Ohio Military Veterans Hiring Fair

Opinion
– Editorial Article

By:
Leslie Palmer, Former Marine

Politics
Aside: Military Veterans Have Gone Above and Beyond

Americans
have a number of things to be grateful for from the last decade.  Two of America’s most wanted terrorists were
plucked from the world; Osama Bin Laden was killed in 2011, and Saddam Hussein
was killed in 2006. Today, more than eight million Afghan children are enrolled
in school compared to fewer than one million children who were enrolled in 2002
(Miles, 2012).[1]
Today, 80% of Afghanistan’s population is able to use more than 6,200 miles of
paved roads to better their country’s economy (Miles, 2012).[2] Since
the terrorist attaches of 9/11, America has experienced a political fracas
among conservatives, liberals and everyone in between. Politics aside, the U.S.
military is responsible for helping to further the social and economic dynamic
of both Iraq and Afghanistan.

 “I believe the insurgency is starting to
understand that they cannot continue their terrorist acts of the past against
the Afghan people, and the only clear solution is reintegration into a peaceful
Afghan society,” Brig. Gen. Carsten Jacobson of the German army, spokesman for
the NATO-led ISAF coalition, said in a news conference in the Afghan capital of
Kabul, January 24th, 2012. Despite the costs, America’s military
played a significant role in freeing Iraq and is now helping to make
significant headway in building a stronger and more independent
Afghanistan.    

I
will admit that I got more out of the United States Marine Corps than the Corps
got out of me. Having decided to serve my country, and from my experience in
the Corps, I saw what veterans go through, as I went from being a teenager with
no discipline to being a Marine – one that was polished, disciplined, and proud
to serve the Corps. I spent eight years as a public affairs specialist and during
that time, I was stationed in Japan, Maryland, and Washington, D.C. where I
worked in radio, print and the public affairs office in the pentagon. I joined the
Marine Corps right out of high school with no college education, and honorably
exited the Marine Corps eight years later, with both a Bachelor’s degree (Majored
in English and minored in Journalism) and a Master’s degree (Public Relations
Management) – all achieved with the help of the GI Bill which enabled me to
graduate debt-free.

Although
I never deployed to combat, I have heard stories and listened to Marines and
other military members who were involved in legendary battles, like the first
push for Fallujah (Iraq), and have seen hell, only to return with irreparable
scars and painful nightmares. When one travels afar for war and has seen a lot
of combat, in a country far away from home, no doubt will that person have
changed. Unspeakable acts of horrors and violence occur in war – war is not
pretty, clean, nor merciful. Some may come back “a-ok” while others may have a
hard time getting adjusted to society.

America
is a place of limitless opportunities and unsurpassed freedom – paid for dearly
with the blood and tears of ordinary women and men of our military, from its
infancy to present day .
Each branch of the service contributed their part to defending America’s
freedom, from the inception of the Marines, Navy and the Army in 1775 to the
Air Force in 1947. It’s no small wonder why America is the greatest place on
Earth to live: our military.

In 2011, the U.S. Department of Labor reported the unemployment
rate among veterans between the ages of 18 and 24 more than double the
unemployment rate among non-veterans within the same age. Aaron Smith, from
CNN, reported the jobless rate for Iraq and Afghanistan veterans has dropped
nearly five percentage points below what it was a year ago, from 12.5% to 7.6%
(Smith, 2012)[3].
 Awareness and education probably contributed
to the decline in veteran unemployment these last few months. However, with the
war winding down in Afghanistan, the number of troops coming home will rise,
adding to the unemployment rate once they look for jobs and try to rejoin the
workforce. Today's
veterans are diverse, adapt to different environments, are disciplined, vigilant,
and have a strong work ethic – traits that many companies look for in a
potential employee. In short - veterans are very employable. We just have to
help them make the right connections and arm them with the right tools, so they
can continue to succeed in the future.  

To
help arm veteran with those tools, Hiring our Heroes, a national program of the
US Chamber of Commerce, is being brought to Cleveland by the work of the
Ohio Department of Veteran Services, Cuyahoga
County Veterans Service Commission, Ohio
Department of Jobs and Family Services, Cleveland
State University, MAGNET
and the Greater Cleveland Partnership.
All services provided at the event are free. Each
company in attendance will be hiring for at least five open positions within
their company June 29th from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.

If you are an Ohio veteran who is seeking employment and wish to
attend, you must register at: https://hoh.greatjob.net/sc/viewEvent.action?id=298903. If you’re and employer wishing to attend, you will be provided
with a setup at the fair. Employers may bring their own display and other items
for marketing. To reserve a space, log onto https://hoh.greatjob.net/sc/viewEvent.action?id=298903.  If you need
assistance registering, please contact hiringourheroes@uschamber.com.

References

Miles,
D. (2012). Accomplishments in Afghanistan set stage for 2012 progress. American Forces

Press
Service. Retrieved March 25, 2012 from

http://www.defense.gov/news/newsarticle.aspx?id=66944.

Smith,
A. (2012). Jobless rate for veterans plunges. CNNMoney. Retrieved March 25, 2012 from

http://money.cnn.com/2012/03/15/news/economy/veterans-jobs/index.htm .

[1]
Donna Miles, “Accomplishments in Afghanistan set stage for 2012 progress,” American Forces Press Service. Retrieved
March 25, 2012 from http://www.defense.gov/news/newsarticle.aspx?id=66944.

[2]
Donna Miles, “Accomplishments in Afghanistan set stage for 2012 progress,” American Forces Press Service. Retrieved
March 25, 2012 from http://www.defense.gov/news/newsarticle.aspx?id=66944.

[3]
Aaron Smith, “Jobless rate for veterans plunges,” CNNMoney, Retrieved March 25, 2012 from http://money.cnn.com/2012/03/15/news/economy/veterans-jobs/index.htm.