs
P. O. Box 71445
Marietta, GA 30007-1445
770-Vet-Jobs (877-838-5627)
770-993-5117 Office
770.993.2875 Fax

Veterans make the best employees!
Freedom Is Never Free – Support Our Armed Forces and Veterans!

VetJobs is an appropriate employment service delivery system for EEOC, VEVRAA/JVA and OFCCP compliance support!

VetJobs is a Service Disabled Veteran Owned Small Business

Ted Daywalt — Thu, 01 Oct 2009 18:18:28 +0000

VetJobs Veteran Eagle
Issue 10:10, Thursday, October 1, 2009
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.

This month’s Veteran Eagle is sponsored by: Maid Brigade and TECHEXPO Top Secret

Contents:

1. Message from the Top

2. History of Columbus Day

3. History of Navy Day

4. USAF Voluntary Retired Rated Officer Recall Program

5. VA Combat Vet Refunds

6. DOL One Stops

7. VA to Begin Distributing Emergency GI Bill Payments

8. Veteran Courts

9. New Scam Using the VA

10. New Al Qaeda Bomb Technique Seen As Severe Threat to Airline Security

11. Officials Announce Family Program Expansion

12. US Chamber Veteran Event in November

13. Flag Code

14. National Guard and Reserve Mobilized as of September 29, 2009

15. Significant Events this Month in Military History

From the VFW:
VFW Store – Your Purchase Helps Veterans, Military Troops and Their Families http://www.vfwstore.org/SearchResult.aspx?CategoryID=250

Do you need a home loan? Receive a Paid-in-Full Life Membership with the Veterans of Foreign Wars (www.vfw.org) when you obtain a home loan through Guaranteed Rate Mortgage. If you are already a life member, you may donate the life membership to a returning service member or other eligible veteran, or a $400 donation may be made to the VFW in your name. To apply visit https://www.guaranteedrate.com/apply/vfw.php

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1. Message from the Top

Have you ever been to a function where the United States flag is presented and seen people who do not put their hand over their heart as the flag goes by? Or been to a political event and seen individuals who do not rise when the group is saying the Pledge of Allegiance? Unfortunately, this is happening more now than in the past. Much of this improper behavior is due to ignorance. Much can be attributed to the fact that many schools in the effort to be politically correct do not teach flag manners – how to honor and display the American flag.

Case in point, I was recently at a town hall meeting where four protestors deliberately sat through the presentation of the flag and the Pledge of Allegiance. This was disturbing to many of the attendees, and while it is the right of the protesters to make a political statement by refusing to honor the flag of our country, I considered it an insult and a public display of their gross ignorance. There are better ways to protest than to dishonor the flag of the United States.

For members of the military who have served and fought for our country, few things evoke such strong emotion as seeing the flag presented at a ceremony to honor an event or seeing a flag draped over a coffin as a sign of mourning for a hero or loved one.

An unfurled flag symbolizes the love and pride that we have as a nation. The flag is a poignant reminder of America’s greatness and our fortune to live in a country which values freedom above all else. The flag signifies the commitment made by our forefathers and fallen comrades who battled bravely to defend the honor of this sacred emblem of a free federal republic that signifies American unity, power and purpose as a nation. Our flag continues the promise of liberty, justice and freedom for all. The flag reflects America’s continuing pledge to uphold our democratic based ideas and work for peace throughout the world.

So starting with this newsletter, I will be adding a paragraph each month on how to properly display the flag – See article 12 below. Be sure to fly your flag at both home and at your place of work. If you need a flag, a great place to buy one is at the VFW Store at www.vfwstore.org.

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This month we celebrate the 234th birthday of the United States Navy. At an October 13, 1775 meeting in Philadelphia, the Continental Congress voted to fit out two sailing vessels, armed with ten carriage guns, as well as swivel guns. The frigates were to be manned by crews of eighty and to cruise the Atlantic for three months to intercept transports carrying munitions and stores to the British army in America. This was the original legislation out of which the Continental Navy grew and as such constitutes the birth certificate of the Navy. If you meet a current or former member of the Navy, say Happy Birthday!

Other events celebrated this month include:

October 12 – Columbus Day

October 13 – Navy Day.

September 15 through October 15 – Hispanic Heritage Month

October 31 – Halloween.

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Several veterans have called in complaining about having to go to a company URL to apply to a job as it used to be that they could just mail in a resume or hand one to a recruiter. In one case the veteran was frustrated having stood in line at a career fair to talk to a recruiter for nearly 40 minutes only to have the recruiter look at his resume, say it looks good, and told him to go apply on line.

Over the last several years, the US Department of Labor (DOL) has come out with many onerous record keeping requirements levied on employers from the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC), Jobs for Veterans Act (JVA) which amended the Vietnam Era Veterans’ Readjustment Assistance Act (VEVRAA), and the Office of Federal Contract Compliance Program (OFDCCP). These record keeping requirements are costing the business sector tens of millions of dollars to comply. OFCCP has quadrupled the number of auditors in the last year as DOL has found this practice to be very lucrative and are conducting audits that can cost companies tens of thousands of dollars in assessments, the new politically correct way to say fines. Thus to comply with all the record keeping requirements (many of which contradict each other – go figure!), companies have resorted to using the efficiency of the Internet to keep track of all the things now demanded by DOL. I can appreciate the frustration of those having to deal with these systems, but you need to adapt as the requirements are not going to go away. And for many employers, having a candidate use the Internet portal tells the employer the candidate has some basic computer skills.

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On the economic front, the US economy may have bottomed out and is slowly starting to climb out of the recession. Many pundits and politicians like to claim it is due to the stimulus package passed by congress, but I rather doubt that is the reason since less than five percent of the stimulus package has been spent!

For many sectors, the federal stimulus may provide the economic shot in the arm that is critical to stemming catastrophic job and population losses. But these short-term stimulus projects must be conceived, developed, and managed in the context of a longer-term plan for economic health of the economy. If the economy is indeed resetting itself, as the data suggest, then communities and regions must commit to a longer-term vision, strategies, and implementation plans to ensure continued growth. Few, if any in our various government organizations, have such vision or strategic plans.

Some indications that the economy is improving include:

-Jobless claims fell to the lowest level since July

- The Federal Reserve reported that American households were $2 trillion richer on June 30 than they were three months earlier, the first time in two years that household net worth had increased.

- The Conference Board reported the index of leading economic indicators rose 0.6% in August, the fifth straight increase.

-In some markets home prices have increased the most since 2005.

- Gross domestic product contracted at a 1.2% annual rate from April to June, the smallest drop in a year.

- The “cash for clunkers” effort and first-time homebuyer credits are giving manufacturing and housing, the two areas at the center of the economic slump a boost last quarter, but will not help as the economy moves forward.

-Many economists predict the worst is over and the third quarter will be a strong growth quarter.

- The Standard & Poor’s 500 Index has jumped 57% since it reached a 12-year low on March 9 of this year.

- Encouraged by government subsidies to buy cars, U.S. consumer spending soared 1.3% in August. This is the fastest increase since the post-9/11 shopping binge eight years ago.

- Declines in business stockpiles, which dropped last quarter at the fastest pace on record, have set the stage for a pickup in manufacturing.

- The drag from housing is dissipating. Sales of new homes rose last month to the highest level in almost a year.

- And finally, payroll decline is slowing.

While all this is good news, we still have a long, long way to go before the economy is sound again. Importantly, while the worst of the housing sub-prime debacle caused by the Congress and the socialistic Community Re-investment Act has passed, the country still faces the possibility of a similar debacle in the commercial real estate sector. How that will play out is still very much up in the air.

Let us hope that some of our leaders in Congress will follow the much heralded moves by European governments away from socialism to capitalism. Europe had been the largest test bed for socialism in world history and all the European states have concluded socialism does not work. The ideas were great until they had to start paying the bills. Hopefully our government leaders will learn from the European experience!

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So where are the jobs? According to a recent study by the Partnership for Public Service, federal agencies will need to hire more than 270,000 new employees for mission-critical jobs in the next three years, including more than 11,500 information technology professionals. This will make the federal government the leading employer in the country. This may be the right avenue for you in finding a job. There are pros and cons to working for the federal government, and the labyrinth of the federal application process can be very frustrating. Federal Computer Week has published an excellent article on applying to federal jobs titled 5 Problems with Federal Hiring – 5 Reality Checks. You can read it at http://fcw.com/articles/2009/09/28/management-federal-hiring-process.aspx

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Scams directed at military and their families are again occurring. I have received many reports that Veterans are being contacted by a “Patient Care Group” representing that they are helping administer VA prescriptions and stating that the pharmacy billing procedures have changed and they are therefore requesting Veteran credit card numbers for prescription payments in advance of filling their prescriptions. This is false. The VA does not call Veterans asking to disclose personal financial information over the phone. The VA has not changed its processes for dispensing prescription medicines. For more information, see article 9 below.

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Please look at article 12 below concerning a special program called Business Steps Up: Hiring Our Heroes Summit sponsored by the United States Chamber of Commerce. If you can attend on November 12, you will be participating in a very exciting program. I will be attending and look forward to seeing you there!

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Finally, October is National Domestic Violence Awareness Month. One in every four women will experience domestic violence in her lifetime, and women 20 to 24 are at the greatest risk. Most cases of domestic violence are never reported to the police. And men are victims, too. More than 834,000 men report being domestically assaulted annually. People who are abused often feel as though no one will believe them, or they think they have nowhere to go for help.

While we cannot concern ourselves with every detail of a person’s life, we can be aware of changes in behavior, moods and certainly appearance of those around us. If you are in a leadership position, part of the responsibility of being a leader is taking care of those for whom you are responsible. It is your responsibility to make sure your people are OK, both at work and at home. The mark of a good leader is the ability to listen and then act.

Please be aware. For more information, visit the National Resource Center on Domestic Violence at http://dvam.vawnet.org/. No one deserves to be abused!

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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

/—-October Veteran Eagle sponsor is Maid Brigade—-\

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\—–Please visit your October Veteran Eagle sponsor Maid Brigade —-/

2. History of Columbus Day

The first recorded celebration honoring the discovery of America by Europeans took place on October 12, 1792 in New York City. The event, which celebrated the 300th anniversary of Columbus’ landing in the New World, was organized by The Society of St. Tammany (also known as the Columbian Order). San Francisco’s Italian community held their first Columbus Day celebration in 1869. In 1892, President Benjamin Harrison urged citizens to participate in the 400th anniversary celebration of Columbus’ first voyage. It was during this event that the Pledge of Allegiance, written by Francis Bellamy, was recited publically for the first time. Colorado was the first state to observe the holiday in 1905. In 1937, President Roosevelt proclaimed October 12 as “Columbus Day” and in 1971, President Nixon declared the second Monday of October a national holiday.

3. History of Navy Day

In the United States, the Navy League of the United States organized the first Navy Day in 1922, holding it on October 27 because it was the birthday of the Navy-supporting President Theodore Roosevelt. Although meeting with mixed reviews the first year, in 1923 over 50 major cities participated, and the United States Navy sent a number of its ships to various port cities for the occasion. The 1945 Navy Day was an especially large celebration, with President Harry S. Truman reviewing the fleet in New York Harbor. In 1949, Louis A. Johnson, secretary of the newly-created Department of Defense, directed that the U.S. Navy’s participation occur on Armed Forces Day in May, although as a civilian organization the Navy League was not affected by this directive, and continued to organize Navy Day celebrations as before. In the 1970s, the “birthday” of the Continental Navy was found to be October 13, 1775, and so CNO Admiral Elmo R. Zumwalt worked with the Navy League to define October 13 as the new date of Navy Day.

/—October Veteran Eagle sponsor is TECHEXPO Top Secret—-\

TECHEXPO Top Secret’s next job fairs are:

10/6, TECHEXPO Top Secret Career Fair, Doubletree Hotel Colorado Springs, 1775 E Cheyenne Mountain Blvd, Colorado Springs, CO, 10:00 AM to 3:00 PM. Pre-register at http://www.techexpoUSA.com/index_VJS.cfm

10/20, TECHEXPO Top Secret Career Fair, BWI Marriott, 1743 West Nursery Road, Baltimore, MD, 10:00 AM to 3:00 PM. Pre-register at http://www.techexpoUSA.com/index_VJS.cfm

10/21, TECHEXPO Top Secret Career Fair, Sheraton Reston, 11810 Sunrise Valley Drive, Reston, VA, 10:00 AM to 3:00 PM. Pre-register at http://www.techexpoUSA.com/index_VJS.cfm

\—–Please visit your October Veteran Eagle sponsor TECHEXPO Top Secret —-/

4. USAF Voluntary Retired Rated Officer Recall Program

The secretary of the Air Force has initiated two voluntary recalls to active duty programs and expanded the number of eligible Air Force specialties for an existing one to help minimize the service’s critical shortage of rated officers.”The rapid expansion of unmanned aircraft systems as well as other emerging missions and rated requirements that directly support contingency operations created a demand for experienced, rated officers that exceeds current Air Force levels,” said Col. William Foote, the Air Force Personnel Center director of personnel services. The Voluntary Retired Rated Officer Recall Program allows the secretary of the Air Force to order retired Air Force rated officers to active duty. The Voluntary Limited Period Recall Program and Voluntary Permanent Rated Officer Recall Program allow Reserve officers the opportunity to apply for recall to extended active duty. Rated officers include pilots, combat systems officers and air battle managers. More than 225 officers have already received orders and are returning to active duty. Information about the rated recall programs, to include detailed eligibility criteria and application requirements, can be found on the Air Force Personnel Center’s “ASK” Web site. Click on “Voluntary Officer Return to Active Duty” under the Military Quick Links section to learn more. Interested officers may also call the Total Force Service Center at (800) 525-0102. For more information, call A1 Field Operating Agency Public Affairs at (210) 565-2334 or e-mail afpc.pa.dlist@randolph.af.mil.

5. VA Combat Vet Refunds

Many veterans are eligible for a retroactive refund of co-payments they made for medical services and prescriptions associated with treatments related to their combat experience. The Veterans Health Administration (VHA) is currently reviewing medical records to determine which veterans are eligible for the refunds. The National Defense Authorization Act of 2008 (Public Law 110-108) extended the period of enhanced enrollment eligibility and cost-free care for conditions that may be related to combat operations. The law allows any combat veteran, discharged from active duty on or after 28 January of 2003 to be eligible for Priority Group 6 enrollment up to five years after they leave the service. Combat veterans discharged before that date – who did not previously enroll in the VA health-care system – are also eligible for Priority Group 6 enrollment through 27 January of 2011. VHA plans on mailing letters in November to veterans affected by the extended eligibility period, informing them they will receive refunds by the end of December. Combat veterans are encouraged to call VA’s Health Resources Center toll-free with any questions at (800) 983-0932.

6. DOL One Stops

Free Government-Backed Assistance: With a little patience, you can receive job search assistance for free. Each state receives funding from the federal government for career centers. To find a one-stop career center, visit www.servicelocator.org.

7. VA to Begin Distributing Emergency GI Bill Payments

National news services are reporting that the Veterans Affairs Department will begin issuing emergency checks for up to $3,000 to Iraq and Afghanistan veterans whose payments under the new GI Bill have been delayed. Those checks will be distributed at VA regional offices beginning Friday. The agency “says it does not know how many students will request emergency funds, but it has approximately 25,000 claims pending. In order to get the payments out, the VA has said it is calling for mandatory overtime as well as the hiring of more employees. Citing the distance many Veterans would have to travel to apply in person at a VA benefits office, Shinseki announced Veterans can also apply online at www.va.gov, starting October 2. The online application will guide Veterans through the process to supply needed information. Shinseki noted that online applicants will receive their emergency payments through the mail after processing. A map and list of the participating VA regional benefits offices is available on the Internet at http://www2.va.gov/directory/guide/division_flsh.asp?dnum=3. The most updated information regarding VA issuing emergency checks will be available at VA’s web site www.va.gov starting October 1.

8. Veteran Courts

The House VA Committee held a roundtable discussion on judicial courts that only hear nonviolent cases involving veterans. Modeled after drug and mental health treatment courts, judges are able to order counseling, substance abuse treatment, mentoring, job training, housing assistance, and job placement services as alternatives to incarceration, which is far more expensive. Ten veterans’ courts currently operate in New York, Alaska, California, Oklahoma, Illinois, and Pennsylvania, with other states working to establish similar programs. Invited guests included three judges from Buffalo, Pittsburgh and Edwardsville, IL, as well as a VA medical center director and others involved in mentoring and treatment programs. For more on the hearing, visit the House VA website at http://veterans.house.gov/.

9. New Scam Using the VA

The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) is warning Veterans not to give credit card numbers over the phone to callers claiming to update VA prescription information. Veteran Service Organizations have brought to VA’s attention that callers are misrepresenting the VA to gain personal information over the phone. They say VA recently changed procedures for dispensing prescriptions and ask for the Veteran’s credit card number. Veterans with questions about VA services should contact the nearest VA medical center or call, toll-free, 877-222-8387.

10. New Al Qaeda Bomb Technique Seen As Severe Threat to Airline Security

The CBS Evening News reported Al Qaeda has developed a new tactic that allows suicide bombers to breach even the tightest security. Aviation experts are particularly concerned. When al Qaeda operative Abdullah Asieri tried to kill Saudi Prince Mohammed bin Nayef last month, he avoided detection by two sets of airport security including metal detectors, palace security and spent 30 hours in the close company of the prince’s own secret service agents. Using a trick from the narcotics trade, which has long smuggled drugs in body cavities, Asieri had a pound of high explosives plus a detonator inserted in his rectum. The blast left the prince slightly wounded. As an assassination, it was a failure. But as an exercise in defeating security, it was perfect per Chris Yates, an aviation security consultant. This is the nightmare scenario. On a plane at altitude the effects of such a bomb could be catastrophic and there is no current security system that could stop it.

11. Officials Announce Family Program Expansion

American Forces Press Service reports that the Pentagon’s Office of Military Community and Family Policy are expanding a popular child care. Beginning October 1, YMCA respite child care will be expanded to licensed child care programs at YMCAs in all states that wish to participate in the program. Currently, the service is offered at select YMCAs in nine states to provide temporary relief or a short break for the parent or guardian who is responsible for caring for a deployed service member’s child. The care is provided at no cost for children through age 12 for up to 16 hours of care per month, per child. Eligibility extends to families while their active duty spouse is deployed to a remote location for at least six months, as well as to Title 10 families of deployed Guard and Reserve personnel and those serving at independent duty locations. For a listing of the participating YMCAs and for a copy of the registration form, visit the Military OneSource Web site.

12. US Chamber Veteran Event in November

On November 12 the United States Chamber of Commerce’s National Chamber Foundation will host its second annual Business Steps Up: Hiring Our Heroes summit to focus on employment issues facing returning military, veterans, reservists, National Guard and their families. Key leaders of the U.S. military and members of the veteran’s affairs community, including keynote speaker General Eric Shinseki, will discuss ways the private sector can support our returning military personnel while benefitting from that workforce’s extensive training and experience. For more information, please visit http://ncf.uschamber.com/businessstepsup2009/. If you attend, please be sure to tell the Chamber you heard about the event via VetJobs Early Eagle!

13. Flag Code

The Flag Code, a national guideline on ways in which the flag is to be respected, states that no disrespect should be shown to the flag of the United States of America. When rendering the Pledge of Allegiance, persons should stand at attention, face the flag, and if in uniform, salute, or otherwise place the right hand over the heart. Persons wearing the caps of veteran service organizations may salute. Uniformed organizations like Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts should render respect to the flag in accordance with the traditions of the organization whose uniform they are wearing.

14. National Guard and Reserve Mobilized as of September 29, 2009

The total number currently on active duty from the Army National Guard and Army Reserve is 109,188; Navy Reserve, 6,405; Air National Guard and Air Force Reserve, 15,949; Marine Corps Reserve, 8,559; and the Coast Guard Reserve, 656. This brings the total National Guard and Reserve personnel who have been activated to 140,757, including both units and individual augmentees. A cumulative roster of all National Guard and Reserve personnel who are currently activated may be found at http://www.defenselink.mil/news/Sep2009/d20090929ngr.pdf

15. Significant Events this Month in Military History

1781 – British troops under General Lord Charles Cornwallis surrendered to General Washington at Yorktown, Virginia, effectively ending the American Revolution.

1775 – The US Navy was established.

1901 – The first British Navy submarine was commissioned.

1944 – Battle of Leyte Gulf

1950 – The invasion of North Korea started.

1952 – Battle of Hill 598 began, Korean War

1957 – The Soviet Union launched Sputnik I, first man-made earth satellite.

1962 – The U.S. began its blockade of Cuba to compel the Russians to remove long-range missiles aimed at the United States.

1964 – The Chinese exploded their first atomic bomb.

1965 – The Battle of the La Drang Valley, Vietnam War.

1968 – The Bombing of North Vietnam ended.

1969 – Battle of Loc Ninh, Vietnam War

1971 – Operation Jefferson Glenn, the last major operation in which US ground forces participated in Vietnam

1973 – Egypt and Syria launched military offensive against Israel

1983 -Terrorist attack on Marine Barracks, Beirut

1983 – Operation Urgent Fury, Grenada

1993 – Battle of Bakhara Market, Mogadishu, Somalia

2000 – Bombing of the USS Cole by Al-Qaeda terrorists

2001 – Operation Enduring Freedom began in Afghanistan

2001 – War on Terror Began

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Veterans make the best employees!
Freedom Is Never Free – Support Our Armed Forces and Veterans!

VetJobs is an appropriate employment service delivery system for EEOC, VEVRAA/JVA and OFCCP compliance support!

VetJobs is a Service Disabled Veteran Owned Small Business

Ted Daywalt — Tue, 01 Sep 2009 04:43:29 +0000

VetJobs Veteran Eagle
Issue 10:9, Tuesday, September 1, 2009
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.

This month’s Veteran Eagle is sponsored by: Maid Brigade and TECHEXPO Top Secret

Search over 35,000 jobs nationwide in the VetJobs database!

Contents:

1. Message from the Top

2. History of Labor Day

3. VetJobs Recommends: Dear America

4. Ruling in favor of Veteran Owned Businesses

5. OPM urges agencies to review age limits for new hires

6. Military Challenge Coins

7. V.E.T.S. Veteran Entrepreneur Training School

8. Federal Hiring Preference for Military Spouses

9. Bill Would Expand Benefits for Those Who Suffer Vaccine-Related Injuries

10. DCVAMC wins Medallion of Excellence

11. National Guard and Reserve Mobilized as of August 28, 2009

12. Significant Events this Month in Military History

PATRIOT DAY – SEPTEMBER 11TH
Remembering those who perished on 9-11 – Show your American Pride http://www.vfwstore.org/SearchResult.aspx?CategoryID=238

POW/MIA RECOGNITION DAY – You are Not Forgotten – SEPTEMBER 18th
Honor the commitments and sacrifices made by our nation’s prisoners of war and those who are still missing in action.

http://www.vfwstore.org/SearchResult.aspx?CategoryID=97

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1. Message from the Top

It was good to see many old friends who attended the VFW 110th National Convention in Phoenix, AZ, and came by our booth. Thank you for visiting. We passed out thousands of VetJobs tri-folds and the VetJobs red coasters. If you are in need of VetJobs tri-fold flyers to use with candidates, please call 877-838-5627 and we will be glad to forward you the flyers.

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Monday, September 7, is when the United States celebrates Labor Day! I give a brief discussion of the history of Labor Day in article #2 below. But when celebrating Labor Day this year, let us recognize not only the American labor movement and all it has brought about, but also those who labor to protect our country who are in the military. Many of our active duty, National Guard and Reserve brothers and sisters will not have the luxury of celebrating the holiday with their families. Please keep them in your prayers as they continue to defend our country!

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September has many military related dates:

9/2 is V-J Day when Japan formally surrendered in 1945, effectively ending World War II.

9/10 celebrates the incorporation of the Naval Sea Cadet Corps.

9/11 is Patriot Day established to remember those who perished in the attack on the United States. In spite of the radical Islamic attack on the United States, America stands united! You can show your pride with items from the VFW Store located at http://www.vfwstore.org/SearchResult.aspx?CategoryID=238

9/14 celebrates the writing of the Star Spangled Banner in 1814.

9/17 celebrates the approval of the United States Constitution in 1787.

9/18 is the birthday of the United States Air Force. If you meet a member of the USAF, say Happy Birthday!

9/19 is National POW/MIA Day. If you would like to order POW/MIA items, please visit http://www.vfwstore.org/SearchResult.aspx?CategoryID=97

9/29 is VFW Day when the Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) was established. The VFW is the oldest continuous veteran service organization in the United States! The original purpose of the VFW was to assist returning veterans receive healthcare and find jobs. The VFW is still fighting for veterans today! If you are eligible, please become a member by visiting www.vfw.org.

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On September 11 we commemorate those who died from the attack on America by radical Islamic terrorists. The day will be marked throughout the United States and abroad with services of remembrance. Please observe a solemn moment of silence on the morning on September 11 as we remember not only the terror, but also the heroism of those who stood in harm’s way.

Since that fateful day in 2001, there have been many radical Islamic terrorist attacks against democracies worldwide. In many of the debates about the ongoing conflicts in Afghanistan and Iraq, I notice that people forget to remember that it was the United States that was attacked on September 11. Unfortunately, we have too many apologists in our midst who seem to think America is the problem in the world. Such is not the case. We did not attack Islam or other Islamic countries. Never forget that the world is involved in a prolonged conflict with a non-state, radical religious group that wants to eliminate the nation state as we know it and the freedoms that have come to identify the democracies of the world and our free market economies.

I maintain that we can not negotiate with the radical Islamic terrorists since their sole goal is our elimination and the restoration of the Caliphate. Conflict theory teaches you can not negotiate with an entity whose sole purpose is your elimination. The radical Islamists care not for who they kill in order to reach their goal of expanding Islam. As a result, this conflict will be with us for a long, long time. This has many ramifications for the type of military the United States needs to maintain, as other conventional threats and historical enemies of America are re-emerging, especially Russia and China who are actively re-arming at the very time America’s current leadership wants to disarm the United States. The United States and other democracies did not start the conflict with radical Islam, but we will not back away from it! Let us pray that our leaders have the will to sustain this fight to the finish and commit whatever resources are necessary to win.

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On the economic front, job losses slowed in July as the unemployment rate unexpectedly fell back to 9.4% from 9.5%. Given the margin of error in the unemployment methodology, this is a wash. Economists are in disagreement as to where the unemployment rate is heading. Obviously, it did not stop at 8.0% as the current administration said it would. Some economists think it may go to 10% before it turns around. But if it remains static, that would be a good sign that maybe, just maybe things are finally starting to turn around. And that would be interesting since over 95% of the stimulus package has yet to be spent. Maybe the Congress will wake up and realize that the stimulus package is not causing an economic stimulus, but rather lays an excessive debt burden on our population. The federal deficit toped $1.27 trillion, a new record and in the last seven months has reflected the fastest growth of putting America in debt in our history!

Bank of America reports that as the economy continues its slow crawl toward recovery, the upcoming Labor Day holiday could mark a turning point in the job market. An analysis of layoff trends by global outplacement firm Challenger, Gray & Christmas, Inc. indicates that the heaviest job-cutting of the year may have occurred in the opening months of 2009, when recession-related downsizing appears to have reached its peak. According to a survey among 500 employers and employees conducted by Robert Half International and CareerBuilder, more than half of employers are saying they plan to hire full-time employees in the next 12 months, and 40% expect to hire contract, temporary or project professionals. The survey also found that 47% of hiring managers cited under-qualified applicants as their most common hiring challenge.

In spite of all the bad economic news, there are some bright spots. Health-care and education added 17,000 jobs. The Institute of Supply Management’s Manufacturing Index, one of the most-watched gauges of production activity, is edging toward recovery. The index measures how much manufacturing is shrinking or expanding, with a reading below 50 indicating contraction. For July, the Index stood at 48.9, just shy of expansion. Though still contracting (for the 18th consecutive month), the index has improved seven months in a row. Most in manufacturing say their situation is improving but marginally.

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I am happy to report that the unemployment rate for all veterans was 7.9% while the national unemployment rate is 9.4%. What we are seeing at VetJobs is most veterans are able to find jobs as reflected in the lower unemployment rate. That is not to say that there are no problems, as there is a huge problem in the National Guard and Reserve (NG&R) component members ability to find employment. Three studies have shown that due to the DOD policy implemented in January 2007 of extending call ups of the NG&R for two years has caused upwards of 60% or more of employers to not want to hire as a new employee an active member of the NG&R.

Now we are hearing reports nationwide of companies using the recession as an excuse to lay off members of the NG due to the two year call up policy. We now have many reports of NG members being laid off after DOD announces their state will be called up. If a component member of the NG is laid off before they receive their orders, USERRA is not applicable. Employers have now figured out how to get around USERRA.

As a former drilling Reservist, I think this action by certain employers is totally wrong. But I can also understand why they are doing it. The rules were changed on them without their input. DOD keeps saying the policy is to call up NG&R only one year in six, yet Georgia, South Carolina, Ohio, Tennessee, California, Iowa, etc are on their third, fourth and in some cases, fifth call ups. I don’t understand the new DOD fuzzy math of a call up policy of one year in six when in reality it is much, much greater. I must have missed that class in business school! The bottom line is an employer can not run a company with their employees being called away for one and two years at a time. There is a solution to this, but it is not currently palatable to the members of Congress – expand the active duty forces. Until then, many of the members of the NG&R are going to have a very, very difficult time. I am collecting real examples of NG&R members who have been laid off. If this happened to you or you know of someone, please forward the information to info@vetjobs.com. The examples will be used in testimony.

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Finally, BusinessWeek Special Sections joins Workforce Management Magazine, Reader’s Digest, AIRS and WEDDLE’s identifying the success VetJobs has had in assisting transitioning military, veterans and their family members in obtaining meaningful employment.

BusinessWeek Special Sections will be honoring VetJobs with a special advertising section in the November 16 issue which comes out on November 6, just prior to Veterans Day. If your company would be interested in participating in this advertising event to promote the hiring of transitioning military, veterans, National Guard, Reserve and their family members, please have your human resources or marketing department contact Jonathan Meigs, Producer, Special Ad Sections at jon@meigsmedia.com or call him at 518-329-0332. This would be a great opportunity for your company to show its support of hiring veterans! A great way to celebrate Veterans Day! Those who participate will benefit by demonstrating their support for hiring veterans to the over 4.7 million business executives and key decision makers in corporate America. This event will be a way for any size company to have great exposure before the American business community in America’s leading business magazine, BusinessWeek!

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If you know of any companies that should be hiring veterans, transitioning military and their family members, please send in the referral to info@vetjobs.com so we may contact the company.

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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

/—-August Veteran Eagle sponsor is Maid Brigade—-\

Maid Brigade owners manage their businesses – hiring others to do the cleaning. For more information about owning a Maid Brigade Franchise, go to www.maidbrigadefranchise.com.

The contest started on Independence Day and ends on Veterans Day, but applications are due by September 30, so enter now for your opportunity to own an award-winning Maid Brigade Franchise! For more information on the contest, please visit http://www.maidbrigadegiveaway.com/.

\—–Please visit your August Veteran Eagle sponsor Maid Brigade —-/

2. History of Labor Day

As the Industrial Revolution took hold of the United States, the average American in the late 1800s worked 12-hour days, seven days a week in order to make a basic living. Children were also working, as they provided cheap labor to employers and laws against child labor were not strongly enforced. With the long hours and terrible working conditions, American unions became more prominent and voiced their demands for a better way of life. On Tuesday September 5, 1882, 10,000 workers marched from City Hall to Union Square in New York City, holding the first-ever Labor Day parade. Participants took an unpaid day-off to honor the workers of America as well as vocalize issues they had with employers. As years passed, more states began to hold these parades, but Congress would not legalize the holiday until 12 years later.

/—September Veteran Eagle sponsor is TECHEXPO Top Secret—-\

TECHEXPO Top Secret’s next job fairs are:

9/22, TECHEXPO Top Secret Career Fair, BWI Marriott, 1743 West Nursery Road, Baltimore, MD, 10:00 AM to 3:00 PM. Pre-register at http://www.techexpoUSA.com/index_VJS.cfm

9/23, TECHEXPO Top Secret Career Fair, Ritz Carlton Tysons Corner, 1700 Tysons Boulevard, McLean, VA, 10:00 AM to 3:00 PM. Pre-register at http://www.techexpoUSA.com/index_VJS.cfm

\—–Please visit your September Veteran Eagle sponsor TECHEXPO Top Secret —-/

3. VetJobs Recommends: Dear America

From time to time, the staff of VetJobs learns of a movie or book we like to recommend to our readers. This month we strongly recommend the book Dear America, edited by Bernard Edelman for the New York Vietnam Veterans Memorial Commission. The latest version of the book has a new introduction by Senator John McCain. The book is a compilation of letters written by the men and women who fought and served in the Vietnam War. The book inspired an HBO film that received two Emmy Awards, a Peabody and a host of film festival honors. This is a must read book for anyone who has any interest in what really happened in Vietnam. Published by Norton & Company, 1985.

4. Ruling in favor of Veteran Owned Businesses

The Deputy Attorney General of the United States in a Ruling of August 21, 2009, says -there is to be PARITY, and no HUB Zone Priority as a result of the September 2008, GAO Decision that gave HUB Zone Small Businesses priority over us Service Disabled Veterans and other small business groups. This is a major win for veteran owned businesses. Thanks goes to the Small Business Administration for taking on the GAO HUB Zone Decision in the manner they did, as the disastrous after effects of the GAO Decision were felt immediately by veteran owned businesses.

5. OPM urges agencies to review age limits for new hires

The Office of Personnel Management has directed federal agencies to review age limits for job vacancies, after the Merit Systems Protection Board ruled such policies for new hires could violate the preferential rights of veterans. In a memo released on Wednesday, OPM Director John Berry said job seekers with veterans preference can apply for vacancies, regardless of whether they meet the age requirements for those jobs. Agencies must review their age requirements to determine whether they are necessary to performing the specified jobs. If not, the agencies must waive them for veterans, according to the memo. The memo says OPM will follow through on a 2008 Merit System Protections Board decision that found that the State Department violated the veterans preference rights of Robert Isabella when it denied his application to join the Diplomatic Security Service based on his age. State requires such agents to be appointed before their 37th birthday. The court ruled the policy was not tied to the conditions of the job, but was intended to ensure agents would qualify for an enhanced retirement annuity, which requires them to work at the agency for 20 years before reaching the mandatory retirement age of 57.

6. Military Challenge Coins

Like so many aspects of military tradition, the origins of the challenge coin are a matter of much debate with little supporting evidence. While many organizations and services claim to have been the originators of the challenge coin, the most commonly held view is that the tradition began in the United States Army Air Service during World War I. For a fascinating history of the military challenge coin citing WWI, WWII and Vietnam War origins, visit http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Challenge_coin. VetJobs now has its own challenge coin. If you would like to order a VetJobs Challenge Coin, send a check for $10.00 to VetJobs Challenge Coin, P. O. Box 71445, Marietta, GA. Be sure to include your return address.

7. V.E.T.S. Veteran Entrepreneur Training School

Hope4heroes.org announces a new program to train veterans and their spouses to start, run and build a business. The program, called V.E.T.S. Veteran Entrepreneur Training School is a first of its kind and serves as a comprehensive two week course that provides individuals a full set of skills. Vic Luebker, Chairman of hope4heroes.org says “our veterans make great business leaders and are the perfect choice to start and run a business as we rebuild the economy.” He goes on the say “veterans have an incredible work ethic and come with built in leadership skills vital to business success”. The school will use a building block approach that takes the student from basic business skills to completion of a business plan that has to be scored and approved by a recognized business school for course completion. “This is no easy course or informational seminar” says Vic “they have to work and learn the skills needed to succeed and run a business or franchise”. Hope4heroes is looking for Vet friendly franchise opportunities to serve as course sponsors and partners and offer a veteran advantage to graduates. Vic goes on to say “we’ll train them, you put them in business!” The course begins taking students in October 2009. To apply, contact hope4heroes.org today at info@hope4heroes.org or call 210-544-8319. To become a school sponsor or franchise of choice contact Vic at: ceo@hope4heroes.org

8. Federal Hiring Preference for Military Spouses

Under guidelines issued by the Administration this week, an estimated 250,000 spouses per year will be eligible for streamlined application processes when applying to work at federal agencies that elect to use a new hiring authority that takes effect in September. Spouses who are relocating because of their service member’s new assignment, some physically disabled military spouses, and unmarried survivors of service members killed in action will soon be able to bypass some of the red tape involved in applying for federal jobs.

9. Bill Would Expand Benefits for Those Who Suffer Vaccine-Related Injuries

The Raleigh News & Observer /McClatchy reports, “It wasn’t a bullet or roadside bomb that felled Lance Cpl. Josef Lopez three years ago after nine days in Iraq. It was an injection into his arm before his unit left the states. The then 20-year-old Marine from Springfield, MO, suffered a rare adverse reaction to the smallpox vaccine. While the vaccine isn’t mandatory, the military strongly encourages troops to take it. However, it left Lopez in a coma, unable for a time to breathe on his own and paralyzed for weeks. Now he can walk, but with a limp. He has to wear a urine bag constantly, has short-term memory loss and must swallow 15 pills daily to control leg spasms and other ailments. And even though his medical problems wouldn’t have occurred if he hadn’t been deployed, Lopez doesn’t qualify for a special government benefit of as much as $100,000 for troops who suffer traumatic injuries because his injuries were caused by the vaccine.” According to McClatchy, Officials at the Department of Veterans Affairs, which oversees the benefit program, said they’re following what the agency has determined to be Congress’ intent. It’s for traumatic injury, not disease; not illness; not preventive medicine, said Stephen Wurtz, deputy assistant director for insurance at the VA. It has nothing to do with not believing these people deserve some compensation for their losses. The VA was unable to say how many claims have been rejected because of vaccine-related injuries. Wurtz and others familiar with the program said it probably wasn’t a large amount. McClatchy notes that Senator Claire McCaskill, a member of the Armed Services Committee, drafted a bill named after Lopez to widen the program to include vaccine-related injuries. She became aware of his plight when he and his mother stopped in her Senate office last year looking for help. Lopez had come to Washington to compete in the wheelchair portion of the Marine Corps Marathon.

10. DCVAMC wins Medallion of Excellence

The Washington, D.C., VA Medial Center (DCVAMC) is the 2009 winner of the Medallion of Excellence, the highest honor presented for organizational achievement by the U.S. Senate Productivity and Quality Awards of Virginia (SPQA). The SPQA uses the National Malcolm Baldrige Award criteria to rate organizations in all segments of enterprise, manufacturing, health care, service industries, education and government, on business practices reflecting “visionary leadership, customer-driven operations, value of employees and partners to the organization, focus on results, and innovation.” Not since 2006 has the judging committee recognized an organization with its highest achievement award. The Medical Center achieved this recognition on its first application attempt. It consistently scores high in patient satisfaction surveys with nearly 85% of patients describing access to hospital services as excellent.

11. National Guard and Reserve Mobilized as of August 28, 2009

Total number currently on active duty in support of the partial mobilization for the Army National Guard and Army Reserve is 36,741; Naval Reserve, 6,494; Air National Guard and Air Force Reserve, 26,348; Marine Corps Reserve, 3,789; and the Coast Guard Reserve 1,096. This brings the total Reserve and National Guard on active duty to 74,468 including both units and individual augmentees. A cumulative roster of all National Guard and Reserve who are currently on active duty can be found at http://www.defenselink.mil/news/Aug2002/d20020828ngr.pdf.

12. Significant Events this Month in Military History

1783 – The Peace Treaty of Versailles was signed between the USA, Britain, France, and Spain, ending the American Revolution.

1787 – United States Constitution Approved

1814 – US Naval Captain Oliver Hazard Perry defeated a British flotilla in the Battle of Lake Erie (War of 1812).

1814 – During a British naval attack on the City of Baltimore, Francis Scott Key composed a poem entitled “The Star Spangled Banner.”

1847 – American forces captured Mexico City, effectively ending the Mexican War.

1862 – Battle of Chantilly – Confederate forces attack retreating Union troops in Chantilly, VA (Civil War).

1864 – Confederate troops abandoned Atlanta in the face of continuing attacks by federals under General W.S. Sherman (Civil War).

1899 – Founding of the Veterans of Foreign Wars of the United States

1908 – LT Thomas E. Selfridge was killed at Ft. Myer, VA, in a plane flown by Orville Wright. Selfridge was the first man to die in an airplane accident.

1939 – German troops invaded Poland, beginning World War II.

1939 – Britain and France declared war on Germany (World War II).

1941 – British Naval forces sank the German battleship Bismarck off the French coast (World War II).

1943 – The allied invasion of Italy began (World War II).

1945 – V-J Day, Japan signed formal surrender (World War II).

1951 – The United States, Australia and New Zealand sign a mutual defense pact, called the ANZUS Treaty.

1951 – Battle of Heart Break Ridge began (Korean War).

1962 – United States Naval Sea Cadet Corps Incorporated

1967 – Siege of Con Thien Began (Vietnam War).

1969 – President Richard Nixon ordered resumption of heavy bombing of North Vietnamese targets (Vietnam War).

1982 – The United States Air Force Space Command is founded.

1983 – Korean Air Flight 007 is shot down by a Soviet Union jet fighter when the commercial aircraft enters Soviet airspace. All 269 on board are killed, including United States Congressman Lawrence McDonald (Cold War).

1994 – Operation Uphold Democracy began (Haiti).

VetJobs
P. O. Box 71445
Marietta, GA 30007-1445
770-Vet-Jobs (877-838-5627)
770-993-5117 Office
770.993.2875 Fax

Veterans make the best employees!
Freedom Is Never Free – Support Our Armed Forces and Veterans!

VetJobs is an appropriate employment service delivery system for EEOC, VEVRAA/JVA and OFCCP compliance support!

VetJobs is a Service Disabled Veteran Owned Small Business

Ted Daywalt — Sat, 01 Aug 2009 04:41:21 +0000

VetJobs Veteran Eagle
Issue 10:8, Saturday, August 1, 2009
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.

This month’s Veteran Eagle is sponsored by: Maid Brigade and TECHEXPO Top Secret

Search over 28,000 jobs nationwide in the VetJobs database!

Contents:

1. Message from the Top

2. VetJobs Recommends: Taking Chance

3. Protect Yourself While Traveling

4. Industry Job Openings

5. Equal Playing Field for Veteran Owned Businesses

6. VA Suicide Prevention Lifeline – 800-273-TALK

7. Air Force Reinstates ROTC Recall Program

8. Help for Military Homeowners

9. Self Defeating Actions by Job Seekers at Career Fairs

10. Potential Class Action Suit

11. President Signs Korean War Veterans Recognition Act

12. Study on Agent Orange Supports Blue Water Navy Coverage

13. National Guard and Reserve Mobilized as of July 28, 2009

14. Significant Events this Month in Military History

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1. Message from the Top

From August 15 to 20, VetJobs will be exhibiting at the Veterans of Foreign Wars 110th National Convention in Phoenix, AZ. If you are attending the convention, please come by and visit! We will have great novelties for you and updated promotional literature to share with veterans and their family members who are seeking employment. We look forward to seeing you there!

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This past week VetJobs was at the Vietnam Veterans of America (VVA) and the Veterans of Modern Warfare (VMW) National Conventions in Louisville, KY. Over two thousand Vietnam era veterans and family members were in attendance. There were speeches by politicians and representatives of the Veterans Administration, active discussions on veteran issues and the election of officers. For those who have not yet joined VVA, you should know that the membership rules were amended several years ago to allow Vietnam Era veterans to join. To see if you qualify, visit www.vva.org.

An emotional highlight at the VVA Convention for me was the screening of the HBO movie Taking Chance, staring Kevin Bacon (see VetJobs Recommends, #2 below). LCOL Michael Strobl, the Marine officer who escorted the remains of Lance Corporal Chance Phelps, was at the convention and gave a powerful presentation and answered questions. Taking Chance is a must see movie for everyone.

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While there are no federal holidays this month, we do celebrate the birthday of the US Coast Guard! On August 4, 1790, the United States Coast Guard was founded. With the War on Terrorism, the Coast Guard has a very vital role in the defense of our country both at home and overseas. If you meet a member of the Coast Guard this month, tell them “Happy Birthday!”

Today we celebrate Air Force Day, which was established on August 1, 1947 by President Truman “in recognition of the personnel of the victorious Army Air Forces and all those who have developed and maintained our nation’s air strength.” August 1 was chosen to mark the 40th anniversary of the establishment, in 1907, of the Aeronautical Division in the Office of the Chief Signal Officer of the Army.

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Our active duty, reserve and National Guard forces are under tremendous strain with the continued wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. Stop and think about the size of our military today compared to the recent past when there were nearly 3.5 million people on active duty. Today, there are roughly 1.4 million on active duty, less than half what we had at the end of the Vietnam War.

The estimated population of the United States on July 1, 2009 is 307,041,000. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), 226,706,000 are in the work force. Throw in another 20,000,000 illegal aliens (no one really knows with certainty how many illegal aliens are in the United States), and you have a population base of roughly 327, 041,000 that is being defended by 1,400,000. That equates to only four tenths of a percent (.4%) of the population is defending the other 99.6%! If you include the 1.3 million in the Guard and Reserve who are now used as if they were active duty forces, there are a total of 2.7 million people defending the 327,041,000, or roughly eight tenths of a percent (.8%) defending the other 99.2%.

In 1970, there were over 45 million living veterans in the United States. In 1999 when VetJobs was founded, there were nearly 30 million veterans of which 18 million were in the work force. Today, the BLS reports there are 22,196,000 living veterans of which 12,169,000 are in the work force. Depending on the survey, upwards of 1,700 veterans now die each day!

This data has many ramifications. With 37 years of an all volunteer military, America now has two generations of citizens that have no idea of what really goes on in the military and the importance of having a strong military. This lack of understanding impacts political and social attitudes towards the military. The population base for veteran service organizations is dwindling rapidly which is why many are changing their membership rules in order to maintain membership in a rapidly declining demographic environment.

Today, there are fewer defenders of our freedoms living who understand the importance of maintaining a strong military. And without a strong military, we can not maintain our freedoms, our free market capitalist economy and our constitutional republic. Remember these numbers when you talk to your representatives in Congress.

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An outstanding organization that assists our military forces coping with the stress of constant travel is the United Services Organization (USO). To those military and veterans who travel extensively, a USO facility is a welcomed site. USOs are located in most major airports and in some cases in down town districts near military bases. With donations down, the USO could use your assistance in several ways. USO offices are always looking for volunteers to help staff the facilities and greet the troops. You can also donate needed items to USO facilities such as paper goods (toilet paper, paper plates, napkins, cups and cutlery) and snacks (store bought cookies, chips, candy, nuts, soft drinks, donuts, cakes, etc). Make it a habit that when you travel to drop off donations to your local USO. It will be truly appreciated!

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Historically, the unemployment rate for veterans has been one to three percent below the national average. In June, the unemployment rate for all veterans was 7.8% while the national unemployment rate was 9.5%. These numbers will probably rise in the July unemployment report which will be released next week.

About a year ago I started noticing a disturbing trend in the unemployment numbers. The unemployment rate for veterans aged 18 to 24 started rising precipitously. By May of 2009, the unemployment rate for this group had risen to 26.8%, nearly 50% higher than the unemployment rate for non-veterans which was 17.3%. In June the rate fell to 24.4% while the non-veteran unemployment rate for 18 to 24 year olds was 18.2%.

I am convinced the unusually high unemployment rate of veterans in the 18 to 24 year age group is a direct result of DOD’s one and two year call up policy for Guard and Reserve component members as this is the age group for many members of the National Guard. While DOD still holds to the mythical policy of calling up the Guard and Reserve for one year in every six, the policy is only on paper and in speeches by DOD personnel. In reality, many National Guard units are on their third and fourth call up since 9/11.

Studies conducted by the Society of Human Resource Management, Business Law Reports and Workforce Management Magazine that were complete after the January 2007 implementation of the current DOD call up policy indicate that over 60% of companies will not now hire as a new employee an active member of the Guard and Reserve. This is understandable as an employer can not run their business when their employees are gone for one or two years at a time.

Our Guard and Reserve system can only work with employer support. But many employers feel the rules were changed without their input. Under USERRA, employers are required to rehire Guard and Reserve component members when they return from active duty, and the employer is saddled with many major financial and legal obligations while the component member is called to active duty. Many small businesses are put out of business when their Guard or Reserve employee is called up.

Historically, members of the Guard and Reserve faced a full called up during World War II and a partial call up during the Korean War. Of the 37,000 Guard and Reserve members who fought in the Vietnam War, all but about 200 were volunteers! But since 1991, there have been over 20 full call ups of the Guard and Reserve! Many of the activations have been for one and two year periods.

Employers look on the component members as THEIR human asset on loan to DOD, not as DOD’s asset. Consequently, employers are quietly fighting back and not supporting the DOD call up policy.

I have noted that employers want to hire retired military, transitioning military that have completed their obligated service, and make great effort to hire our wounded and disabled warriors. But when it comes to hiring component members of the Guard and Reserve, employers will not hire them for solid economic reasons. This has manifested itself in the many reports from all over the country of companies using the excuse of the recession to target and lay off employees who are active members of the Guard and Reserve.

This is a problem that has to be solved quickly by the Congress, or our National Guard and Reserve members will become third rate citizens unable to gain meaningful employment equal to their skills and education. Bottom line is DOD needs a minimum of 600,000 more people on active duty.

If you know of a component Guard or Reserve member who has been laid off, please forward the information to contact@vetjobs.com as I am collecting real examples for future testimony before Congress.

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On the economic front, there are signs that perhaps the economy is turning around. New construction of houses expanded for the second straight month in June after hitting a record low in April. Starts rose 3.6% in June to a seasonally adjusted 582,000 annualized units stronger than the 531,000 pace expected by economists. This is the highest level of starts since last November. Starts of new single-family homes rose by 14.4% to 470,000 in June, while starts of large apartment units fell 29.4% to 101,000. Building permits, a leading indicator of housing construction, rose 8.7% to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 563,000. This is the highest level of permits since December and good news for those seeking construction jobs.

The really good news is that unlike the last recession that had a jobless recovery, there are jobs being created during this recession. I like to use the term that we are having a less-jobs recovery. While this recession continues, it will be harder to find employment. But it can be done.

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Finally, look at this month’s sponsor, Maid Brigade (see sponsorship below). Maid Brigade wants to give back to the military and is offering up to 100 free franchises to qualified veterans! That is a $1.5 million give away. VetJobs is supporting this effort as veterans who buy or start companies have a tendency to hire other veterans and their family members. That means the Maid Brigade promotion will create thousands of new jobs for veterans and their family members.

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If you know of any companies that should be hiring veterans, transitioning military and their family members, please send in the referral to info@vetjobs.com so we may contact the company.

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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

2. VetJobs Recommends: Taking Chance

Taking Chance is the remarkable true story of a Marine’s death in battle, another Marine’s journey of discovery and a nation’s reverence and gratitude toward its war dead. After hearing of the heroic death of a young Marine in Iraq, LCOL Strobl (Kevin Bacon) volunteers to escort the remains of Lance Corporal Chance Phelps back to his hometown in Wyoming. On a trip across America’s heartland, Strobl finds himself on an unexpectedly emotional sojourn into the soul of a country mourning not only Lance Corporal Phelps, but all of America’s fallen heroes. Taking Chance is an HBO movie and a 2009 Sundance Film Festival selection. This movie is a must see for every American

/—-August Veteran Eagle sponsor is Maid Brigade—-\

Maid Brigade owners manage their businesses – hiring others to do the cleaning. For more information about owning a Maid Brigade Franchise, go to www.maidbrigadefranchise.com.

\—–Please visit your August Veteran Eagle sponsor Maid Brigade —-/

3. Protect Yourself While Traveling

Have you ever thought of how you would get to the hospital and back home if you experienced a serious accident or injury while on vacation? With a pre-paid medical transportation plan VFW members and their families (including grandchildren) will receive transportation home in the event of an emergency. If you have an extended hospital stay, all arrangements and accommodations for your family will be covered under the plan too.

Unfortunately accidents do happen. Health insurance and credit card protection services don’t offer full protection like an air medical transportation plan provides. For more information on how to receive travel protection for you and your family members, please contact the Member Benefits Department at 1-800-821-2606, option 1

4. Industry Job Openings

According to the Department of Labor’s Bureau of Labor Statistics, the below lists job openings by industry, seasonally adjusted, in thousands, comparing May 2008 to May 2009:

2008 2009
Total 4,009 2,554

Private 3,577 2,221

Construction 162 39

Manufacturing 280 91

Trade/transport/utilities 649 430

Retail trade 402 302

Professional/business services 681 520

Education/health services 728 537

Leisure/hospitality 575 269

/—-August Veteran Eagle sponsor is TECHEXPO Top Secret—-\

TECHEXPO Top Secret’s next job fairs are:

8/18, TECHEXPO Top Secret Career Fair, BWI Marriott, 1743 West Nursery Road, Baltimore (Linthicum), MD, 10:00 AM to 3:00 PM. Pre-register at http://www.techexpoUSA.com/index_VJS.cfm

8/19, TECHEXPO Top Secret Career Fair, Sheraton Reston, 11810 Sunrise Valley Drive, Reston, VA, 10:00 AM to 3:00 PM. Pre-register at http://www.techexpoUSA.com/index_VJS.cfm

\—–Please visit your August Veteran Eagle sponsor TECHEXPO Top Secret —-/

5. Equal Playing Field for Veteran Owned Businesses

United States Senate Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship Chair Mary Landrieu, D-LA., and Ranking Member Olympia J. Snowe, R-ME, filed an amendment to the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2010 that will place three small business government contracting programs – HUBZone, 8 (a) and service-disabled veterans – on an equal playing field when competing for business. Sen. Levin and Sen. McCain have both agreed to include the amendment in any final Senate-passed legislation. The amendment is a response to two GAO decisions released in September 2008 and May 2009 that contradicted a long-standing SBA interpretation that the Agency’s procurement programs should be treated equally when it comes to awarding contracts. The decisions stated that the HUBZone program had preference over all other small business contracting programs. Accordingly, the amendment will provide equity for the SBA’s small business contracting programs.

6. VA Suicide Prevention Lifeline – 800-273-TALK

VA’s Suicide Prevention Lifeline continues to save lives as the 800-273-TALK national phone number is featured in public service television and transit ads across the country. The Lifeline number just began its ride on more than 21,000 city buses in 124 communities across the United States this summer and that transit ad program has already paid off. Since its inception in July 2007, the VA Suicide Prevention Lifeline has rescued more than 3,000 veterans and provided counseling for more than 120,000 veterans and their loved ones at home and overseas. The lifeline is staffed 24 hours a day, seven days a week by trained mental health professionals prepared to deal with immediate crises.

7. Air Force Reinstates ROTC Recall Program

To help fill vacant 2009 positions, Air Force leadership recently approved reinstatement of the AFROTC Limited Period Recall Program (LPRP) for Guard and Reserve officers. The AFROTC LPRP gives an ARC line officer the opportunity to apply for extended active duty to fill a specific, vacant 2009 AFROTC detachment instructor position for a period of three years. Guard and Reserve officers are currently ineligible to apply for summer 2010 vacancies. Detailed eligibility criteria and application requirements for the AFROTC LPRP program is available at AFPC’s “Ask” website at. Click on “Voluntary Officer Return to Active Duty” under the Military Quick Links section, then “AFROTC Limited Period Recall Program” for more details.

8. Help for Military Homeowners

The stimulus legislation signed into law by President Obama on February 17 features a provision titled the Military Homeowners Assistance Program (HAP). HAP benefits (normally payable only at BRAC locations) will be extended to certain military homeowners who bought homes before July 1, 2006, and who sell the homes before Sept. 30, 2012. HAP will provide help to military homeowners who receive PCS orders and are unable to sell their homes. HAP will also assist wounded warriors who must relocate due to medical reasons and surviving spouses of fallen service members who are also forced to move.

9. Self Defeating Actions by Job Seekers at Career Fairs

-Failure to dress properly for the interview when attending a career fair.
-Failure to present a professional demeanor at and throughout the time at the career fair.
-Failure to research the potential employers of interest before attending the career fair.
-Upon introducing oneself to the individual on the other side of the booth, asking what the company does.
-After shaking hands with the individual on the other side of the booth, handing the resume and asking “How do I fit in?”
-Not establishing eye contact with the individual on the other side of the table.
-Not registering “online” ahead of time when the opportunity presents itself.
-Not establishing a connection (not contact) within the potential organization when possible.
-Not following-up with the individual quickly with a revised resume more relevant to the specific role discussed.
-Not following-up with the organization with another copy of the resume after the career fair.
-Failure to take advantage of the information available from other attendees at the career fair.
-Demonstrated persistence in using the same techniques in job search that have been used for the past decade and not using the more current and effective techniques and methodologies.

10. Potential Class Action Suit

-Are you a veteran who has been experiencing identity theft problems?
-Are you also a veteran who received treatment or medical care at one of the below listed VA hospitals between 1998 and 2002?
-Do you have a family member who received treatment at one of the facilities listed below that was later killed in combat in Iraq or Afghanistan?

VA Bath
VA Albany
VA Buffalo
VA Canandaigua
VA Syracuse
VA Rochester

If so, you may be eligible to participate in a class action lawsuit and receive a potential award for damages. Please email a brief description of your circumstances, as well as contact information to justice4vets@bellsouth.net and they will contact you should you be eligible.

11. President Signs Korean War Veterans Recognition Act

President Obama signed “The Korean War Veterans Recognition Act” (H.R. 2632). The bill, sponsored by Rep. Charles Rangel (NY), adds National Korean War Veterans Armistice Day to the list of days on which the display of the flag of the United States is especially encouraged. July 28th marked the 56th anniversary of National Korean War Veterans Armistice Day. The bill passed the House of Representatives by a vote of 421-0 and the Senate by unanimous consent.

12. Study on Agent Orange Supports Blue Water Navy Coverage

The Institute of Medicine (IOM) recently released the “Veterans and Agent Orange: Health Effects of Herbicides Used in Vietnam (VAO)” report that recommends the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) change its definition of Vietnam service. Evidence referenced included a study conducted by the Royal Australian Navy, which supports a broader definition. The report recommends that members of the Blue Water Navy be included in “the set of Vietnam-era veterans with presumed exposure.” Many veteran service organizations have long opposed the VA’s current restrictive policy of “boots on the ground” for granting veterans for service connected disorders under the presumptive classification of herbicide exposure.

13. National Guard and Reserve Mobilized as of July 28, 2009

The total number currently on active duty from the Army National Guard and Army Reserve is 111,879; Navy Reserve, 6,685; Air National Guard and Air Force Reserve, 13,925; Marine Corps Reserve, 8,341; and the Coast Guard Reserve, 698. This brings the total National Guard and Reserve personnel who have been activated to 141,528, including both units and individual augmentees. A cumulative roster of all National Guard and Reserve personnel who are currently activated may be found at http://www.defenselink.mil/news/Jul2009/d20090728ngr.pdf .

14. Significant Events this Month in Military History

1782 – The Purple Heart Medal was established by Congress.

1790 – US Coast Guard established.

1801 – The USS Enterprise seized the Tripolitan corsair Tripoli in naval action in the Mediterranean Sea (War with Tripoli).

1864 – Admiral David Farragut, USN, exclaiming “Damn the torpedoes, full speed ahead,” ran through a Confederate minefield at Mobile Bay, Alabama, and captured a defending group of Confederate ships (American Civil War).

1914 – Germany declared war on Russia and France declared full mobilization for war (World War I).

1914 – Britain declared war on Austria-Hungary (World War I).

1941 – Beginning of the three-year siege of Leningrad by German troops (World War II).

1942 – US Marines landed on Guadalcanal, in the Solomon Islands, the first American amphibious operation in World War II.

1945 – The US Army Air Force bomber Enola Gay, piloted by COL Paul Tibbets, dropped the first atomic bomb on the city of Hiroshima, Japan. (World War II).

1945 – The second atomic bomb is dropped by a U.S. plane on Nagasaki, Japan.

1945 – The Empire of Japan surrendered to the Allied forces, ending World War II.

1950 – Defense of Pusan/Naktong Perimeter began (Korean War).

1952 – The Battle of Bunker Hill (Hill 122) began (Korean War).

1982 – Eight hundred U.S. Marines landed in Beirut, Lebanon, as part of a multinational force overseeing the withdrawal of PLO fighters.

1990 – Operation Desert Shield began.

VetJobs
P. O. Box 71445
Marietta, GA 30007-1445
770-Vet-Jobs (877-838-5627)
770-993-5117 Office
770.993.2875 Fax

Veterans make the best employees!
Freedom Is Never Free – Support Our Armed Forces and Veterans!

VetJobs is an appropriate employment service delivery system for EEOC, VEVRAA/JVA and OFCCP compliance support!

VetJobs is a Service Disabled Veteran Owned Small Business

Ted Daywalt — Wed, 01 Jul 2009 04:39:32 +0000

VetJobs Veteran Eagle
Issue 10:7, Wednesday, July 1, 2009
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.

This month’s Veteran Eagle is sponsored by: Maid Brigade and TECHEXPO Top Secret

Search 28,000 jobs nationwide in the VetJobs database!

Contents:

1. Message from the Top

2. Sprint Cell Phone Discount Service via VFW

3. US Army Ends Retiree Deployment Program

4. VA Launches Website for Vets in College

5. DOD Announces Transferability Options for Post 9/11 GI Bill

6. National Veterans’ Training Institute (NVTI)

7. Veterans eligible for cell phone discounts

8. National Guard and Reserve Mobilized as of June 23, 2009

9. Significant Events this Month in Military History

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1. Message from the Top

This past week VetJobs exhibited at the Society of Human Resources Management (SHRM) 61st Annual Convention and Exposition at the Morial Convention Center, New Orleans, LA. Attendance was down significantly from last year’s convention in Chicago, IL. Last year there were over 11,000 human resource (HR) attendees. This year there were only about 6,000 HR attendees. While attendance was down, I was pleased that the HR attendees were the real decision makers in terms of hiring for their companies.

At the bottom of the last recession in 2002 and 2003, all we heard from the HR attendees at the SHRM conferences was they were not hiring. It was very different this year. Nearly 80% of the HR decision makers we spoke with indicated they are hiring now or plan to hire this year. That is encouraging. The down side is they are not hiring as many as during the last three years. But at least they are hiring!

The last recession lead to a jobless recovery. After talking with the HR managers at SHRM this year, I am convinced that this recovery will be a less jobs recovery. This means that the competition for the available jobs will be very tight. So if you are in the job market, be sure to visit the Employment Assistance section on VetJobs and study up on how to develop a good resume and how to pass the all important behavioral interview!

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I am pleased to announce that VetJobs has been selected by Maid Brigade to be one of the judges on a panel to award 100 free Maid Brigade franchises this fall. Yes, I did say free! This is going to be a very exciting competition. Many studies have indicated that veterans make better entrepreneurs than others because veterans can better assess risk and have better leadership skills than most. So if you have ever wanted to be an entrepreneur and own your own business, you need to consider applying! Visit http://www.maidbrigadegiveaway.com/ for more details on how you could become a winner!

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This month we celebrate the Fourth of July holiday, a time when families throughout the country attend picnics, races, parades, political rallies and fireworks displays. Congress established Independence Day as a holiday in 1870. In 1938 Congress reaffirmed it as a holiday. I would encourage everyone to learn and understand the history of the Fourth of July and recognize that it is NOT just a holiday to kick off the summer. Knowledge of our history is what will keep the Fourth of July near and dear to the hearts of all Americans.

You should display a flag on the 4th of July. If you need a flag, you can order one from the VFW Store at www.vfw.org.

In addition to the Fourth of July, the 27th of July is the anniversary of the end of the Korean War, frequently referred to as the “Forgotten War”. The 1950-53 conflict cost America 33,651 killed in action and 103,284 wounded. More than 1.5 million American men and women fought in Korea. Here at VetJobs, our prayers and thoughts go out to the Korean War veterans and their extended families.

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As the VA prepares to launch a broad new program of education benefits for Post 9/11 veterans on August 1, we should remember how education benefits began for America’s war veterans 65 years ago. With the onset of World War II and the largest mobilization of military manpower in US history, President Roosevelt and Congress realized that failure to support returning veterans after the war would have dire consequences. Officially named the Servicemen’s Readjustment Act of 1944, the first “G.I. Bill” was submitted to Congress by Rep. Harry W. Colmery on January 10, 1944. A former National Commander of the American Legion, Colmery understood the difficulties of veterans in wars past, and wanted to ensure returning veterans were given the opportunity to be successful. With the assistance of the VFW and many other VSOs, Congress passed the bill on June 13, 1944, and President Roosevelt signed it into law on June 22, 1944. The G.I. Bill was one of the most successful pieces of legislation in history, giving almost immediate and widespread returns that helped to drive the nation forward into the second half of the century. Following World War II, the VA assisted some 7.8 million veterans further their education with funds from the bill, with over 2.2 million receiving college degrees. The VA also backed some 2.3 million loans for homes, businesses, and farms, helping Veterans start businesses and improve living standards for their families. The G.I. Bill gave veterans the tools they needed to become the most successful leaders of their generation. The Post 9/11 GI Bill, passed by Congress last year, is the most extensive educational assistance program authorized since the original GI Bill was signed into law. VA projects a 20-25 percent increase in the total number of participants in VA’s education programs. Up to 460,000 students are expected to participate in the program during the first year.

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On the economic front, the unemployment rate in May continued to rise, increasing from 8.9 to 9.4 percent. Steep job losses continued in manufacturing, while declines moderated in construction and several service-providing industries. Job losses have averaged 643,000 per month during the first 6 months of this year.

But it is not just all bad news. The health care industry added 24,000 jobs in May. And the general consensus by economists seems to be that the economy in general and employment specifically are getting worse but at a slower rate. Many economists now say we have passed the bottom and are on the way back up, but it will be a slow and lengthy recovery.

Housing starts bounced back with a vengeance in May, rising 17.2% to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 532,000 after plunging 12.9% in April to a postwar low according to the Commerce Department. The surprising increase was led by a 62% gain in new construction of multifamily dwellings. Starts of single-family homes rose 7.5% to a 401,000 rate, the highest since November. Other data shows the hiring rate, while low, remains unchanged at 3.1% percent with 4,099,000 new hires reported in April.

I am pleased to note that VetJobs have been averaging about 28,000 real jobs a day on the site at www.vetjobs.com. This is a 3% increase over the same time period last year. VetJobs is one of the few job boards on the internet that has more jobs posted than the same time last year. Fortunately, many employers do want to hire veterans and many need people with security clearances. But you must have the necessary skill sets and be able to interview well. I know it is tough out there in the job market, but it is not nearly as bleak as the last recession.

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Finally, I am proud to announce that on June 6, VetJobs signed a mutual support agreement with The Military Order of the Purple Heart (MOPH). Their logo is on the site in the VSO endorsement and alliance pages. MOPH joins the Veterans of Foreign Wars (www.vfw.org – VFW is the sponsor of VetJobs), the Vietnam Veterans of America (www.vva.org), the Naval Reserve Association (www.navy-reserve.org), the Veterans of Modern Warfare (www.vmwusa.org), the Student Veterans of America (www.studentveterans.org) and Hope4Heroes (www.hope4heroes.org) in supporting VetJobs mission of providing jobs for transitioning military, veterans and their family members. MOPH is providing assistance to those who are seeking a federal job at www.vetsjobs.net.

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Have a great 4th of July holiday and please remember the real reason America celebrates this day!

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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

2. Sprint Cell Phone Discount Service via VFW

Sprint is offering discounts to VFW members and their families. Sign up today and receive discounts and incentives toward your monthly Sprint services. You can call 1-866-869-6686 or go to their website: www.sprint.com/vfw to find out more about the Palm® Pre™ and gift card offers.

/—-July Veteran Eagle sponsor is Maid Brigade—-\

At Maid Brigade we know that military veterans make excellent franchisees – in fact, over 10% of Maid Brigade owners are veterans. They know what it takes to own and run a successful business – a combination of hard work, leadership and sound judgment.

That’s why Maid Brigade wants to reward as many as 100 qualified veterans who have what it takes to own a business. The Gold Award is a Maid Brigade Select Market Franchise valued at $45,000

Maid Brigade owners manage their businesses – hiring others to do the cleaning. For more information about owning a Maid Brigade Franchise, go to www.maidbrigadefranchise.com.

The contest starts on Independence Day and ends on Veterans Day, so enter now for your opportunity to own an award-winning Maid Brigade Franchise! For more information on the contest, please visit http://www.maidbrigadegiveaway.com/.

\—–Please visit your July Veteran Eagle sponsor Maid Brigade —-/

3. US Army Ends Retiree Deployment Program

The US Army is ending a program that has allowed military retirees to volunteer for missions in Iraq and Afghanistan, disappointing many former service members who have embraced a second chance to serve their country. Lt. Col. George Wright, an Army spokesman who himself became a program participant in 2007, said the program is being terminated because the Army had to reduce personnel to reach a congressionally mandated limit on the total number of soldiers. The program was set up in 2002 under special wartime powers that enable the defense secretary to recall retirees.

4. VA Launches Website for Vets in College

The Department of Veterans Affairs has launched a new website to strengthen the connection between college and university mental health professionals and the veterans of the Iraq and Afghanistan conflicts now studying on their campuses. The site is one of several Internet-based tools VA has developed to assist veterans in dealing with mental health issues. Others include a guide for families of military members returning from deployment and information about a suicide prevention hot line for veterans.

/—-July Veteran Eagle sponsor is TECHEXPO Top Secret—-\

TECHEXPO Top Secret’s next job fairs are:

7/21, TECHEXPO Top Secret Career Fair, BWI Marriott, 1743 West Nursery Road, Baltimore, MD, 10:00 AM to 3:00 PM. Pre-register at http://www.techexpoUSA.com/index_VJS.cfm

7/28, TECHEXPO Top Secret Career Fair, Sheraton National, 900 South Orme St. Arlington, VA, 10:00 AM to 3:00 PM. Pre-register at http://www.techexpoUSA.com/index_VJS.cfm

\—–Please visit your July Veteran Eagle sponsor TECHEXPO Top Secret —-/

5. DOD Announces Transferability Options for Post 9/11 GI Bill

The Defense Department announced its policy for transferring educational benefits to the spouses and children of service members under the Post 9/11 GI Bill, which takes effect Aug. 1, 2009. Career service members on active duty or in the selected reserve on August 1, 2009, and who are eligible for the “Post 9/11 GI Bill,” may be entitled to transfer all or a portion of their education entitlement to one or more family members. To be eligible, service members must have served in the Armed Forces for at least six years, and agree to serve four additional years, from the date of election to transfer. Service members with at least 10 years of service, who by DoD or service policy are prevented from committing to four additional years, may transfer their benefits provided they commit for the maximum amount of time allowed by such policy or statute.

Additionally, to maintain proper force structure and promotion opportunities, temporary rules have been developed for service members eligible to retire between Aug. 1, 2009 and Aug. 1, 2012. Depending on their retirement eligibility date, these service members will commit to one to three additional years, from the date of election to transfer. The services will provide further implementation guidance. Beginning June 29, 2009, eligible service members may make transfer designations by visiting this Web site: https://www.dmdc.osd.mil/TEB. The Department of Veterans Affairs administers the “Post 9/11 GI Bill,” and determines eligibility for education benefits. Further information on eligibility, benefit levels, and application procedures can be found at their Web site, http://www.gibill.va.gov .

6. National Veterans’ Training Institute (NVTI)

For nearly 23 years, a one-of-a-kind institute that develops and enhances the skills and knowledge of the country’s veterans’ employment and training personnel has operated in Denver, Colorado. The institute, known as the National Veterans’ Training Institute (NVTI), aims to help disabled veterans outreach program (DVOP) service professionals and local veterans employment representatives (LVER) build upon their knowledge base that will in turn, enable them to better serve our nation’s veterans as they seek jobs and training. Skills provided in the training include resume building skills, interview techniques, how to market employment services to employers and providing case management to the hard-to-place veteran clients. While NVTI does not provide services directly to veterans, they do offer training to veterans representatives to assist their veteran clients in becoming gainfully employed. To date 70,000+ veterans’ employment and training professionals have attended NVTI training. Training has been held in Denver, CO, at regional sites throughout the U.S. and at military bases abroad.

While only federal DOL staff are eligible for NVTI training, the Institute has developed e-learning courses that benefit NVTI participants, as well as other users. One of the most beneficial and relevant e-learning courses developed by NVTI is the Uniformed Services Employment and Reemployment Rights Act (USERRA) basic on-line course, USERRA 101, found at www.nvti.cudenver.edu/Userra101 This free interactive course goes through several examples of some tricky employment and reemployment issues which allow the learner to gain basic knowledge about USERRA. It is available to anyone who is affected by service members who need to be called away from their employment to serve their country and provides them guidance, information and resources in creating a positive relationship between the service member and their employer. A follow-up course to USERRA 101 has also been created, USERRA 102, which is available at www.nvti.cudenver.edu/Userra102. Employers, human resource personnel, lawyers, service members and a wide range of individuals have benefited from these courses.
In addition, NVTI’s staff produced the award winning (New York Film Festival) 5-part Ultimate Job Search for the 21st Century video series. This program comes with an interactive on-line workbook. More information about this outstanding job search program can be found at http://www.nlc.cudenver.edu/UJS

NVTI is a contract program, funded by the Department of Labor, Veterans’ Employment & Training Service (VETS) and is administered by the University of Colorado Denver. For more information about NVTI, please visit www.nvti.cudenver.edu.

7. Veterans eligible for cell phone discounts

The Arizona Republic newspaper reports that military veterans and active-duty personnel are eligible for significant discounts on cell phone plans – if they know to ask. Most veterans are unaware of the potential savings on their monthly cell phone bills. Monthly military discounts range from 15 percent on Verizon Wireless plans to 10 percent off – and no activation fee – on T-Mobile agreements. Alltel, Sprint and AT&T offer similar discounts. While not everyone knows about the discounts, those who do say that getting the companies to register them for the cheaper plans is no easy task. Most services require a military identification card, veteran identification card or military discharge papers as proof of veteran status. Some companies require online registration to get the discount. Many companies, including Verizon, also offer discounted plans for customers 65 and older.

8. National Guard and Reserve Mobilized as of June 23, 2009

The total number currently on active duty from the Army National Guard and Army Reserve is 110,364; Navy Reserve, 7,027; Air National Guard and Air Force Reserve, 15,645; Marine Corps Reserve, 8,787; and the Coast Guard Reserve, 739. This brings the total National Guard and Reserve personnel who have been activated to 142,562, including both units and individual augmentees. A cumulative roster of all National Guard and Reserve personnel who are currently activated can be found at http://www.defenselink.mil/news/Jun%202009/d20090623ngr.pdf.

9. Significant Events this Month in Military History

1775 – George Washington took command of the Continental Army at Cambridge, MA. (American Revolutionary War).

1814 – American force led by GEN Jacob Brown defeated British force led by GEN Phineas Riall at Chippewa River, just north of British Fort Erie (near Niagara Falls, NY). A gray-uniformed Brigade led by young American BG Winfield Scott drove the British back. Scott’s men wore gray because Army contractors had run out of blue cloth. To this day, West Point cadets wear gray to commemorate this victory (War of 1812).

1863 – Confederate forces under GEN Robert E. Lee, defeated after three days of fighting at the battle of Gettysburg, PA, began their withdrawal to the South (American Civil War).

1898 – American naval victory over the Spanish at Santiago, Cuba (Spanish-American War).

1907 – Founding of the Aeronautical Division of the US Army Signal Office; the forerunner of the US Army Air Force and later the U.S. Air Force

1914 – World War I began

1915 – U.S. Marines landed in Haiti following the assassination of the Haitian president Vilbrun Guillaume. The Marines remained as occupation forces for nine years.

1918 – Beginning of the Second Battle of the Marne in Northern France between German forces on one side and French, American, British, and Italian troops on the other side. The battle ended on 4 August (World War I).

1926 – U.S. Army Air Corps established.

1943 – The U.S. Army’s Fourth Division, part of General Omar Bradley’s II Corps, captured San Stefano in Sicily (World War II).

1944 – The island of Saipan in the Marianas (Western Pacific) fell to U.S. troops following their defeat of Japanese defenders (World War II). Napalm was used for the first time during the American invasion of Tinian in the Marianas.

1950 – General of the Army Douglas MacArthur was named commander of all UN forces in Korea (Korean Conflict).

1953 – The Korean War ended.

1970 – Siege of Fire Base Ripcord began (Vietnam War)

1973 – Congress refuses to extend the military draft law. The military draft expired automatically on July 1, 1973.

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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 Naval Reserve Association (www.navy-reserve.org), the Veterans of Modern Warfare (www.vmwusa.org), the Student Veterans of America (www.studentveterans.org), the Military Order of the Purple Heart (www.purpleheart.org) and Hope4Heroes (www.hope4heroes.org).
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You were opted-in when you posted a resume, were referred to VetJobs or were part of a military organization which opted-in to VetJobs. To REMOVE or CHANGE your address, click this URL: http://mh.databack.com/c.php?L=vetjobs&E=#email#

VetJobs
P. O. Box 71445
Marietta, GA 30007-1445
770-Vet-Jobs (877-838-5627)
770-993-5117 Office
770.993.2875 Fax

Veterans make the best employees!
Freedom Is Never Free – Support Our Armed Forces and Veterans!

VetJobs is an appropriate employment service delivery system for EEOC, VEVRAA/JVA and OFCCP compliance support!

VetJobs is a Service Disabled Veteran Owned Small Business

Ted Daywalt — Mon, 01 Jun 2009 13:21:17 +0000

VetJobs Veteran Eagle
Issue 10:6, Monday, June 1, 2009
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.

This month’s Veteran Eagle is sponsored by: Apriva and TECHEXPO Top Secret

Search over 28,000 of jobs nationwide in the VetJobs database!

Contents:

1. Message from the Top

2. VetJobs Recommends: Work Strong: Your Personal Career Fitness System

3. West Point Graduate Is 7th Generation at the Academy

4. Carefree RV Resorts

5. VFW Real Estate Services

6. Cash Bonus to Replace ‘Stop Loss’ for Deploying National Guard Soldiers

7. Obama Concurrent Receipt Plan Details

8. Navy First Service to Offer Sabbaticals

9. Executive Job Outlook Improves

10. National Guard and Reserve Mobilized as of May 26, 2009

11. Significant Events this Month in Military History

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1. Message from the Top

The Uniformed Services Employment and Reemployment Rights Act (USERRA) of 1994 is a federal law intended to ensure that persons who serve or have served in the Armed Forces, Reserves, National Guard or other “uniformed services:” are promptly reemployed in their civilian jobs upon their return from duty and are not discriminated against in employment based on past, present, or future military service. In essence, USERRA requires the job of a National Guard or Reserve member be protected while they are called to active duty.

Historically, employers overwhelmingly supported the policy as National Guard and Reserve members were only gone for thirty to ninety days. However, DOD changed the rules on the employers and members of the National Guard and Reserve are now called up for one to two year deployments. Understandably, employers are upset as they can not run their businesses with employees, especially key or executive employees, being called away for two years at a time. This particularly hurts small businesses which are the back bone of the American economy.

And to add insult to injury, employers are not compensated by DOD for the loss of a producing employee and must still pay for the called up employee’s benefits. Private sector employers see members of the National Guard and Reserve as their employees on loan to DOD, not the other way around.

And while DOD says its policy is to call up members of the National Guard and Reserve only one year in six, the reality is many members of the National Guard have had multiple call ups since 9/11. Some National Guard units are on their third and fourth call up!

Over the last six months VetJobs has been receiving anecdotal reports of a disturbing trend regarding the treatment of members of the National Guard and Reserve by employers in reaction to the current call up policy. Under the guise of the recession employers are targeting members of the National Guard and Reserve to be laid off.

Employers have found a loop hole. If a company lays off a member of the National Guard and Reserve before the participating member receives their orders to be activated or before an employee notifies the employer they are being called up, USERRA does not apply. Thus, companies have been targeting active members of the National Guard and Reserve during this recession so as to not have to carry the financial burden or the loss of productivity of a called up member of the National Guard or Reserve.

We have heard from members of the National Guard, Reservists, DOL employees and ESGR employees that when the rumors start that a particular National Guard brigade or Reserve contingent is to be called up to active duty, they start hearing of members of the National Guard or Reserve in that area being laid off before orders are delivered. While this tactic by employers is technically legal, it is not fair to the member of the National Guard or Reserve.

While much of the information we have is anecdotal, I am looking to document the use of this type of lay off tactic by employers to use in Congressional testimony. If you have been subjected to a lay off and think it was due to your participation in the National Guard or Reserve, or you know of someone that has experienced this activity, please forward the contact information and some of the facts to info@vetjobs.com. If you want to remain anonymous, please indicate that in your email and your identity will not be disclosed.

I want to emphasize that 99.9% of employers are very pro military. In fact, I personally think employers understand the importance of having and maintaining a strong military better than some members of Congress. I have found that employers want to hire prior military that are totally separated after one or two tours, wounded warriors and retired military. But when it comes to an active member of the National Guard or Reserve, surveys by the Society of Human Resource Management, Business Law Review and Workforce Management Magazine indicate that over half of employers will not now hire as a new employee an active member of the National Guard and Reserve. This lay off tactic by certain employers is a direct response to the current DOD call up policy. The United States National Guard and Reserve system can not work without the support of employers. It all comes down to costs and the way DOD changed the rules on employers.

I look forward to reading your responses.

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In June, we celebrate the following special days:

June 6 – D-Day
June 14 – 234th Birthday of the U.S. Army
June 14 – Flag Day
June 21 – Father’s Day
June 21 – First day of summer

If you meet an Army person this month, say Happy Birthday!

D-Day was the turning point in World War II. June 6, 1944 saw the start of the largest air and sea operation in military history. On D-Day, the Allies landed around 156,000 troops, of which 73,000 were Americans. The amount of equipment used was staggering. In the airborne landings on both flanks of the Normandy beaches, 2,395 aircraft and 867 gliders of the RAF and USAAF were used on D-Day. Operation Neptune involved huge naval forces, including 6,939 vessels: 1,213 naval combat ships, 4,126 landing ships and landing craft, 736 ancillary craft and 864 merchant vessels. Some 195,700 personnel were assigned to Operation Neptune: 52,889 US, 112,824 British, and 4,988 from other Allied countries. By the end of the 11th of June, 326,547 troops, 54,186 vehicles and 104,428 tons of supplies had been landed on the beaches.

There is no “official” casualty figure for D-Day. Total Allied casualties on D-Day are estimated at 10,000, including 2,500 dead. British casualties on D-Day have been estimated at approximately 2,700. The Canadians had 946 casualties. The US forces lost 6,603 men. On June 6, take time to reflect on what took place on the beaches at Normandy and appreciate the sacrifice made by so many to ensure the continuation of our free market economy and our Federal Republic. Their sacrifices helped give us the freedoms we enjoy today.

Flag Day was first observed in 1877 on the 100th anniversary of the Continental Congress’ adoption of the Stars and Stripes as the official flag of the United States. In that year, Congress asked that all public buildings fly the flag on June 14. The idea quickly caught on and many people wanted to participate in waving the flag. In 1916, President Woodrow Wilson proclaimed Flag Day as a national celebration. However, the holiday was not officially recognized until 1949 when President Harry Truman signed the National Flag Day Bill. Although Flag Day is not celebrated as a Federal holiday, Americans everywhere continue to honor the history and heritage it represents.

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This month we also celebrate the creation of the National Committee for Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve (ESGR), a department of DOD. Founded in 1972, ESGR has been the leading advocate supporting members of the National Guard and Reserve. Over 4,500 volunteers, ranging from business executives, senior government representatives, educators and military personnel, serve on local ESGR Field Committees. With help and resources from the National ESGR Headquarters in Arlington, VA, the 56 ESGR Field Committees conduct employer support programs, including informational briefings, mediation and recognition of employers whose policies support or encourage participation in the National Guard and Reserve. By explaining the missions of the National Guard and Reserve and by increasing public awareness of the role of the employer, ESGR works to develop a dialogue among employers, the ESGR Committees, and local National Guard and Reserve unit commanders and service members. If you want to get involved, visit www.esgr.net and click on your state to volunteer!

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On the economic front, more than 90% of economists predict the recession will end this year, although the recovery is likely to be bumpy. That assessment came from leading forecasters in a survey by the National Association for Business Economics. It is generally in line with the outlook from Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke and his colleagues.

About 74% of the forecasters expect the recession, which officially started in December 2007 and is the longest since World War II, to end in the third quarter. Another 19% predict the turning point will come in the final three months of this year, and the remaining 7% believe the recession will end in the first quarter of 2010.

One of the major forces that plunged the economy into a recession was the financial crisis that struck with force last fall due to the corruption on Wall Street and the effort by members of Congress to use the Community Re-investment Act to conduct social engineering. Economists say recoveries after financial crises have always tended to be slower.

Current unemployment is 8.9% and is expected to marginally climb this year. Companies won’t be in a rush to hire until they feel certain any recovery is firmly rooted and they can trust what this administration is doing to the economy. The economic moves by the Federal Government so far are not creating the sense of security many in the private sector would like to see.

With joblessness rising, consumers, who are the major shapers of overall economic activity, will likely remain cautious, making for a tepid turnaround. And given the big bite the recession has taken out of household wealth, notably the values of homes and investment portfolios, consumers probably will stay subdued for some time. The forecasters believe the worst is already behind the country in terms of lost economic activity. The only areas that are showing any signs of increased hiring at this time are healthcare and federal government jobs.

What is the bottom line if you are unemployed or looking for a new job? You will have to work harder! The last recession had a jobless recovery. This recession will be a “less jobs” recovery. If you are in the market, be sure to visit the Employment Assistance section on VetJobs and read through the articles. They will definitely help you plan your job search, learn how to network, build a resume and successfully pass an interview, especially the all important behavioral interview.

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In the April newsletter, I gave the economic definitions of capitalism and socialism. However, many readers pointed out that I had left out the definitions for fascism and communism. So, here all four definitions:

Capitalism – an economic system in which investment in and ownership of the means of production, distribution and exchange of wealth are privately or corporately owned and development is proportionate to the accumulation and reinvestment of profits gained in a free market

Fascism – A social and political ideology with the primary guiding principle that the state or nation is the highest priority, rather than personal or individual freedoms; a governmental system led by a dictator (an individual or a governmental dictatorship) having complete power, marked by stringent social and economic control, a strong, centralized government regimenting all industry and commerce.

Socialism – Any of various theories or systems of social organization in which the means of producing and distributing goods is owned collectively or by a centralized government that often plans and controls the economy, preferably in government controlled markets. Socialism is the stage in Marxist-Leninist theory intermediate between capitalism and communism, in which collective ownership of the economy under the dictatorship of the proletariat has not yet been successfully achieved.

Communism – a system of social organization in which all economic and social activity is controlled by a totalitarian state dominated by a single and self-perpetuating political party.

Watch what is happening in the American economy today and using the above universally accepted definitions, decide for yourself where the economy of the United States is headed.

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I was honored to be the keynote speaker at the Georgia National Cemetery in Canton, GA for the Memorial Day weekend. Having been raised in a military family and then spent over 27 years in the Navy and Naval Reserve, I have always attended Memorial Day ceremonies due to what Memorial Day represents. So this was a very special honor for me. If you would like to read what I said, you can see the text to the speech in the Media Center on VetJobs at http://vetjobs.com/media/category/article-of-the-month/. The speech will be posted to YouTube.

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Finally, I am proud to announce that VetJobs has another veteran service organization supporting the VetJobs mission. The Military Order of the Purple Heart (MOPH) has signed a mutual support agreement. You will be seeing their logo on the VetJobs site. MOPH joins the Veterans of Foreign Wars (www.vfw.org – VFW is the sponsor of VetJobs), the Vietnam Veterans of America (www.vva.org), the Naval Reserve Association (www.navy-reserve.org – soon to be the Association of the US Navy), the Veterans of Modern Warfare (www.vmwusa.org), the Student Veterans of America (www.studentveterans.org) and Hope4Heroes (www.hope4heroes.org) in supporting VetJobs mission of providing jobs for transitioning military, veterans and their family members.

Of special note, MOPH has launched a site at www.vetsjobs.net to assist veterans in finding federal employment. We welcome MOPH to the VetJobs family. VetJobs is supported and endorsed by more veteran service organizations than any other military related job site!

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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

2. VetJobs Recommends: Work Strong: Your Personal Career Fitness System

From time to time VetJobs finds exceptional books or films we recommend and like to bring to your attention. This month we highlight Work Strong: Your Personal Career Fitness System. This is Peter Weddle’s newest book on conditioning your career for sustainable success. Designed specifically for the challenging workplace of the 21st Century, Work Strong not only tells you what to do for career success, but when, where and how to do it.

-Career Fitness includes both a revolutionary philosophy of work and a regimen of daily, weekly and monthly activities that empower you to apply that philosophy to your career.

-Using physical fitness as a metaphor, it introduces an approach to career self-management that is appropriate for everyone from senior executives and seasoned professionals to recent graduates and those who are reentering the workforce after an extended absence. Work Strong helps you tap both sides of your brain in learning how to build a healthy career.

-It encourages you to use your reasoning ability on the left side of your brain by presenting all of the information you need to Work Strong in your career. That’s the Career Fitness System

-It also encourages you to use your creative ability on the right side of your brain by presenting a fictional account of what it would be like to Work Strong. That’s The Diary of a Career Activist.
In today’s world of work, you have only two choices: you can be the master of your career or you can be its victim. Get the tools you need to take charge of the one-third or more of your life you spend at work. Get Work Strong today! You’ll increase the paycheck and the satisfaction you bring home from work! To order a copy, visit http://www.weddles.com/jobcatalog.htm.

/—June Veteran Eagle sponsor is Apriva—-\

Founded in 1999, Apriva is the leading wireless solutions provider integrating the hardware, software and network infrastructure required to develop and deploy high-performance high-reliability solutions in the Point of Sale (POS) and Secure Mobile Messaging markets. Apriva offers end-to-end solutions for Point of Sale that make it easy and cost-effective to develop, deploy and maintain highly secure and reliable business critical mobile applications.

Apriva provides an end-to-end wireless solution that enables merchants to process financial transactions from any location using major credit card processors. The product, which is compatible with industry-standard point of sale equipment, is powered by Apriva’s Intelligent Gateway and delivers highly secure, efficient and reliable transaction processing. Apriva offers customers easy-to-use devices, industry standard payment processing functions, wireless wide area network access, web based reporting and centralized management tools.

Search on the VetJobs jobs database for Apriva and apply today!

\—–Please visit your June Veteran Eagle sponsor Apriva—–/

3. West Point Graduate Is 7th Generation at the Academy

When Caroline Miller marched across the stage at West Point, she was the seventh generation in her family to graduate from the U.S. Military Academy. Members of Miller’s family have been attending the academy dating back 173 years, to when Andrew Jackson was president. The Miller clan forms a long gray bloodline longer than any still existing at West Point. Miller’s ancestors have fought in the Civil War, World War I, World War II and Vietnam.

/—-June Veteran Eagle sponsor is TECHEXPO Top Secret—-\

TECHEXPO Top Secret’s next job fairs are:

6/16, TECHEXPO Top Secret Career Fair, BWI Marriott, 1743 West Nursery Road, Baltimore, MD, 10:00 AM to 3:00 PM. Pre-register at http://www.techexpoUSA.com/index_VJS.cfm

6/16, TECHEXPO Top Secret Career Fair, Doubletree Hotel Colorado Springs, 1775 E Cheyenne Mountain Blvd, Colorado Springs, CO, 10:00 AM to 3:00 PM. Pre-register at http://www.techexpoUSA.com/index_VJS.cfm

6/18, TECHEXPO Top Secret Career Fair, Sheraton Reston, 11810 Sunrise Valley Drive, Reston, VA, 10:00 AM to 3:00 PM. Pre-register at http://www.techexpoUSA.com/index_VJS.cfm

\—–Please visit your June Veteran Eagle sponsor TECHEXPO Top Secret —-/

4. Carefree RV Resorts

Carefree FV Resorts offers a 50% discount to active and retired military service members and their families at 35 parks in Florida, Texas, New Jersey, North Carolina and California. The offer is valid Sunday-Thursday stays, space available, through December 31 (not on July 4 or Labor Day weekends). Veterans must show their military ID or other form of identification that shows their service in the military. Carefree RV Resorts offers a wide variety of RV parks and campgrounds for every type of RV vacation experience. Each park has wifi and park model rental cottages, which can accommodate people who don’t have their own RV. To learn more, visit www.carefreervresorts.com

5. VFW Real Estate Services

Buying or selling a home is a major life decision and VFW Real Estate & Mortgage Services can help simplify the process by providing VFW members and their families with exceptional services.

Real Estate Services
VFW Real Estate & Mortgage Services provides you the highest quality assistance nationwide. Whether you’re moving down the block or across the country –with a referral network that is nationwide – you’ll have all the support you need to buy and sell your home, vacation home or investment property.

All VFW members and their families receive premium services, including a written guarantee with your Real Estate agent promising the highest professional service in the industry. Our referral agents agree to be graded upon customer satisfaction by an independent third party. This preferred network of professionals has received a 94% approval rating nationwide – a record unmatched in the industry.

Moving Services
Once you choose a new property, VFW services team will help you with your actual move. VFW Real Estate & Mortgage Services gives you access to competitive moving rates, special offers and knowledgeable personnel who will answer your questions and walk you through the process.

Call today to find out more about Real Estate Services, Mortgage Services, and discounted Moving Van services for you and your family.

Call 1-800-329-2199 or visit www.vfwhomeandloan.com

6. Cash Bonus to Replace ‘Stop Loss’ for Deploying National Guard Soldiers

A new program that provides special pay for soldiers deploying past their end-of-service dates is set to take effect September 1 for the National Guard. The Deployment Extension Stabilization Pay program replaces the “Stop Loss” involuntary extension program and pays a cash bonus of up to $6,000 to soldiers in units set to deploy who elect to stay in past their end-of-service date to deploy. The bonus is not a lump sum payment, and the amount of the incentive depends upon when the soldier decides to extend their enlistment contract. For more information, please visit http://www.ngb.army.mil/news/archives/2009/05/052909-Cash.aspx.

7. Obama Concurrent Receipt Plan Details

More details have surfaced concerning the Administration’s proposal to expand concurrent receipt to service members who were medically retired, sometimes referred to as Chapter 61 retirees. Under the Administration’s Omnibus proposal, all Chapter 61 retirees will become eligible for Concurrent Retirement and Disability Pay (CRDP) over a five-year period starting in January 2010. The expansion will come in two phases.

The first three years of the five year phase-in opens CRDP eligibility to the more severely disabled Chapter 61 retirees with less than 20 years of service.
-On January 1, 2010, Chapter 61 retirees with less than 20 years of service and a VA rating of either 90% or 100% become eligible
-On January 1, 2011, Chapter 61 retirees with less than 20 years of service and a VA rating of either 70% or 80% become eligible
-On January 1, 2012, Chapter 61 retirees with less than 20 years of service and a VA rating of either 50% or 60% become eligible.

The remaining two years of this phase-in extends CRDP to Chapter 61 retirees, regardless of years of service, with a VA rating of less than 50%.
-On January 1, 2013, all Chapter 61 retirees with a VA rating of either 30% or 40% will become eligible
-On January 1, 2014, all Chapter 61 retirees with any VA rating become eligible

Once this plan is completed, the only disabled retirees ineligible for CRDP will be non-medical retirees with 40% or lower VA disability ratings. The 10-year cost of the expansion is estimated to be $5.8 billion. This new initiative represents a 180-degree turnabout from the positions of all previous Administrations, Republican or Democratic.

8. Navy First Service to Offer Sabbaticals

Determined to keep its best officers and enlisted men from leaving the service entirely, the U.S. Navy has become the first branch of the armed services to allow personnel to step out of their uniforms, and maintain their health benefits, for up to three years, before rejoining the Navy. Part of the Navy’s effort to become a more flexible employer, the Career Intermission Pilot Program is currently allowing 20 officers and 20 enlisted sailors to take sabbaticals so they can do things such as go back to school or care for an elderly parent. The program is intended for “high performers” or those quickly climbing through the ranks who need some time away from their duties. The Navy intends to continue the pilot project until 2012, and if deemed successful, will then make it permanent. Sailors in the program retain their TRICARE health benefits for them and their families, and they receive a small portion of their salary. But in return for their time off, the sailors must then fulfill a commitment in active service that is twice as long as their sabbatical, in addition to any other outstanding obligations.

9. Executive Job Outlook Improves

ExecuNet’s Recruiter Confidence Index ticked slightly higher in April, 2009, indicating that the market for executive jobs is showing signs of growth after bottoming out in November, 2008. In April, 41% of 142 executive recruiters polled by ExecuNet said they’re confident that the executive job market will improve in the next six months. Half of respondents believe their search assignments will increase at least 10% over the next six months. Only 15% of search professionals say they’re pessimistic about the future of the market for executive jobs. April marked the Recruiter Confidence Index’s second consecutive increase since March, 2008.

10. National Guard and Reserve Mobilized as of May 26, 2009

The total number currently on active duty from the Army National Guard and Army Reserve is 109,076; Navy Reserve, 6,562; Air National Guard and Air Force Reserve, 15,386; Marine Corps Reserve, 9,199; and the Coast National Guard Reserve, 758. This brings the total National Guard and Reserve personnel who have been activated to 140,981, including both units and individual augmentees. A cumulative roster of all National Guard and Reserve personnel who are currently activated can be found at http://www.defenselink.mil/news/May2009/d20090526ngr.pdf

11. Significant Events this Month in Military History

1775 – The United States Army was founded. The Continental Congress named Colonel George Washington of Virginia Commander-in-Chief of the American Army.

1865 – The American Civil War ended with the surrender of the last Southern forces, led by GEN Edmund Kirby-Smith, at Shreveport LA (Civil War)

1877 – Henry Ossian Flipper, the first African-American graduate of West Point, was commissioned a second lieutenant.

1916 – Congress authorized The Army Reserve Officers Training Corps.

1927 – Captain Charles A. Lindbergh, an Army reservist, completed the first non-stop transatlantic airplane flight from New York to Paris in 33.5 hours.

1940 – The British began evacuating 338,000 British and French troops from Dunkirk, a Belgian coastal city. (WW II)

1941 – Allies invade Syria and Lebanon (WW II)

1941 – Germany attacks the Soviet Union (WW II)

1942 – The decisive Battle of Midway opened in the Central Pacific. (WW II)

1944 – D-Day invasion of Normandy by Allied troops. Operation “Overlord” was the largest air and sea operation in military history. (WW II)

1944 – The Battle of Saipan (WW II)

1944 – GI Bill signed into law.

1949 – The first African-American graduate of the Naval Academy was W.A. Brown.

1950 – The Korean War began with US troops arriving on June 29th. (Korean War)

1951 – The US Eighth Army launched attacks against Chinese forces all along the front lines in Korea, slowly driving the enemy back. (Korean War)

1967 – The USS Liberty was attacked by Israel, a controversy that continues today.

1972 – The National Committee for Employer Support of the National Guard and Reserve created.

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