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VetJobs Agency Eagle – February

Ted Daywalt — Thu, 02 Feb 2012 04:21:08 +0000

Issue 13:02, Wednesday, February 1, 2011
www.vetjobs.com

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

Please feel free to forward this newsletter to friends and other recruitment advertising agencies. The VetJobs Agency Eagle is the VetJobs newsletter for recruitment advertising agencies.

This issue sponsored by TECHEXPO Top Secret, CRI University and The Herman Group

Contents:

1. Message from the Top – 2012 Market Projections

2. 2012 WEDDLEs User’s Choice Award Recipients

3. VetJobs Presenting Virtual Career Fairs

4. VETFORCE CVE Verification Survey

5. SHRM Launches Internet News Program

6. National Guard (in Federal Status) and Reserve Activated as of January 31, 2012

7. Significant Events this Month in Military History

Thank you for reading the VetJobs Agency Eagle recruitment ad agency newsletter. If you like this newsletter and what VetJobs and the VFW do to assist veterans and their family member find employment, please go to http://www.weddles.com/poll.htm and vote VetJobs for the WEDDLE’s User’s Choice Award!

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1. Message from the Top

Great news! For the ninth year in a row you have voted VetJobs to the WEDDLE’s User’s Choice Award (www.weddles.com)! Of the nine years this prestigious award in the internet world has been in existence, VetJobs is one of only four employment sites that have been voted in all nine years! The other three are CareerBuilder.com, Monster.com and DICE.com. Heady company for a niche site like VetJobs!

This award marks VetJobs as one of the top 30 job boards out of over 200,000 career sites on the Internet. 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 2013 WEDDLE’s User’s Choice Award.

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As we move into 2012, VetJobs is expanding its services and adding four Virtual Career Fairs. Our first Virtual Career Fair will be March 1 through 15. For more information, see article 3 below.

VetJobs will additionally be conducting some brick and mortar career fairs. One will be at the VFW National Convention, Reno, NV, in July. We will be sending out more information in March.

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We celebrate several holidays in February:

February 2, marks the 111th anniversary of the inception of the Army Nurse Corps. If you meet an Army nurse, tell them Happy Birthday!

February 12 is Lincoln’s birthday.

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

On February 20 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 these great United States.

February 22 is Ash Wednesday.

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On the economic front, indicators continue to be mixed, but the outlook for jobs in 2012 is slowly starting to improve, but not nearly fast enough. I find it interesting that there are growing reports questioning the unemployment reports. This is to be expected during an election year. But whether the unemployment rate is 8.5% or 10.0% (as claimed by some), the real issue is America needs incentives and a more favorable business climate to encourage employers to start hiring again!

On the plus side:
-December payroll jobs were up in 239 of the 372 metro areas
-A final reading on consumer sentiment for the month of January checked in at 75, higher than both a preliminary reading of 74 and an expected reading of 74.1, according to a survey by Thomson Reuters and the University of Michigan. The index is at its highest level since February 2011
-December leading economic indicators up 0.4%; seven components make positive contributions
-Orders for long-lasting goods climbed 3% in December from November, topping estimates of a 2% gain. Excluding the transportation segment, orders rose 2.1%, beating estimates of a 0.7% gain and marking the biggest month-to-month jump since March 2011.

On the negative side:
-December jobless rates down over the year in 329 of 372 metro areas
-The ADP National Employment Report shows the private sector added 170,000 jobs in January, fewer than the 185,000 anticipated.
-The December employment figures were revised down to 292,000 private sector jobs added from an initially reported 325,000.
-Fitch sliced the credit rating of Italy, Spain and three other eurozone countries on Friday. The ratings company affirmed Ireland’s rating and said its outlook is negative for all six sovereigns.
-A preliminary reading on U.S. gross domestic product for the fourth quarter showed the economy expanded at an annualized rate of 2.8%, up from 1.8% in the third quarter but slightly under estimates of 3%. The jump was the biggest since the second quarter of 2010.
-Sales of new U.S. single-family homes fell 2.2% in December to a 307,000-unit annualized rate. Economists had been expecting sales to climb to an annualized rate of 320,000. This was the first sales decline since August 2011 and the largest drop since July 2011.

The good news is that unemployment for all veterans in December fell to 7.7% (CPS). But the unemployment rate for the 18 to 24 year old veteran, a large number of who were in the National Guard and Reserve is at 31%. There were 74,000 unemployed veterans in that age group per the Bureau of Labor Statistics.

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CORRECTION: Last month I stated: Welcome to 2012! Starting at midnight December 31, 2011, you have 525,600 minutes to spend in 2012. Seems I was wrong. Jim Hutcheson caught the error and pointed out that this is a leap year, so there is one extra day in February! Fortunately this error is only made once every four years. Thanks for catching it, Jim!

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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

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

TECHEXPO Top Secret’s next job fairs are:

2/7, The Ritz Carlton, Pentagon City – 1250 South Hayes St. Arlington, VA, 10:00 AM to 3:00 PM, pre-register at www.techexpousa.com

2/9, BWI Marriott – 1743 West Nursery Road Linthicum Heights, MD, 10:00 AM to 3:00 PM, pre-register at www.techexpousa.com

2/29, Doubletree Hotel Colorado Springs – 1775 E. Cheyenne Mountain Blvd Colorado Springs, CO, 10:00 AM to 3:00 PM, pre-register at www.techexpousa.com

TECHEXPO Top Secret job fairs bring you face to face with security-cleared professionals. For 2010 event schedule, contact Nancy Mathew 212-655-4505 x225 or NMathew@TechExpoUSA.com. http://www.TechExpoUSA.com

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

2. 2012 WEDDLEs User’s Choice Award Recipients

For nine years recruiters and candidates have been able to vote for those Internet employment sites they think are the best of the Internet. This award is the pinnacle of achievement for an internet site as the award is vetted by the users! VetJobs congratulates these awardees as they are the best of the best!

Absolutely Health Care
AfterCollege.com
AHACareerCenter.org
AllHealthcareJobs.com
Career Network
CareerBuilder.com
Climber.com
CollegeRecruiter.com
CoolWorks.com
Dice.com
EHSCareers.com
EmploymentGuide.com
FlexJobs.com
Hcareers.com
HealthCareerWeb.com
HEALTHeCAREERS Network
HigherEdJobs.com
HospitalDreamJobs.com
Indeed.com
Job.com
Jobing.com
JobsinLogistics.com
Military.com
MilitaryHire.com
Monster.com
National Healthcare
Net-Temps
SimplyHired.com
SnagAJob.com
TopUSAJobs.com
VetJobs.com

/—February Agency Eagle sponsor is CRI University—\

CRI University provides informative and dynamic one-hour webinars and recorded educational sessions on important HR topics that impact every employer who employs fifteen or more people. CRI University topics are offered both live and as recorded sessions for registrants who choose to view the materials and listen to the recording at their leisure.

These webinars and educational sessions are as important to CEOs, COOs, and CFOs as they are for HR personnel due to the myriad of changes in employment laws, regulations, discrimination findings and court case findings in 2009 and thus far in 2011.

February webinars are:

EEOC and OFCCP Compliance
Thursday, February 09, 2012, 11:00 AM Central Time

Understanding the Achiever in the Selection and Development process.
Friday, February 10, 2012, 11:00 AM Central Time

Each webinar is $65 and the website to register for a webinar is www.criuniversity.com

\—–Please visit your Agency Eagle sponsor CRI University at www.criuniversity.com ——/

3. VetJobs Presenting Virtual Career Fairs

VetJobs is pleased to announce a series of Virtual Career Fairs. These VeteransCONNECT events will be sponsored by VetJobs and PSI, the premier Diversity Job Fair Producer.

The first event will be March 1-15. Early employer registration is now open and employer loading will start February 15th. Candidate loading will begin March 1st. We are anticipating 25-30 employers and a population goal of 2,000 Veterans.

This event is being promoted through banner advertising on VetJobs (average 90,000 impressions a month), E-mail newsletter (reach of 500,000 readers a month), e-mail blast to VetJobs resume database, announcements to TAP/ACAP offices worldwide, national Radio promotion , FaceBook promotion, PSI and VetJobs sales activity and PSI Diversity database.

Early registration is taking place NOW. To register or request additional information, please contact VetJobs at 877-838-5627 or send a request to info@vetjobs.com and we will forward you an electronic flyer for the virtual career fair.

/—February Agency Eagle sponsor is The Herman Group—\

IS YOUR COMPANY AN EMPLOYER OF CHOICE®?

Our effective, onsite seminars, workshops, and consulting can help you get there. We offer 1-, 2-, 3-hour, and full-day programs to help you communicate what it takes to become an Employer of Choice® and inspire your folks to get it done. In the future, being an Employer of Choice® will not be optional. Call Carol at 336-210-3547 to arrange a no-obligation conference call. Email info@EmployerOfChoice.com for more information. Or order the electronic version of the Employer of Choice book on your desktop for only $17.80 @ http://hermangroup.com/store/books_all.html#2.

\—–Please visit your Agency Eagle sponsor The Herman Group at www.hermangroup.com——/

4. VETFORCE CVE Verification Survey

VET Force has been working with the veteran community, executive branch and legislative branch personnel to demystify and simplify VA’s verification process. Much of the information presented and discussed to date has been anecdotal. This survey is intended to provide quantitative feedback to help the VET Force to recommend policy, standards, process, statutory and regulatory changes that veteran business owners feel will improve VA’s verification program. If you are a veteran owned business, please participate at https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/N53V9V3

5. SHRM Launches Internet News Program

The Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM) has debuted “Focus on HR,” a biweekly, 10-minute online news program showcasing the latest news and information in business, HR and SHRM. Veteran CNN correspondent Kathleen Koch hosts the program. For more information, visit http://www.shrm.org/about/news/Pages/InternetNews.aspx

6. National Guard (in Federal Status) and Reserve Activated as of January 31, 2012

This week the Navy, Marine Corps and Coast Guard announced a decrease in activated reservists while the Army and Air Force announced an increase. The net collective result is 1,393 more reservists activated than last week. At any given time, services may activate some units and individuals while deactivating others, making it possible for these figures to either increase or decrease. The total number currently on active duty from the Army National Guard and Army Reserve is 54,536; Navy Reserve, 4,518; Air National Guard and Air Force Reserve, 9,438; Marine Corps Reserve, 5,224, and the Coast Guard Reserve, 763. This brings the total National Guard and Reserve personnel who have been activated to 74,479, including both units and individual augmentees. A cumulative roster of all National Guard and Reserve personnel who are currently activated may be found on line at http://www.defense.gov/news/d20120131ngr.pdf .

7. 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.

1901 – Army Nurse Corps is established.

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.
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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), Hope4Heroes (www.hope4heroes.org) and The Retired Enlisted Association (www.trea.org).

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You were opted-in when you as a recruitment ad agency brought an employer member to VetJobs, were referred to VetJobs or were part of an organization which opted-in to VetJobs.

To REMOVE or CHANGE your subscribed address, click here:

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VetJobs
P. O. Box 71445
Marietta, GA 30007-1445
877-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!

CareerXRoads Top Site
Eight year recipient of AIRS Top Recruiting Site
Eight year recipient of WEDDLE’s User’s Choice Award
Four year recipient of Workforce Management Top 10 Recruiting Sites
Only military job board selected by Internet Inc, Reader’s Digest and BusinessWeek
2010 AOL Hot Job Site Award

VetJobs is a Service Disabled Veteran Owned Small Business

VetJobs Veteran Eagle – February

Ted Daywalt — Thu, 02 Feb 2012 04:09:34 +0000

Issue 13:02, Wednesday, February 1, 2012
www.vetjobs.com

The Veteran Eagle is a newsletter for veterans, transitioning military, their family members and friends and supporters of VetJobs. Feel free to forward the newsletter to veterans and friends and encourage them to subscribe.

This month’s Veteran Eagle is sponsored by: BNSF Railway, TECHEXPO Top Secret and iVetConnect

Contents:

1. Message from the Top

2. 2012 WEDDLEs User’s Choice Award Recipients

3. National Center for PTSD

4. New Law Will Give Tax Relief to Spouses of Disabled Veterans

5. Top High-paying Jobs for Veterans

6. Officials Announce New Law Enforcement Partnership to Protect Military Community

7. VETFORCE CVE Verification Survey

8. 3.6% Increase in Compensation and Pension Benefits

9. Early Retirement Program to be Implemented

10. National Guard (in Federal Status) and Reserve Activated as of January 31, 2012

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!

- – - – - From the VFW – - – - – - – -
VFW Insurance Programs
For information about various insurance plans sponsored by VFW National Headquarters, please visit www.vfwinsurance.com or call 1-800-821-2606, option 1

To join the VFW or to find out about eligibility, please visit https://www.vfw.org/oms/ssl/NewMember.aspx

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NOTE: If you have a resume in the VetJobs database, be sure to update your experience and refresh your resume at a minimum of every two weeks. VetJobs has many new customers using the resume database and as a general rule, they do not look at resumes over 30 days old.

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1. Message from the Top

For the ninth year in a row VetJobs has been elected to the WEDDLE’s User’s Choice Award (www.weddles.com)! Of the nine years this prestigious award in the internet world has been in existence, VetJobs is one of only four employment sites that have been voted in all nine years! The other three are CareerBuilder.com, Monster.com and DICE.com. Heady company for a niche site like VetJobs!

See article 2 below for the thirty recipients of the 2012 WEDDLE’s User’s Choice Award. I congratulate the other three sites that have been selected all nine years along with VetJobs as they are the cream of the employment web sites on the Internet. When you are looking for a job, the list of 30 sites in article #2 is the place to start as they are recognized as the best of the best!

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As we move into 2012, VetJobs is expanding its services and adding four Virtual Career Fairs. Our first Virtual Career Fair will be March 1 through 15. Candidates will be able to start registering for the career fair later this month, so watch the Today at VetJobs box on our homepage for the registration. We will also be sending out a mass email to the recipients of the Veteran Eagle when the registration opens.

VetJobs will additionally be conducting some brick and mortar career fairs. Stay tuned as we are signing up some GREAT military employers!

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We celebrate several holidays in February:

February 2, marks the 111th anniversary of the inception of the Army Nurse Corps. If you meet an Army nurse, tell them Happy Birthday!

February 12 is Lincoln’s birthday.

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

February 22 is Ash Wednesday.

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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. I am testifying before the House Veterans Affairs Committee tomorrow and I will need some veterans for future testimonies. Please contact me at info@vetjobs.com if you have information. Your input will be kept confidential.

The hearing in the HVAC is important. Key decision makers now understand where the real unemployment problems are for veterans and are starting to work on solutions. VetJobs is honored to be part of the solution to the veteran unemployment problems.

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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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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

/—February Veteran Eagle sponsor is BNSF Railway—-\

BNSF Railway, a subsidiary of Berkshire Hathaway, Inc., is actively seeking applicants with military experience. At BNSF, we salute those with service, value their skills and welcome the unique experiences of our service members. From skilled craftsmen to first-line supervisors, we filled over 5,000 positions in 2011. BNSF offers challenging and rewarding career opportunities for those in transition from military to civilian life as well as veterans, retirees and members of National Guard and Reserve components.

Today’s BNSF Railway, a product of nearly 400 different railroad lines that merged or were acquired over the course of 160 years, has been quietly delivering cars, coal, clothing, games and nearly anything else found in homes and businesses. While many different railroads combined to form BNSF, the people who worked at those railroads shared many traits. The people who built BNSF were — and continue to be — a unique breed, blending the forward-thinking of dreamers with the pragmatism of results-oriented business leaders. This heritage played a central role in settling and growing the American West, and today, BNSF continues to have a significant impact in meeting the needs of shippers and serving the economy. If you are seeking a challenging and rewarding career with a company that appreciates your military experience, then visit http://www.bnsf.com/careers/military/index.html to apply.

\—–Please visit your Veteran Eagle sponsor BNSF Railway—–/

2. 2012 WEDDLEs User’s Choice Award Recipients

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

TECHEXPO Top Secret’s next career fairs are:

2/7, The Ritz Carlton, Pentagon City – 1250 South Hayes St. Arlington, VA, 10:00 AM to 3:00 PM, pre-register at www.techexpousa.com

2/9, BWI Marriott – 1743 West Nursery Road Linthicum Heights, MD, 10:00 AM to 3:00 PM, pre-register at www.techexpousa.com

2/16, IBM Open House, Westin BWI – 1110 Old Elkridge Landing Road Linthicum Heights, MD, 10:00 AM to 3:00 PM, pre-register at www.techexpousa.com

2/16, IBM Open House, The Westin Huntsville – 6800 Governors West, NW Huntsville, AL, 10:00 AM to 3:00 PM, pre-register at www.techexpousa.com

2/29, Doubletree Hotel Colorado Springs – 1775 E. Cheyenne Mountain Blvd Colorado Springs, CO, 10:00 AM to 3:00 PM, pre-register at www.techexpousa.com

Interview with leading government contractors! Full schedule, event details, & pre-registration are available at www.TechExpoUSA.com. The career fair is for professionals with active or recent security clearances only. Free admission. If you attend a TECHEXPO career fair, please indicate you learned of the career fair from VetJobs.

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

3. National Center for PTSD

The VA has launched a new National Center for PTSD. It is located at http://www.ptsd.va.gov/. While visiting this site, please consider getting on the ListServ distribution so that you can receive important PTSD Newsletters

/—February Veteran Eagle sponsor is iVetConnect—-\

If you are a transitioning, retiring or unemployed veteran and are curious about franchising, join this FREE webinar “Veterans Exploring Franchise Ownership”. There are a surprising number of parallels between your military experience and franchise ownership—this webinar will explain what those are, and cover critical information you need to know that you won’t find on the internet.

Laurie Pollock, Sr. Franchise Consultant, and Christian Germain, retired Army Captain and 2-time franchise owner will talk about how to evaluate franchise opportunities, best sources of information, franchises that discount their fees for veterans, and how to get funding and financing. They’ll also talk about a new Linked In group you may want to join – iVetConnect. The purpose of the group is to pair veterans with other veterans seeking business ownership. If you can’t fund a franchise alone, find a veteran business partner, pool your resources, start a franchise, and create jobs!

This month’s webinar date is Monday, February 6th at 4pm CT / 5pm ET.
To view the presentation, go to: https://join.me/VeteransFranchiseWebinar
To listen in, dial: 1.609.318.5900. Access Code: 419-432-252#

No registration required. If you’re unable to make the webinar, email a request to lauriepollock@franchoice.com for a free one-on-one consultation.

\—Please visit your Veteran Eagle sponsor iVetConnect at www.franchoice.com—-/

4. New Law Will Give Tax Relief to Spouses of Disabled Veterans

Tens of thousands of spouses of totally disabled veterans in Texas will qualify for significant property tax relief under a new law. Texas law already exempts veterans who are declared 100% disabled because of combat injuries or other service-related causes from paying property taxes on their home. As of January 1, the homestead exemption will also apply to a spouse after the veteran dies. Texas has about 300,000 disabled veterans, and nearly 25,000 of them are designated as 100% service-related disabled, according to the Texas Veterans Commission.

5. Top High-paying Jobs for Veterans

As veterans return from Iraq and Afghanistan seeking jobs, the big question looms: which jobs are turning out to be the most lucrative for veterans? PayScale.com has done some research on the subject and have come up with some interesting findings, including details on the specific skills veterans have that seem to be serving them well in finding a job. The other major conclusion of the study is that most veterans are having success finding high-paying careers in the technology sector.

In the study, PayScale.com looked at a few different aspects, including the jobs vets typically choose, their earnings, the companies that hire them and the skills they most commonly possess as civilian workers. According to the study, the top 15 most common, well-paid and quickly growing professions veterans choose include:

-Management Consultant, $87,000
-Program Manager, IT, $91,000
-Systems Analyst, $70,500
-FBI Agent, $77,600
-Field Service Engineer, Medical Equipment, $62,400
-Systems Engineer (Computer Networking / IT), $67,300
-Information Technology (IT) Consultant, $74,000
-Intelligence Analyst, $69,500
-Helicopter Pilot, $58,600
-Network Engineer, IT, $62,500
-Project Manager, Construction, $66,000
-Technical Writer, $53,400
-Business Development Manager, $72,200
-Network Administrator, IT, $50,000
-HVAC Service Technician, $42,000
-Fireman, $41,900

6. Officials Announce New Law Enforcement Partnership to Protect Military Community

Officials from the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB), the Department of Defense, and the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) were joined by the New York Attorney General to announce the development of a database to combat consumer financial frauds directed at military members, veterans, and their families. The Repeat Offenders Against Military (ROAM) Database will track completed enforcement actions against companies and individuals who repeatedly scam military personnel. Read the full story http://1.usa.gov/AsBVcW

7. VETFORCE CVE Verification Survey

8. 3.6% Increase in Compensation and Pension Benefits

Veterans, their families, and survivors receiving benefits from the Department of Veterans Affairs saw a 3.6% increase in their compensation and pension benefits beginning January 1, 2012. The new compensation rates will range from $127 monthly for a disability rated at 10% to $2,769 monthly for 100%. The cost of living adjustments (COLAs) also apply to disability and death pension recipients, survivors receiving Dependency and Indemnity Compensation, disabled Veterans receiving automobile and clothing allowances, and other benefits. The full rates are available on the Internet at www.vba.va.gov/bln/21/Rates/#BM01.

9. Early Retirement Program to be Implemented

Beginning January 1, 2012, the services are authorized to implement Temporary Early Retirement Authority (TERA). This is authorized by Section 504 in the final version of the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA, H.R. 1540) which reinstates the TERA provision that will allow officers and noncommissioned officers to retire with at least 15 years of service and receive retired pay at a reduced rate. TERA was authorized from 1991 to 1996 in conjunction with force reductions during that period. In addition to retirement pay, the program includes TRICARE coverage and is not available for Coast Guard personnel because that service is not implementing involuntary separations.

10. National Guard (in Federal Status) and Reserve Activated as of January 31, 2012

11. 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.

1901 – Army Nurse Corps is established.

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)

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 is exclusively sponsored and partially owned by the Veterans of Foreign Wars of the United States (www.vfw.org) and endorsed by the Vietnam Veterans of America (www.vva.org), the Association of the US Navy (www.ausn.org), the Veterans of Modern Warfare (www.vmwusa.org), Student Veterans of America (www.studentveterans.org), Military Order of the Purple Heart (www.purpleheart.org), Hope4Heroes (www.hope4heroes.org), United States Army Warrant Officers Association (www.usawoa.org) and The Retired Enlisted Association (www.trea.org).
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
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

VetJobs Early Eagle – February

Ted Daywalt — Thu, 02 Feb 2012 04:08:26 +0000

Issue 13:02, Wednesday, February 1, 2012
www.vetjobs.com

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

The VetJobs Early Eagle is for member employers, recruiters, friends and supporters of VetJobs. Feel free to forward this newsletter to friends and other employers.

This issue sponsored by TECHEXPO Top Secret, CRI University and The Herman Group

Contents:

1. Message from the Top

2. 2012 WEDDLEs User’s Choice Award Recipients

3. VetJobs Presenting Virtual Career Fairs

4. VETFORCE CVE Verification Survey

5. SHRM Launches Internet News Program

6. National Guard (in Federal Status) and Reserve Activated as of January 31, 2012

7. Significant Events this Month in Military History

Thank you for reading the VetJobs Early Eagle employer newsletter. If you like this newsletter and what VetJobs and the VFW do to assist veterans and their family member find employment, please go to http://www.weddles.com/poll.htm and vote VetJobs for the WEDDLE’s User’s Choice Award!

* * * * * * * * * * * * * *
1. Message from the Top

VetJobs will additionally be conducting some brick and mortar career fairs. One will be at the VFW National Convention, Reno, NV, in July. We will be sending out more information in March.

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We celebrate several holidays in February:

February 2, marks the 111th anniversary of the inception of the Army Nurse Corps. If you meet an Army nurse, tell them Happy Birthday!

February 12 is Lincoln’s birthday.

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

February 22 is Ash Wednesday.

Best regards,

Ted Daywalt
President

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

TECHEXPO Top Secret’s next job fairs are:

2/7, The Ritz Carlton, Pentagon City – 1250 South Hayes St. Arlington, VA, 10:00 AM to 3:00 PM, pre-register at www.techexpousa.com

2/9, BWI Marriott – 1743 West Nursery Road Linthicum Heights, MD, 10:00 AM to 3:00 PM, pre-register at www.techexpousa.com

2/29, Doubletree Hotel Colorado Springs – 1775 E. Cheyenne Mountain Blvd Colorado Springs, CO, 10:00 AM to 3:00 PM, pre-register at www.techexpousa.com

TECHEXPO Top Secret job fairs bring you face to face with security-cleared professionals. For 2011 event schedule, contact Nancy Mathew 212-655-4505 x225 or NMathew@TechExpoUSA.com. http://www.TechExpoUSA.com

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

2. 2012 WEDDLEs User’s Choice Award Recipients

/—February Early Eagle sponsor is CRI University—\

February webinar is:

EEOC and OFCCP Compliance
Thursday, February 09, 2012, 11:00 AM Central Time

Understanding the Achiever in the Selection and Development process.
Friday, February 10, 2012, 11:00 AM Central Time

Each webinar is $65. Register at www.criuniversity.com

\—–Please visit your Early Eagle sponsor CRI University at www.criuniversity.com ——/

3. VetJobs Presenting Virtual Career Fairs

VetJobs is pleased to announce a series of Virtual Career Fairs. These VeteransCONNECT events will be sponsored by VetJobs and PSI, the premier Diversity Job Fair Producer.

/—February Early Eagle sponsor is The Herman Group—\

IS YOUR COMPANY AN EMPLOYER OF CHOICE®?

\—–Please visit your Early Eagle sponsor The Herman Group at www.hermangroup.com——/

4. VETFORCE CVE Verification Survey

5. SHRM Launches Internet News Program

6. National Guard (in Federal Status) and Reserve Activated as of January 31, 2012

7. 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.

1901 – Army Nurse Corps is established.

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)

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 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), Hope4Heroes (www.hope4heroes.org) and The Retired Enlisted Association (www.trea.org).
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
You were opted-in when you became a paid employer member, were referred to VetJobs or were part of an organization which opted-in to VetJobs.

To REMOVE or CHANGE your subscribed address, click here:

http://mh.databack.com/c.php?L=earlyeagle&E=#email#

VetJobs
P. O. Box 71445
Marietta, GA 30007-1445
877-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

Federal and state officials announce new law enforcement partnership to protect military community

Ted Daywalt — Wed, 25 Jan 2012 22:57:48 +0000

CFPB PRESS RELEASE
January 25, 2012
Federal and state officials announce new law enforcement partnership to protect military community

First-of-its-kind database will combat fraud targeted at military members, veterans, or families

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Officials from the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB), the Department of Defense, and the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) were joined by the New York Attorney General today to announce the development of a database to combat consumer financial frauds directed at military members, veterans, and their families. The Repeat Offenders Against Military (ROAM) Database will track completed enforcement actions against companies and individuals who repeatedly scam military personnel. Read the full story http://1.usa.gov/AsBVcW

Change the Epilogue of Your Job Search

Peter Weddles — Thu, 19 Jan 2012 13:23:33 +0000

The new scourge of job seekers is serial unemployment. You fight through the frustration and anxiety of one job search, land a new position and six months or a year later, you’re handed another pink slip and find yourself right back where you started from. It’s an increasingly prevalent plight for white collar and blue collar workers alike. There is a way to protect yourself, however, if you change the epilogue to your job search.

A recent news article recounted this increasingly familiar tale in today’s job market:

”After being unemployed for nearly two years, having been let go during the throes of the financial crisis from his job doing marketing for engineering and construction firms, the Greenwich resident landed a position with a company in New Haven.

“But since December, when the company restructured and eliminated that position, Zucccerella has been back to scouring the job listing search engine Indeed.com, mining his social network for leads and going on interviews that lead to the dreaded response, ‘you have an excellent background, but …’”

I don’t for a minute diminish the pathos of this fellow’s situation, but it’s also important that we learn from his mistake. What was that? He thought his job search was over when he landed a job.

In today’s unsettled and rapidly changing business environment, no job is forever and many jobs will last but a year or two … no matter what employers may say. It’s not that they’re being dishonest, but rather that they simply don’t have a reliable crystal ball.

They can’t predict what the financial health of their organization will be or what kind of work it will need to have done in 12 or 24 months any more than they can tell you who will win the Super Bowl. As Bob Dylan sang way back in 1962, “The times they are a-changin’. And, that means the longevity of jobs is shrinking..

So, how can you protect yourself in such an unsettled environment? Change what happens after you land a job. Rewrite the epilogue to your job search so that it no longer celebrates the end of something, but instead, inaugurates the beginning of something else.

The Start of Something New

The end of your job search is no longer the end of your quest to gain employment. It is, instead, the beginning of your preparation for your next job search. Or to put it even more bluntly, tomorrow’s job search begins on the first day of your new job.

That’s not being disloyal. It’s being prudent. Your next search may not happen for a year or two or three, but it will happen. It may occur because you decide to look for something better or because your employer decides to cut costs. But regardless of when and how it happens, the search itself is all but inevitable.

How should you prepare for it? By starting to work on the fitness of your career. Call it a New Year’s resolution if you’d like, but make it a personal priority to build up your occupational strength, reach and endurance. And, start right now.

There are several facets to a healthy career, and the key to sustained employment is to work on each of them all of the time. As with a physical fitness program, for example, you can’t build a healthy body by simply exercising your cardiovascular system and ignoring your respiratory system, muscles and bones.

Similarly, limiting your career fitness program to adding expertise in your occupational field – the “heart of your career” – will improve that important aspect of your worklife but leave everything else – your peer connections, ancillary skills, and environmental awareness – in a weakened state.

That’s true especially if you are in transition. The “come as you are” job market ended with the Great Recession. You can no longer land a new job with the skills you had in your old job. You need to be better than that. And, the only way to get better is to practice career fitness while you’re looking for a job. Yes, that’s a lot of work, but it beats being out of work by a long shot.

The conventional wisdom is that a job search is an episodic experience that occurs only rarely in a person’s career. In the 21st Century world of work, however, job searching is a continuous process. The key to success, therefore, is to treat the end of one search as the beginning of the next. Or, to put it another way, the epilogue of today’s search is the preamble for tomorrow’s.

Thanks for reading,
Peter
Visit me at Weddles.com

Described by The Washington Post as “a man filled with ingenious ideas, Peter Weddle has been a columnist for The Wall Street Journal and CNN.com. He is also the author or editor of over two dozen books. Get his blockbuster guide to job search and career success, Work Strong: Your Personal Career Fitness System, as Amazon.com today.

Young Veterans Without Jobs: Too Many Are Locked Out Of ‘Recovery’

Ted Daywalt — Tue, 10 Jan 2012 23:48:56 +0000

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/01/10/veterans-jobs-high-unemployment_n_1197400.html

Young military veterans saw little to celebrate in last week’s much cheered unemployment report. Data released the same day by the Department of Labor revealed that one in three young veterans was out of a job in the last quarter of 2011 — an employment picture even worse than a year earlier, when one in five couldn’t find work.

This rate is more double that of their civilian peers; the unemployment rate for all Americans age 18-24 actually decreased over the same time period.

“I definitely think it’s getting worse out there,” said Daniel Hutchison, 29, who started a one-man transition assistance group, Ohio Combat Veterans, last May. “Part of that has to do with the economy across the board. The unemployment rate is still high, and with veterans, it’s even more complicated.”

Veterans don’t always know how to translate their skills in the battlefield for employers back home. And while they look for work, they’re often battling post-traumatic stress disorder, which can be compounded, Hutchison said, by not finding a job.

“Veterans will sell themselves short. On their résumés, they’ll just say, ‘I was field artillery in Iraq for 16 months.’” Hutchison continued. “So I’ll say, ‘But you have leadership skills. How much training did you do? How many people did you manage?’ These are all attributes that these veterans have, but they can’t really see it.”

After five years in the U.S. Army, Hutchison returned home in 2007 expecting to pick up his previous construction job or something like it in the industry. But when he came back from Iraq, the housing bubble had popped.

“In today’s economy you can’t give away a house, so I was taking pretty much any little thing I could get,” he recalled. He had worked as a medic in the Army and thought that offered employment skills, but he didn’t hold any civilian certifications.

Hutchison now runs Ohio Combat Veterans by himself, with some donations and his own Army benefits. Since last May, he’s helped about 100 veterans — and they’ve helped him, too. “Just running this program was real therapeutic for me,” he said.

While organizations like Hutchison’s can be critical for catching veterans who have slipped through the cracks, some who focus on unemployment issues and veterans think the problem goes beyond PTSD and the difficulty of translating military skills for civilian employers.

Ted Daywalt, who runs VetJobs.com in Georgia, observes that most young unemployed veterans are part of the National Guard or the Reserves, and employers hesitate to hire them not because of weak résumés, but because of the increase in Pentagon calls for Reserve and Guard members to return to service. A new policy on call-ups implemented in 2007, combined with a law that requires companies to restore reservists to their jobs after they come home, means that employers are more reluctant than ever to hire veterans.

“An employer cannot run their business if their most critical asset, human capital, is being taken away for 12 to 24 months,” Daywalt said.

Some 180,000 people visit VetJobs.com every month, and they receive dozens of calls a day, Daywalt said. The most common plea, he continued, comes from a veteran in the Reserves or Guard who has just been called up and then suddenly finds himself laid off, with his employer blaming the pressures of the weak economy. According to Daywalt, who is a Vietnam-era veteran and a reservist for 21 years, some 65 to 70 percent of employers won’t hire from the National Guard or the Reserves, even though this type of discrimination is illegal.

“Employers would prefer to hire someone out of the military, but they’re called up so frequently, no one wants to hire them,” he said. “As a reservist, I get real upset. But when I put on my CEO hat, I totally understand why they’re doing it.”

Daywalt has testified before Congress multiple times on the subject and is firm on this point: Veterans who are not part of the Reserves or the National Guard typically find work, he said. But unless there is a change in the call-up policy, he expects unemployment for young veterans to keep rising.

“In 2007 in a hearing at Congress, I said the unemployment rate is going to go up to 20 percent, and people scoffed,” Daywalt recalled. “This year you’re going to see it go up to 50 or more percent.”

The Job Seeker With the Dragon Tattoo

Peter Weddles — Fri, 06 Jan 2012 15:28:55 +0000

By now, you’ve probably heard of Stieg Larsson’s best seller, The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo. For those who haven’t yet read the book, it’s (sort of) a murder mystery intertwined with the self-identity quest of a young woman with distinctive body art. While all of the plot’s secrets are revealed by the end of the tale, one question is never addressed: what’s the meaning of the dragon tattoo? The answer is especially important to job seekers.

Lisbeth Salandar – the girl with the dragon tattoo – is the antithesis of the conventional girl next door. She’s amply pierced and decorated and socially maladroit. She’s also an expert in her field. Whatever her difficulties with “normal” people, she can bring a computer to life.

Her specialty is probing online communications and Web-sites for private information. That expertise leads her to work with a journalist who’s trying to solve a decades-old mystery surrounding a missing person.

You’ll have to read the book to find out how the mystery gets solved. But, Lisabeth Salander is another story altogether. She’s a complicated figure with a lot of baggage.

Her past has so many dark corners, it makes a polygon look straight. In fact, her history is so overwhelming, it has the power to shape both her present and future. If she lets it, the damage done to her by others could poison her perspective and ultimately eviscerate her hope. And, it’s that possibility which brings us to the dragon tattoo.

What Does the Dragon Tattoo Mean for Job Seekers?

The conventional view, of course, is that dragons symbolize the danger in our lives. They are the embodiment of evil in many a knight’s legend and child’s fairy tale. Whether they’re breathing fire or swinging their spiked tails, dragons wreck havoc on innocent people.

And, Lisbeth has certainly had more than her fair share of such figures in her life. She suffers through a cruel stepfather, an evil guardian and even malicious street thugs. So, why is she portraying their symbol on her body?

The answer is in its location. Lisbeth’s dragon tattoo is on her back. She put it there to prove she has vanquished the beasts in her life. Their evil is behind her. They no longer have the power to influence the way she sees her present or her future.

That’s not the case, unfortunately, for a lot of us who are in transition. The dragons are still wrecking havoc in our lives. In fact, they are hurting us in two ways.

The loss of a job or a frustrating job search can derail our career and set us back financially. It can also poison our perspective and eviscerate our hope. The first brings hardship, to be sure, but hardships can be overcome. The second, however, causes despair, and despair can be a debilitating affliction.

So, here’s my advice for 2012 (and every year thereafter):. Follow Lisbeth’s example. Be very good at what you do AND put your dragons behind you. Stamp out their power to shape your present and your future.

Yes, that’s easier said than done, but think of it as getting a spiritual tattoo. It’ll hurt a little in the beginning, but the final result will be permanent … and an unforgettable symbol of your courage and determination.

Thanks for reading,
Peter
Visit me at Weddles.com

Peter Weddle is the author of over two dozen employment-related books, including WEDDLE’s 2011/12 Guide to Employment Sites on the Internet, The Career Activist Republic, Work Strong, Your Personal Career Fitness System and Recognizing Richard Rabbit. Get them at Amazon.com and www.Weddles.com today.

VetJobs Agency Eagle – 2012 Market Projections

Ted Daywalt — Tue, 03 Jan 2012 02:18:24 +0000

Issue 13:01, Sunday, January 1, 2011
www.vetjobs.com

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

Please feel free to forward this newsletter to friends and other recruitment advertising agencies. The VetJobs Agency Eagle is the VetJobs newsletter for recruitment advertising agencies.

This issue sponsored by TECHEXPO Top Secret and CRI University

Contents:

1. Message from the Top – 2012 Market Projections

2. DOL Sets Historic Hiring Goal for Federal Contractors and Subcontractors

3. Top Cities for Growth

4. Rising Wages in Tough Times

5. Overwhelming Majority of Workers Plan to Look for New Job in 2012

6. National Guard (in Federal Status) and Reserve Activated as of December 27, 2011

7. Significant Events this Month in Military History

* * * * * * * * * * * * * *
1. Message from the Top

Welcome to 2012! Starting at midnight December 31, 2011, you have 525,600 minutes to spend in 2012. Your success in working with your clients and in your career depends on how well you spend those 525,600 minutes, as well as the attitude you take when facing problems! Even when times are tough, keeping a positive attitude can mean a lot in terms of your success. And when your clients need quality employees, you know to refer VetJobs!

VetJobs is now in its thirteenth year of service to employers wanting to hire transitioning military, veterans, National Guard & Reserve, and their family members. 2011 was a difficult but good year for VetJobs. While many job boards are down in sales and job postings and other job boards have gone out of business, VetJobs sales finished 2011 up over 11%. In this deep recessionary market, that is an accomplishment! It is you the recruitment ad agency partners who refer VetJobs to your clients that have helped keep VetJobs in the forefront. We thank you and look forward to working with you more in 2012!

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On January 16 we celebrate Martin Luther King Day. MLK 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 unions. Unions did most of the promotion for the holiday throughout the 1970s. In 1976, trade unions 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.

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On the economic front, the country continues in the economic malaise that was started by the events put into motion from the Community Reinvestment Act in 1977. After 30 years the Act ultimately crashed our financial system and has given the United States record unemployment. The promises of a “Summer of Recovery” and the lowering of the unemployment rate to 8% have yet to occur.

In December the government reported CES unemployment rate went from 9.0% to 8.6% with only 120,000 new jobs created. Mathematically that is impossible but DOL got to 8.6% by saying 315,000 people dropped out of the workforce. Many people have asked DOL the methodology used to determine how many have “dropped out” and basically are told it is done by a formula. I suspect that we really do not know how many have actually dropped out. Some economic analysts have put back all the hundreds of thousands that DOL says have “dropped out” and discover that the CES unemployment rate is over 11%, which is probably closer to the truth. But this is an election year so you have to expect games. To be fair, every president since Eisenhower has played a little with the unemployment rates.

Please understand that to move the unemployment rate down 1% you have to have at least a 3.5% to 4.0% per month GDP growth rate for a year. At this point in time, our economic growth is anemic. For more on what the employment picture will look like, see my 2012 Job Market Predictions below.

At 34 months and counting, this is the longest streak of greater than 8% unemployment since tracking started in 1948! For more on this issue, see Steve Tobak’s commentary on CBS at http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-505125_162-57337159/lies-damn-lies-and-unemployment-data/?tag=mncol;lst;4.

After three years of high unemployment, falling home values, failing banks, municipal and state governments going broke and the incredible $14.3 trillion debt the administration has fostered on American taxpayers, it is easy to understand why the consumer confidence index has not been doing well. While hard for some to understand, this administration has created more debt than all the previous administrations combined going back to President Washington! Just as you as an individual cannot borrow your way out of debt, countries that try to borrow their way out of debt collapse into bankruptcy. That is why the credit rating for the United States has been lowered and that affects every citizen!

There are other factors specifically affecting companies which are the true source of job creation as governments do not create jobs, companies create jobs.

One is the economic malaise that has brought constant pressure to perform which is causing workforce fatigue. There is an all-out drive to increase productivity, drive quality, reduce costs and create efficiencies in every aspect of US industry.

Another big unknown is election year politics. As Oliver Bell points out in his 2012 Labor & Employee Relations Trends, there is concern about what candidates will do in the process of seeking the presidency as well as other elected offices that will impact employers and employees. Amazingly, President Obama’s decision to postpone construction of the Keystone XL pipeline means tens of thousands of new US jobs won’t be created, jobs veterans could have been filling. Ultimately, the Keystone XL Pipeline would have brought 400,000 new jobs! And the administration wants to raise taxes to compensate for the millions of lost tax dollars the pipeline would have generated.

Another big concern is the ever increasing federal, state and local regulations that hinder businesses. Some regulation is necessary. But DOL, EPA, DOE and other agencies have gone past what is basically needed and entered into the realm of seriously hindering our economy.

Recent reports from EEOC and OFCCP indicate that litigation rates are well above normal and financial consequences are more severe. If employers are bad actors then this is a good thing. However, if this is the result of government overreach, then employer’s and citizen’s tax dollars are working against their own best interests.

In the area or labor relations, government pushed rules that lead to easier organizing for unions will drive up employer administrative costs 17% to 25%! That is what has been found in studies to be the administrative cost difference of managing in a union shop state versus a right-to-work state.

Hidden are the hard to see costs of unionization that will rise as organized labor pushes their “each one, reach one” growth campaign. There are 16 million union members in the US, 7% in the private sector and 35% in the government sector. The easing of organizing rules by some projections would create the circumstances where unions could increase their current membership by 100%, or another 16 million. The cash windfall to unions would exceed $5 billion, which means more money for certain politicians.

If any of our readers can give me an example of where a company ran smoother with lower costs and better profits after unionization, I would appreciate hearing about it as to date I have yet to find such an example.

But all is not doom and gloom. The country is slowly moving forward as companies are starting to hire again. We see this at VetJobs as our job postings have been up 3% to 11% over same day last year. That is good. While it is tough for the unemployed, there are jobs available.

Edgar Ortiz, CEO of Strategic Analytic Solutions, Inc. has laid out very concisely what is needed to get the US economy turned around.

First, he notes that a strong and growing manufacturing sector is vital to our prosperity, standard of living and national security. To fix the manufacturing issue, he suggests following the National Manufacturing Association’s recommendation of reversing the current course of expanding trade deficits, outsourcing jobs overseas and ballooning national debt. Does it make sense to outsource the manufacture of defense equipment, ships, planes, etc. to non-US companies? I think not.

Second, fix the tax rates. The American tax rates are the highest in the world. Lower rates provide an incentive to allow corporations to repatriate billions of dollars in profits from overseas operations so they can invest capital in the United States economy.

Third recommendation is trade policies. Our government needs to demand greater transparency and compliance from our trade partners. Illegal subsidies, forced transfer of technology, dumping and intellectual property theft make it difficult and costly for American businesses to compete fairly.

And lastly, improve education and skills. Technology continues to advance at a rapid pace increasing the demand for workers with specialized skills. Everyone does not need to go to college, which is why the United States has a shortage of qualified candidates in many disciplines.

Put bluntly, America cannot survive on its current socialist path of growing deficits, increasing foreign debt, underperforming students and ballooning national debt. The longer we postpone the making of the tough choices needed to correct the imbalances and reverse the move towards socialism back to a free enterprise economy, the higher will be the cost passed to future generations.

* * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Each January it is my custom to make labor and market predictions. It is a challenge this year as there are many conflicting economic trends in the market. The country is improving, albeit slowly, by disproportionate rates depending on location. Critical is whether you are in a union shop state or a right-to-work state. The Southeast and Southwest are growing the best, but the Northeast and union shop states are having serious problems. With that said, here are my baker’s dozen 2012 predictions:

2012 Market Predictions

1. A high unemployment rate is here to stay

Unemployment will probably remain in the 8% to 9% range throughout 2012, unless the DOL decides for political reasons more people have “dropped out”. The recovery will continue at a relatively slow pace in 2012, with real GDP creeping up to 2.0% or slightly higher. Third quarter GDP growth for 2011 was 1.8%.

2. Labor shortages will persist

In spite of high unemployment, labor shortages of qualified candidates will continue to grow in the following areas: healthcare, petroleum, technicians, mechanics, welders, engineers and manufacturing. While some labor reports like to tout that there are 5.87 unemployed people for every available job that is not the way to look at the problem. Employers do not hire someone just because they are a living being. Employers hire to fill a need thus look for “qualified” candidates. When one looks at the unemployment problem from the standpoint of how many qualified applicants exist, you get negative numbers in occupations like plumbers, electricians, welders, nurses, technicians, etc. The good news for those seeking work is many of Manpower’s top 10 hardest jobs to fill don’t require a college degree, so they’re more accessible.

3. Jobs are starting to come back to the United States!

You will be reading a lot this year about “On-Shoring”. Some of the work that had been more efficient or economical to perform overseas has reached an economic tipping point. The fact that many of the countries to which jobs were exported do not protect copyrights and patents is also a factor. Global wages in manufacturing are moving upward. This is similar to what happened after WWII when it seemed everything was “Made in Japan”. As the Japanese work force became skilled, they wanted higher wages and the Japanese companies off-shored their jobs.

4. The workforce will be older

In the last decade or so, the life expectancy of the average U.S. citizen has increased every year. As a direct result, companies are seeing their employment populations develop more and more age-related disabilities and become more diverse. Companies may have as many as five generations of people in their workforce.

5. Demand for knowledge workers will increase.

As technology constantly improves, the need for qualified IT related employees continues to grow. There are shortages of qualified DBAs, network administrators, certain programmers, certified internet security candidates, etc.

6. Job openings will take longer to fill

There will be job openings aplenty in the trades as baby boomers retire but there is a shortage of qualified replacements. Many of the unemployed will need to be trained in new skill sets. Example: qualified welders are now making $45 an hour with lots of overtime in TX, MT, ND, SD and WY due to the shortage of qualified welders!

7. Health-care careers overall will likely enjoy job security.

According to the U.S. Labor Department, 13 of the 20 fastest-growing occupations through 2014 are related to health care.

8. Regulatory concerns

Several federal agencies, DOL, NLRB, NMB, FLRB, EEOC, and OFCCP have recently made or proposed changes that will negatively impact employers in 2012 driving up costs and the need for lawyers

9. Employees will be job hopping at increasing rates

From The Herman Group (www.hermangroup.com) we learn that the overwhelming majority of employees plan to change employers in 2012. Right Management found that 84% of the respondents to an online poll said they “plan to look for a new position in 2012”. That number is almost double the number found by Randstad in their recent poll.

10. Workforce development will increase in importance.

As communities realize the disparity between desired skills and those skills people actually possess, the issue of workforce development will become more important.

11. The United States and Europe will lag behind Asia and South America in job growth and profits

Asia has now become the major financial center and many Americans are migrating to Asia to find jobs. While their cost to manufacture is generally lower than the United States, quality and legal issues have actually caused many companies to return to the US. But if you are an investor or involved in finance, Asia is still very attractive.

12. Older workers will be more highly valued.

Older workers will be in higher demand as the baby boomers move into retirement. Public and private sector employers will be facing labor shortages and they want to retain the intellectual capital that their older workers have from being in the workforce. Older workers offer stability and maturity not found in many younger workers.

13. Employers continue to be dissatisfied with public schools

Managers are frustrated with the low level of preparation of the entry level workforce coming from many of the public school systems. Corporate executives are demanding greater performance from public schools, technical, community, and four-year colleges. It is disappointing that many high school graduates cannot read properly, write a letter, do basic math or received adequate education in history, business and economics. 25% of applicants today cannot pass the basic military entry test. Political correctness and teacher unions combined with legal issues, ACLU law suits and having to deal with unfunded federal mandates has brought our educational system to an all-time low. The public primary and secondary education system has to be improved if America is to maintain a strong economy. Interestingly, home schooled and private school students are excelling on the SAT!

It will be interesting to see where we are at the end of 2012.

Best regards,

Ted Daywalt
President

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

TECHEXPO Top Secret’s next job fairs are:

1/18, TECHEXPO Top Secret Career Fair, The Ritz Carlton Tysons Corner, 11810 Sunrise Valley Drive
Reston, VA, 10:00 AM to 3:00 PM. Register at www.techexpousa.com

1/19, TECHEXPO Top Secret Career Fair, BWI Marriott, 1743 West Nursery Road, Baltimore, MD, 10:00 AM to 3:00 PM. Register at www.techexpousa.com

1/24, TECHEXPO Top Secret Career Fair, San Diego Convention Center, 111 West Harbor Drive, San Diego, CA, 10:00 AM to 3:00 PM. Register at www.techexpousa.com

1/25, TECHEXPO Top Secret Career Fair, BWI Marriott, DoubleTree Colorado Springs, 1175 East Cheyenne Mountain Blvd, Colorado Springs, CO, 10:00 AM to 3:00 PM. Register at www.techexpousa.com

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

2. DOL Sets Historic Hiring Goal for Federal Contractors and Subcontractors

The U.S. Department of Labor is proposing a new rule that would require federal contractors and subcontractors to set a hiring goal of having 7% of their workforces be people with disabilities, among other requirements. The department’s Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs invites public comment on this proposal, which was published in the December 9 edition of the Federal Register.

OFCCP’s proposed rule would strengthen the affirmative action requirements established in Section 503 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 obligating federal contractors and subcontractors to ensure equal employment opportunities for qualified workers with disabilities. The proposed regulatory changes detail specific actions contractors must take in the areas of recruitment, training, record keeping and policy dissemination — similar to those which have long been required to promote workplace equality for women and minorities. In addition, the rule would clarify OFCCP’s expectations for contractors by providing specific guidance on how to comply with the law.

/—January Agency Eagle sponsor is CRI University—\

January webinar is:

EEOC and OFCCP Compliance
Thursday, January 12, 2012 11:00 AM Central Time

Each webinar is $65 and the website to register for a webinar is www.criuniversity.com

\—–Please visit your Agency Eagle sponsor CRI University at www.criuniversity.com ——/

3. Top Cities for Growth

NewGeography’s top cities for job growth include five Texas towns: Fort Hood, El Paso, College Station, Midland and Austin. Also on the list: Bismarck, ND, New Orleans, LA, Dubuque, IA, Manhattan, KS and Pascagoula, MS

4. Rising Wages in Tough Times

While past data can’t predict future raises, it can tell you where average salaries continued to go up during the recession. The Brookings Institute’s MetroMonitor Index shows nearly 50 cities where wages have been rising since the recession began at the end of 2007 through the first quarter of 2011. The top 10 were: Bakersfield, CA, 6.8% wage increase; Modesto, CA, 4.5%; Palm Bay, FL, 3.7%; District of Columbia, 3.5%; Augusta, GA, 3.3%; El Paso, TX, 3.0%; Fresno, CA, 3.0%; Virginia Beach, VA, 2.8%; San Diego, CA, 2.6%; Oklahoma City, OK and Wichita, KS, 2.5%

5. Overwhelming Majority of Workers Plan to Look for New Job in 2012

The Herman Group (www.hermangroup.com) reports that in a study recently released by Right Management, 84% of the respondents to an online poll said they “plan to look for a new position in 2012”. That number is almost double the number found by Randstad in their recent poll. Only 7% said a move was “unlikely” or that they expected to stay in their current positions.

6. National Guard (in Federal Status) and Reserve Activated as of December 27, 2011

The total number currently on active duty from the Army National Guard and Army Reserve is 66,935; Navy Reserve, 4,421; Air National Guard and Air Force Reserve, 10,180; Marine Corps Reserve, 5,220, and the Coast Guard Reserve, 769. This brings the total National Guard and Reserve personnel who have been activated to 87,525, including both units and individual augmentees. A cumulative roster of all National Guard and Reserve personnel who are currently activated may be found on line at http://www.defense.gov/news/d20111227ngr.pdf .

7. 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 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), Hope4Heroes (www.hope4heroes.org) and The Retired Enlisted Association (www.trea.org).

To REMOVE or CHANGE your subscribed address, click here:

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VetJobs
P. O. Box 71445
Marietta, GA 30007-1445
877-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

Early Eagle 2012 Market Projections

Ted Daywalt — Sun, 01 Jan 2012 22:57:35 +0000

Issue 13:01, Sunday, January 1, 2011
www.vetjobs.com

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

The VetJobs Early Eagle is for member employers, recruiters, friends and supporters of VetJobs. Feel free to forward this newsletter to friends and other employers.

This issue sponsored by TECHEXPO Top Secret and CRI University

Contents:

1. Message from the Top – 2012 Market Projections

2. DOL Sets Historic Hiring Goal for Federal Contractors and Subcontractors

3. Top Cities for Growth

4. Rising Wages in Tough Times

5. Overwhelming Majority of Workers Plan to Look for New Job in 2012

6. National Guard (in Federal Status) and Reserve Activated as of December 27, 2011

7. Significant Events this Month in Military History

* * * * * * * * * * * * * *
1. Message from the Top

Welcome to 2012! Starting at midnight December 31, 2011, you have 525,600 minutes to spend in 2012. Your success in recruiting quality employees and in your career depends on how well you spend those 525,600 minutes, as well as the attitude you take when facing problems! Even when times are tough, keeping a positive attitude can mean a lot in terms of your success. And when it is hard to find quality employees, you know to use VetJobs!

VetJobs is now in its thirteenth year of service to employers wanting to hire transitioning military, veterans, National Guard & Reserve, and their family members. 2011 was a difficult but good year for VetJobs. While many job boards are down in sales and job postings and other job boards have gone out of business, VetJobs sales finished 2011 up over 11%. In this deep recessionary market, that is an accomplishment! It is you the member employers that use VetJobs that have helped keep VetJobs in the forefront. We thank you and look forward to working with you more in 2012!

There are other factors specifically affecting companies which are the true source of job creation as governments do not create jobs, companies create jobs.

Edgar Ortiz, CEO of Strategic Analytic Solutions, Inc. has laid out very concisely what is needed to get the US economy turned around.

2012 Market Predictions

1. A high unemployment rate is here to stay

2. Labor shortages will persist

3. Jobs are starting to come back to the United States!

4. The workforce will be older

5. Demand for knowledge workers will increase.

6. Job openings will take longer to fill

7. Health-care careers overall will likely enjoy job security.

According to the U.S. Labor Department, 13 of the 20 fastest-growing occupations through 2014 are related to health care.

8. Regulatory concerns

Several federal agencies, DOL, NLRB, NMB, FLRB, EEOC, and OFCCP have recently made or proposed changes that will negatively impact employers in 2012 driving up costs and the need for lawyers

9. Employees will be job hopping at increasing rates

10. Workforce development will increase in importance.

As communities realize the disparity between desired skills and those skills people actually possess, the issue of workforce development will become more important.

11. The United States and Europe will lag behind Asia and South America in job growth and profits

12. Older workers will be more highly valued.

13. Employers continue to be dissatisfied with public schools

It will be interesting to see where we are at the end of 2012.

* * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Finally, as employers I beseech you to hire members of the National Guard and Reserve (NG&R), as they are the ones who constitute the overwhelming majority of the veterans who are having difficulties finding work! The constant call-ups of the NG&R will subside now that the United States has pulled out of Iraq. So please make it a point to give them a job. They fought for our freedoms. Do not make them have to fight to find a job. Your assistance is appreciated. If you want assistance in this area, give me a call at 877-838-5627.
* * * * * * * * * * * * * *
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 Early Eagle sponsor is TECHEXPO Top Secret—-\

TECHEXPO Top Secret’s next job fairs are:

1/18, TECHEXPO Top Secret Career Fair, The Ritz Carlton Tysons Corner, 11810 Sunrise Valley Drive
Reston, VA, 10:00 AM to 3:00 PM. Register at www.techexpousa.com

1/19, TECHEXPO Top Secret Career Fair, BWI Marriott, 1743 West Nursery Road, Baltimore, MD, 10:00 AM to 3:00 PM. Register at www.techexpousa.com

1/24, TECHEXPO Top Secret Career Fair, San Diego Convention Center, 111 West Harbor Drive, San Diego, CA, 10:00 AM to 3:00 PM. Register at www.techexpousa.com

1/25, TECHEXPO Top Secret Career Fair, BWI Marriott, DoubleTree Colorado Springs, 1175 East Cheyenne Mountain Blvd, Colorado Springs, CO, 10:00 AM to 3:00 PM. Register at www.techexpousa.com

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

2. DOL Sets Historic Hiring Goal for Federal Contractors and Subcontractors

/—January Early Eagle sponsor is CRI University—\

January webinar is:

EEOC and OFCCP Compliance
Thursday, January 12, 2012 11:00 AM Central Time

Each webinar is $65 and the website to register for a webinar is www.criuniversity.com

\—–Please visit your Early Eagle sponsor CRI University at www.criuniversity.com ——/

3. Top Cities for Growth

4. Rising Wages in Tough Times

5. Overwhelming Majority of Workers Plan to Look for New Job in 2012

6. National Guard (in Federal Status) and Reserve Activated as of December 27, 2011

7. 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)

To REMOVE or CHANGE your subscribed address, click here:

http://mh.databack.com/c.php?L=earlyeagle&E=#email#

VetJobs
P. O. Box 71445
Marietta, GA 30007-1445
877-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

VetJobs Veteran Eagle – January 2012

Ted Daywalt — Sun, 01 Jan 2012 19:54:36 +0000

Issue 13:01, Sunday, January 1, 2012
www.vetjobs.com

This month’s Veteran Eagle is sponsored by: BNSF Railway, TECHEXPO Top Secret and FranChoice

Contents:

1. Message from the Top

2. No-Cost Training for Unemployed Vets

3. 2012 Defense Authorization Act Signed

4. Top Cities for Growth

5. Rising Wages in Tough Times

6. Veteran Homelessness Declining

7. Overwhelming Majority of Workers Plan to Look for New Job in 2012

8. SBA’s Guard and Reserve Hardship Program

9. Military Divorce Rates Continue Steady Climb

10. VFW Helps Close USERRA Loophole

11. National Guard (in Federal Status) and Reserve Activated as of December 27, 2011

12. Significant Events this Month in Military History

To join the VFW or to find out about eligibility, please visit https://www.vfw.org/oms/ssl/NewMember.aspx

* * * * * * * * * * * * * *
1. Message from the Top

Welcome to 2012! Starting at midnight December 31, 2011, you have 525,600 minutes to spend in 2012. Your success in your life and career and if looking, in your job search, depends on how well you spend those 525,600 minutes, as well as the attitude you take when facing problems! Even when times are tough, keeping a positive attitude can mean a lot in terms of your success.

VetJobs is now in its thirteenth year of service to transitioning military, veterans, National Guard & Reserve, and their family members. 2011 was a difficult but good year for VetJobs. While many job boards are down in sales and job postings and other job boards have gone out of business, VetJobs sales finished 2011 up over 11%. In this deep recessionary market, that is an accomplishment! It is you, the transitioning military and veterans that use VetJobs that have helped keep VetJobs in the forefront with our member employers. Fortunately, we have many loyal customers who want to hire veterans and their family members!

By using VetJobs veterans and their family members are receiving excellent assistance in their job searches and a huge percentage are finding jobs. For those that do not find the job they seek on VetJobs, we provide extensive help in the Employment Assistance section (http://www.vetjobs.com/vetEmpAssistance.htm) of the site including listing what we consider to be the legitimate niche, state and comprehensive job boards. We look forward to working with you throughout 2012!

There are other factors specifically affecting companies which are the true source of job creation as governments do not create jobs, companies create jobs.

Edgar Ortiz, CEO of Strategic Analytic Solutions, Inc. has laid out very concisely what is needed to get the US economy turned around.

* * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Over the December holiday I was working with a despondent disabled veteran in Louisiana who was frustrated in trying to find a job. His VA doctor had told him at best he might be able to work at a desk job, but it might be hard for him to find one. He was depressed. After spending 45 minutes with him on the phone, I was able to outline five different directions he could pursue. I was gratified when at the end of the conversation he said: “When everyone else has been telling me what I can’t do, you told me what I can do!” He now has a work plan and a positive mental attitude. He is well on his way to getting a job!

* * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Each January it is my custom to make labor and market predictions. It is a challenge this year as there are many conflicting economic trends in the market. The country is improving, albeit slowly, by disproportionate rates depending on where you live. Critical is whether you are in a union shop state or a right-to-work state. The Southeast and Southwest are growing the best, but the Northeast and union shop states are having serious problems. With that said, here are my baker’s dozen 2012 predictions:

2012 Market Predictions

1. A high unemployment rate is here to stay

2. Labor shortages will persist

3. Jobs are starting to come back to the United States!

4. The workforce will be older

5. Demand for knowledge workers will increase.

6. Job openings will take longer to fill

7. Health-care careers overall will likely enjoy job security.

According to the U.S. Labor Department, 13 of the 20 fastest-growing occupations through 2014 are related to health care.

8. Regulatory concerns

Several federal agencies, DOL, NLRB, NMB, FLRB, EEOC, and OFCCP have recently made or proposed changes that will negatively impact employers in 2012 driving up costs and the need for lawyers

9. Employees will be job hopping at increasing rates

From The Herman Group we learn that the overwhelming majority of employees plan to change employers in 2012. Right Management found that 84% of the respondents to an online poll said they “plan to look for a new position in 2012”. That number is almost double the number found by Randstad in their recent poll.

10. Workforce development will increase in importance.

As communities realize the disparity between desired skills and those skills people actually possess, the issue of workforce development will become more important.

11. The United States and Europe will lag behind Asia and South America in job growth and profits

12. Older workers will be more highly valued.

13. Employers continue to be dissatisfied with public schools

It will be interesting to see where we are at the end of 2012.

* * * * * * * * * * * * * *
For those who post resumes to VetJobs, please be sure to spell check your resume and make certain your personal information is correct. As an example, we have found resumes with misspellings, resumes with the name of the veteran spelled differently two or more times, incorrect use of verbs, etc. If you list yourself as a computer expert then misspell administrator, think of the impression you are making on the recruiter who is viewing your resume. And under no circumstances should you put your Social Security Number or a picture on your resume. Remember, you do not get a second chance to make a good first impression!

* * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Finally, the VFW and other veteran service organizations were able to get four critical bills passed into law:

-P.L. 112-56, VOW to Hire Heroes Act – a comprehensive jobs bill that improves reemployment rights for Guard and Reservist, expands education and training programs, requires mandatory Transitional Assistance Program attendance, and offers employer tax credits for hiring veterans.

-P.L. 112-53, Veterans’ Compensation Cost-of-Living Adjustment Act of 2011, increases the rates of VA disability compensation and dependency and indemnity compensation for surviving spouses and children by 3.6%, which matches the COLA increase military retirees and Social Security recipients will receive.

-P.L. 112-37, Veterans Health Care Facilities Capital Improvement Act of 2011, legislation that authorizes major medical projects and leases within VA, and expands mental health treatments, rehabilitation and comprehensive homeless veteran housing programs.

-P.L. 112-26, Restoring GI Bill Fairness Act of 2011, provides a fix in reimbursement rates under the Post-9/11 GI Bill for students already enrolled at private schools

* * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Have a safe, Happy New Year in 2012!

* * * * * * * * * * * * * *
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 BNSF Railway—-\

\—–Please visit your Veteran Eagle sponsor BNSF Railway—–/

2. No-Cost Training for Unemployed Vets

The Department of Labor has announced a new partnership with Microsoft Corp. To provide veterans with vouchers for no-cost training and certifications that can lead to important industry-recognized credentials. The voucher program will serve veterans in five communities with the highest number of returning post-9/11 era veterans: Seattle, Wash.; San Diego, Calif., Houston, Texas; Northern Virginia; and Jacksonville, Fla. Additional information about this and other initiatives, including specific locations where the vouchers will be distributed, is available at the Department of Labor VETS website at www.dol.gov/vets/.

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

TECHEXPO Top Secret’s next career fairs are:

1/18, TECHEXPO Top Secret Career Fair, The Ritz Carlton Tysons Corner, 11810 Sunrise Valley Drive
Reston, VA, 10:00 AM to 3:00 PM. Register at www.techexpousa.com

1/19, TECHEXPO Top Secret Career Fair, BWI Marriott, 1743 West Nursery Road, Baltimore, MD, 10:00 AM to 3:00 PM. Register at www.techexpousa.com

1/24, TECHEXPO Top Secret Career Fair, San Diego Convention Center, 111 West Harbor Drive, San Diego, CA, 10:00 AM to 3:00 PM. Register at www.techexpousa.com

1/25, TECHEXPO Top Secret Career Fair, BWI Marriott, DoubleTree Colorado Springs, 1175 East Cheyenne Mountain Blvd, Colorado Springs, CO, 10:00 AM to 3:00 PM. Register at www.techexpousa.com

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

3. DOL Sets Historic Hiring Goal for Federal Contractors and Subcontractors

/—January Veteran Eagle sponsor is FranChoice—-\

If you are a transitioning, retiring or unemployed veteran and have been curious about franchising,
join this FREE webinar for Veterans Exploring Franchise Ownership. Military experience and franchise ownership actually share some common traits—this webinar will explain what those are, as well as cover a LOT of critical information you need to know and won’t find on the internet.

The webinar will talk about how to evaluate franchise opportunities, your best sources of information, how to tap into a program that discounts franchise fees for veterans and how to get funding and financing. Hosted by an experienced franchise consultant, Laurie Pollock, with a Q&A session at the end, this free webinar will help you determine whether franchising may be the right path for you, and where to get help finding the right one.

This month’s webinar date is Monday, January 9th at 4pm CT / 5pm ET.
To view the presentation, go to: https://join.me/VeteransFranchiseWebinar
To listen in, dial: 1.609.318.5900; Access Code: 818-664-943#

No registration required, and no automated email reminders, so mark your calendars!
If you’d prefer the webinar info be sent to you, email a request to lauriepollock@franchoice.com .

\—Please visit your Veteran Eagle sponsor FranChoice at www.franchoice.com—-/

3. 2012 Defense Authorization Act Signed

The president signed the 2012 National Defense Authorization Act, which increases active-duty and reserve pay by 1.6% and governs Defense Department activities, from procurement to military personnel policy. Several provisions in this year’s act will potentially affect active-duty and retired service members and their families.

Section 347 requires DOD to finance an independent assessment of overseas troop basing, advising retention, closure, realignment or establishment of U.S. military facilities outside the United States “in light of potential fiscal constraints on [DOD] and emerging national security requirements in coming years.”

Section 402 reduces authorized Army minimum end strength from 562,000 to 547,000. The other services’ authorized minimum strengths are unchanged, with 325,700 for the Navy, 202,100 for the Marine Corps and 332,800 for the Air Force.

Section 512 of the act creates a new member of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, which currently includes the Army and Air Force chiefs of staff, the chief of naval operations and the Marine Corps commandant. The new member will be the chief of the National Guard Bureau, who will have responsibility for “addressing matters involving non-federalized National Guard forces in support of homeland defense and civil support missions.”

Section 526 extends voluntary separation pay and benefits authority, which was set to expire December 31, 2011 to the end of 2018.

Section 530 converts the high-deployment allowance from mandatory to authorized. The allowance currently pays $100 a day, in addition to all other pay and allowances, to a deployed service member who has been deployed 401 days or more out of the preceding 730 days.

Section 701 limits annual Tricare enrollment fee increases for retirees and their family members to an amount equal to the percentage by which retired pay increases that year.

Section 702 sets mental health assessment requirements for service members deployed for contingency operations. The act calls for a series of assessments: one within 120 days before deployment; another during the period between 90 days after a deployment begins and 180 days after it ends; a third within a year after the deployment ends; and a fourth between 18 months and 30 months of redeployment.
The act states assessments are intended to “identify post-traumatic stress disorder, suicidal tendencies, and other behavioral health conditions … in order to determine which such members are in need of additional care and treatment for such health conditions.” Assessments are not required for service members “not subjected or exposed to operational risk factors during deployment in the contingency operation concerned,” the act states.

Section 954 affirms that DOD “has the capability, and upon direction by the president may conduct offensive operations in cyberspace to defend our nation, allies and interests,” subject to the law of armed conflict and the War Powers Resolution.

When he signed the bill into law, President Obama acknowledged “serious reservations” about parts of the act, particularly provisions that regulate the detention, interrogation, and prosecution of suspected terrorists.

The act also contains critical initiatives to control spiraling health-care costs within the Defense Department, develop counterterrorism initiatives abroad, build the security capacity of key partners, modernize the force and boost the efficiency and effectiveness of military operations worldwide, he noted.

4. Top Cities for Growth

5. Rising Wages in Tough Times

6. Veteran Homelessness Declining

VA and Housing and Urban Development recently released a national report that shows Veteran homelessness fell nearly 12% between January 2010 and January 2011. The 12% decline keeps VA on track to meet the goal of ending Veteran homelessness in 2015. “This new report is good news for the tens of thousands of Veterans we have helped find a home. Our progress in the fight against homelessness has been significant, but our work is not complete until no Veteran has to sleep on the street,” said Secretary of Veterans Affairs Eric K. Shinseki. “We have been successful in achieving this milestone due to strong leadership from the President and hard work by countless community organizations and our federal, state, and local partners who are committed to helping Veterans and their families get back on their feet.” According to the 2011 supplement to the Annual Homeless Assessment Report (AHAR) released, 67,495 Veterans were homeless in the United States on a single night in January 2011 – a significant reduction from last year’s single night count of 76,329. For more information on Veterans homeless issues, visit www.va.gov/homeless/ssvf.asp

7. Overwhelming Majority of Workers Plan to Look for New Job in 2012

The Herman Group reports that in a study recently released by Right Management, 84% of the respondents to an online poll said they “plan to look for a new position in 2012”. That number is almost double the number found by Randstad in their recent poll. Only 7% said a move was “unlikely” or that they expected to stay in their current positions.

8. SBA’s Guard and Reserve Hardship Program

Operation Endure & Grow, targets National Guard and Reserve Component members, their families and partners. The goal of this program is to mitigate the small business economic hardship of deployed members and their families. The eight-week online course focuses on the fundamentals of launching and/or growing a small business for those who will sustain the business when the servicemember is deployed, injured or killed. Initially, 550 individuals are expected to participate. The Small Business Administration has provided a grant to fund the program. For more information, visit the Syracuse University site at http://whitman.syr.edu/endureandgrow/

9. Military Divorce Rates Continue Steady Climb

This year’s overall military divorce rate has increased slightly over last year’s, part of a continued upward trend since 2001, according to Defense Department statistics released Tuesday. Researchers and military officials say the steady up-tick confirms a reality they have been expecting and dealing with all along — years of repeated deployments slowly but surely wear on military marriages.

10. VFW Helps Close USERRA Loophole

With the help and support of VFW’s legislative advocates, Sen. Joe Lieberman (I-Conn.) introduced a bill to close a loophole that exempts Transportation Security Administration officials from granting USERRA protections to their Guard and Reserve employees. When TSA was created after 9/11, Congress exempted TSA administrators from a series of labor protections, including USERRA, in an effort to quickly deploy the new homeland security force. More than 10 years after the creation of TSA, the VFW believes it is time to close this loophole to protect service members and veterans that may choose to work for TSA. To learn more about the bill, go to http://www.vfwonthehill.org/2011/12/vfw-helps-close-userra-loophole.html.

11. National Guard (in Federal Status) and Reserve Activated as of December 27, 2011

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)
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