Veterans and military spouses

The Weight of Responsibility

McGinnis.Laura.K@dol.gov — Thu, 02 May 2024 15:14:20 +0000

The Weight of Responsibility

Veteran service providers bear a significant responsibility as they aid those who have served our nation. The nature of their work often exposes them to intense and traumatic stories, resulting in emotional strain.

The demands of the profession, coupled with the emotional weigh of these stories can lead to secondary trauma, compassion fatigue, burnout, anxiety and even post-traumatic stress.

Promoting a culture of self-care is essential to safeguarding the mental health of veteran service providers. Organizations should create environments that encourage open discussions about mental health, provide access to counseling services and promote a healthy work-life balance.

Our National Veterans’ Training Institute developed the course Preventing and Healing Burnout in Veteran Service Providers to address these challenges. This course is designed to provide practical strategies to help veteran service providers overcome burnout. We’ve also offered guidance on recognizing and addressing burnout and secondary trauma for veteran service providers.

We are proud to support veterans and military families with programs that help them secure jobs. In keeping with our commitment to serve those who have served us, we are also proud to support the mental wellness of veteran service providers and help them continue their invaluable work.

Brandon Webb is the National Veterans’ Training Institute lead for the U.S. Department of Labor’s Veterans’ Employment and Training Service.

McGinnis.Laura… Thu, 05/02/2024 - 11:14

Brandon Webb

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American Job Centers: The Path to Veteran Employment Starts Here

McGinnis.Laura.K@dol.gov — Wed, 13 Dec 2023 18:25:32 +0000

American Job Centers: The Path to Veteran Employment Starts Here

Jen Gollnick, an Army National Guard veteran, found herself in a challenging position in early 2023. After being laid off, she faced the decision of finding another job or starting her own company.

Gollnick sought help from the Wisconsin Department of Workforce Development and they connected her with U.S. Department of Labor Veterans’ Employment and Training Service resources at her local American Job Center. The center offered Gollnick a wealth of information as she conducted her job search. Gollnick appreciated the staff’s empathy – she felt that they sincerely wanted to help her find the best path for her and her family.

Most veterans only use American Job Centers for help with their job search. Gollnick was also considering starting her own accounting business. American Job Centers rarely provide assistance regarding entrepreneurship, but they accepted the challenge. They recommended that Gollnick use her Veteran Readiness and Employment benefits to obtain additional training and to reach out to the Wisconsin Veteran’s Chamber of Commerce for even more resources. She read about the Command Post Accelerator Program, which offers business coaching and leadership development, in the chamber’s newsletter and quickly enrolled.

Everything started to fall into place for Gollnick – she was using the job center resources, enrolled in the Veteran Readiness and Employment program, and simultaneously started finding clients for her business. Gollnick said the job center was an unexpected source of kindness and respect. The staff had a genuine interest in helping the veterans who use their resources. Sandra Gau, the Disabled Veteran Outreach Program Specialist who worked with Gollnick, even attended her accelerator program graduation.

Gollnick mentioned that the resources provided by the job center were also helpful post-job search. She found that the Command Post Accelerator Program was an extremely useful networking opportunity and it helped her secure some clients.

Today, Gollnick provides finance process improvement services to businesses, including support with financial infrastructure and strategic decision making. Recently, she reconnected with American Job Center specialists at a conference and began discussing how she could use their resources as a small business owner.

Gollnick encourages veterans who may be hesitate to seek assistance to fully embrace the resources they’ve earned through their dedicated service.

Visit CareerOneStop to find an American Job Center near you.

David Seay is a Regional Veterans’ Employment Coordinator for the Chicago region of the Veterans’ Employment and Training Service.

McGinnis.Laura… Wed, 12/13/2023 - 13:25

David Seay

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Registered Apprenticeship: Earn While You Learn

McGinnis.Laura.K@dol.gov — Tue, 14 Nov 2023 16:36:55 +0000

Registered Apprenticeship: Earn While You Learn

Transitioning service members often face the challenge of relating their military experience to careers in the private sector. Here's the good news: the earn-while-you-learn model of Registered Apprenticeship offers an excellent opportunity for veterans starting their civilian careers.

Registered Apprenticeships are industry-driven programs that offer a mutually-beneficial arrangement for both employers and employees. Apprentices gain paid work experience, invaluable education and a nationally recognized credential, while employers develop the skills they need for their future workforce.

Apprentices start earning a competitive wage from day one. 90% of apprentices retain employment after completing their program, boasting an average starting salary of $80,000. These programs don't just offer valuable credentials; some even grant college credits or degrees – without the debt. Nationally, there are more than 27,000 Registered Apprenticeship programs spanning a variety of industries, from construction to IT to healthcare.

The benefits are even more compelling for veterans. Eligible veterans can apply their Post 9/11 GI Bill benefits when participating in approved apprenticeship programs, adding an extra layer of financial support. Transitioning service members can smoothly move from service to civilian life through DoD SkillBridge programs directly linked to Registered Apprenticeships. In this structured environment, service members collaborate with mentors who expertly guide their transition into civilian careers.

Active-duty service members can stand out from apprenticeship peers by taking advantage of the United Services Military Apprenticeship Program (USMAP), securing civilian credentials while still in uniform. They also have access to our Employment Navigators at select military installations who can assist them every step of the way.

Registered Apprenticeships are not just about gaining skills and a paycheck; they are a pathway to a fulfilling civilian career. Visit www.Apprenticeship.gov, to search for apprenticeships by location, industry, occupation or company name and explore a wide range of options.

With an array of support programs and resources at your disposal, finding a great job after the military has never been more attainable.

Kristopher Rick is the Apprenticeship, Licensing and Credentialing lead for the Veterans’ Employment and Training Service. Follow VETS on Twitter/X and LinkedIn.

McGinnis.Laura… Tue, 11/14/2023 - 11:36

Sgt. Maj. Kristopher Rick

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DOL Work Study: Changing Pathways, Changing Lives

McGinnis.Laura.K@dol.gov — Tue, 17 Oct 2023 20:10:28 +0000

DOL Work Study: Changing Pathways, Changing Lives

Reginald Laurenceau joined the U.S. Army in 2014 with the intent of making it a career. He was an infantry soldier who served with the 10th Mountain Division at Fort Drum, New York. Born in Haiti and raised in New England, Laurenceau’s dream of being a long-time soldier ended abruptly in 2016 when he was diagnosed with a disqualifying medical condition. Faced with the uncertainty of a medical discharge, he scrambled to find the next step in his path.

Laurenceau enjoys being challenged, so he decided to use his G.I. Bill benefits to attend Rutgers University, where he started studying political science in January 2017. Laurenceau knew he wanted to pursue a career in the government but was unsure what he should do next to prepare for a civil service position.

At a Rutgers-hosted career fair for students, Laurenceau met a Department of Labor Veterans’ Employment and Training Service (VETS) employee who was looking for students to fill internships and work-study opportunities. LaCarole Faulkner, a veterans program specialist for the Philadelphia region, was specifically seeking student veterans to help them gain valuable experience within the civilian workforce.

Laurenceau in uniform, and on the job

His interest piqued, Laurenceau immediately signed up for the work-study. Two weeks later, he was working with Faulkner while attending college full-time. Over the next couple of years, Faulkner mentored Laurenceau as she supervised his work-study, giving him pertinent tasks relevant to a career in government service. His work focused heavily on Freedom of Information Act requests for the Philadelphia regional office, and that challenging work not only helped him gain the experience he needed to obtain a government position, but helped him develop valuable critical thinking skills.

As part of his work-study, Laurenceau also represented the agency at career fairs. Now on the other side of the table, he discovered that veterans often struggle to find work after they leave the military. He would tell transitioning service members and veterans to reach out to VETS, where they’d find that many people want to help them through the transition. He prided himself in helping build awareness of the employment resources available to veterans.

“Working directly with veterans was the most rewarding part of the experience,” said Laurenceau.

These experiences gave Laurenceau the foundation he needed to become a government information specialist for the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), working on FOIA requests. His training from the VETS work-study gave him the tools necessary to succeed in his current position. When the FDA hiring manager called Faulkner to discuss Laurenceau’s interview, she said, “Your agency has done a terrific job preparing him.”

As Faulkner reflected on her time working with Laurenceau, she said “Before his college graduation, my leadership and I worked with him periodically to prepare him for employment. We did resume reviews and mock interviews to build his confidence." He is a shining example of a student veteran who used our internships and work-study opportunities to find meaningful employment.

If you are a veteran, transitioning service member, military spouse or caregiver, we can help you reach your employment potential.

Laurel Devine is the communications director of U.S. Department of Labor's Veterans’ Employment and Training Service.

McGinnis.Laura… Tue, 10/17/2023 - 16:10

Laurel Devine

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hire veterans

Finding Service after Service

Misra.Aishwarya@dol.gov — Thu, 27 Jul 2023 19:35:16 +0000

Finding Service after Service

VETS Regional Veterans’ Employment Coordinators in Washington, D.C., January 2023

Pictured from left to right: André Anderson, Atlanta Region RVEC; David Seay, Chicago Region RVEC; Eric Asmussen, Nation Veterans Employment Manager; J. Margarita Devlin, Deputy Assistant Secretary; Tony Forbes, San Francisco RVEC; James D. Rodriguez, Assistant Secretary; Mark J. Toal, Director, Office of Strategic Outreach; Janice Maupin-Anderson, Dallas Region RVEC; Matthew Passmore, Philadelphia Region RVEC; Paul Furbush, Boston Region RVEC

It’s 6 a.m. and the sun is rising in San Antonio, Texas, as another email dings in the inbox. It’s a manufacturing company looking for experienced leaders to fill some of their management positions. Janice Maupin-Anderson, a Regional Veterans’ Employment Coordinator (RVEC), quickly responds to the email and coordinates a meeting. As a RVEC, Maupin-Anderson meets with employers throughout her 11-state region to best understand their needs and to connect them with resources to assist them in finding and hiring veterans. With back-to-back meetings on any given day, her dynamic job keeps her fully engaged, but she wouldn’t want it any other way.

Maupin-Anderson enjoys helping veterans, maybe it’s because she’s a veteran herself. Like many others, she chose a path of continued service in her post-military career. Janice served for more than 29 years and retired from the Air Force as a chief master sergeant. After she transitioned from active duty, she took a few months off to reset, and then decided to visit a local American Job Center. There she found a job as a work-study with the Department of Veterans Affairs. It was rewarding helping others in the military community, so she continued the path and became an employment specialist focused on working with veterans at the center.

After decades of service, Maupin-Anderson understood the challenges of transitioning from the military to the private sector and she liked assisting veterans navigate the employment process. She was eventually recruited to be a Disabled Veterans’ Outreach Program Specialist (DVOP), where she helped veterans with significant barriers to employment find the right position to meet their needs.

After nearly a year as a DVOP, Maupin-Anderson was offered the opportunity to become a Local Veterans’ Employment Representative (LVER), where she worked with employers to help connect them to job-seeking veterans. By this time, her knowledge and experience had well prepared her for the challenges she would face as the Assistant Director of Veterans’ Employment and Training Service for the state of Texas. She worked in that role for several years before becoming the RVEC for the Dallas Region which covers eleven states from Louisiana to Montana. While she spent much of her career educating veterans about the employment process, she saw the RVEC position as a chance to reverse the roles and work with employers to help them find service members, veterans, and military spouses.

“The best part of my job is when an employer who’s looking to hire veterans reaches out to me, and I can refer them to the DVOP and LVER at the local American Job Center. The DVOP and LVER have a talent pool of job-ready candidates and one of those veterans is selected from that talent pool and hired by the employer. The VETS state director, LVERs and DVOPs function as a team which enables us to assist employers with hiring veterans and to help place veterans in meaningful careers that allow them to take care of their families,” said Maupin-Anderson.

She also mentioned that one of the biggest challenges that employers face when trying to employ veterans is not knowing where to go to locate veteran job seekers or about the no-cost resources available to help employers grow their workforce. Many of them are not aware of the Jobs for Veterans State Grants (JVSG) staff who are located at American Job Centers specifically to assist employers with locating veteran job seekers.

This is where Maupin-Anderson and the other five RVECs come in. This employer outreach team connects employers with federal, state and other resources to make it easier for employers to find, recruit and hire service members, veterans and military spouses.

If you’re an employer seeking to hire veterans, the Veterans’ Employment and Training Service staff is ready to help. Please reach out to your local RVEC for assistance.

Access the DOL Employer Guide to Hiring Veterans and find more information on Veterans’ Employment and Training Service resources and programs at https://www.dol.gov/agencies/vets.

Dana Kelly is a communications specialist with the Department of Labor Veterans’ Employment and Training Service and a proud 21-year veteran of the United States Army. Follow VETS on Twitter and LinkedIn.

Misra.Aishwary… Thu, 07/27/2023 - 15:35

Dana Kelly

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Improving Employment Protections for Military Spouses

McGinnis.Laura.K@dol.gov — Tue, 30 May 2023 15:10:46 +0000

Improving Employment Protections for Military Spouses

Megan Immell, with husband Dallas and dog Rowdy.

Megan Immell, a military spouse of five years, is beginning to feel the impacts on her career while she supports her husband who serves in the U.S. Army. At an early age, Megan knew she wanted to help underserved communities and saw a way to do just that by pursuing her Bachelor of Science in Education. However, her spouse’s active and unpredictable schedule has disrupted her career, leading to her teaching at three different schools in five years.

When military families face an upcoming deployment or long-term training, often the spouse ends up moving home for community support. That is exactly what Megan did when her husband went, unaccompanied, to training for five months in Arizona. She returned to Ohio to be with her family and friends until her husband returned from training.

Thousands of spouses face the same challenges of maintaining a career while supporting the high operational tempos of being connected to the military community. Cultivating relationships and building support networks is a challenge for military spouses. These networks, or lack thereof, can have a profound impact on their quality of life.

The Department of Labor Veterans’ Employment and Training Service (VETS) understands the obstacles that military spouses must overcome and we’re partnering with Department of Defense and other federal partners to help military spouses sustain their own careers while their spouses serve through Transition Employment Assistance for Military Spouses and Caregivers, cost-free employment workshops offered to assist with resume writing, interview skills, marketing yourself and entrepreneurship, to name a few.

In honor of Military Spouse Appreciation Day, Assistant Secretary James D. Rodriguez recently hosted a panel, Protecting Military Spouses in the Workplace, to discuss the Biden-Harris administration’s support of our work to increase employment protections for military spouses.

During the panel, Megan described her personal experience as a military spouse and the barriers to continuing her employment while supporting her husband’s career. She was joined on the panel by Angela Neal, a military spouse and owner and director of Special Projects and Economic Development for Project Solvers, who shared that military spouses accrue non-traditional experiences from volunteering but felt that employers do not view that as “real” experience.

Marco Schinella, an Italian Army veteran and an associate director at TDI, described the challenges of being a foreign-born military spouse and transferring education, certifications and skills to a new country. Faye Fernandes, a U.S. Air Force veteran and counsel to the U.S. Senate Committee on Veterans’ Affairs, explained that her husband’s decision to leave the military stemmed from her wanting to pursue her own career as a lawyer.

After the panel, Paul Marone, VETS’s senior compliance policy advisor, talked about our work to update the Uniformed Services Employment and Reemployment Rights Act legislation to expand employment protections to military spouses, saying: “By expanding USERRA protections to military spouses, employers will be encouraged to find creative ways to keep military spouses employed when they otherwise would be forced to leave due to their service member’s service. Knowing that they will be required by law to reemploy military spouses upon their return, employers could choose to use available workplace flexibility options to keep their military spouse employees as part of their team.”

Many military families struggle to balance two careers, and until employment protections for military spouses are improved, service members may leave the military earlier than they otherwise might. The retention issue negatively affects the sustainment of the All-Volunteer Force – a national security issue.

Megan is now looking for a new opportunity, preferably remote, where she can grow her career instead of having to start over every time the military moves her family. She advises new military spouses to get involved with the community. “I was hesitant to join the world of military spouses, but I found out about programs and resources available through other military spouses,” said Megan.

VETS also provides workshops through Off-Base Transition Training as well as other resources for military spouses and veterans looking to expand their employment opportunities.

Karla Langham is the acting chief of staff for the U.S. Department of Labor’s Veterans’ Employment and Training Service. Follow VETS on Twitter and LinkedIn.

McGinnis.Laura… Tue, 05/30/2023 - 11:10

Karla Langham

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Marine Corps Veteran Gets Fresh Start with the Homeless Veteran Reintegration Program

McGinnis.Laura.K@dol.gov — Thu, 23 Mar 2023 16:23:38 +0000

Marine Corps Veteran Gets Fresh Start with the Homeless Veteran Reintegration Program

Carla Gibson

Carla Gibson moved to Philadelphia in 2022 for a teaching job, and found herself in an unexpected and troubling situation. When her housing fell through a few months before the job she had lined up was due to start, she suddenly did not have a place to call home.

Inspired by her stepfather’s military service, Gibson had answered the call to serve her country as a Marine after graduating from high school. After completing four years of service, she used her Montgomery G.I. Bill benefits to get a bachelor’s degree in criminal justice from the University of North Carolina.

Her transition to Philadelphia in January 2022 was supposed to start a new journey. However, when her housing fell through, she began to run out of options. Looking for help, she turned to the Women Veteran Center, a grantee of our Homeless Veterans Reintegration Program (HVRP) , and met with an HVRP program manager who determined that she was housing insecure.

HVRP’s level of support exceeded her expectations. They recommended that she use their employment assistance program since job security was essential to securing housing. She attended a resume writing workshop that taught her the keywords to use in her resume to reflect her experience, and the workshop also helped her balance her writing style.

The HVRP program manager knew that the Home Port Alliance, Battleship New Jersey Museum & Memorial, a 2021 HIRE Vets Medallion Recipient, was in desperate need of tour guides for the upcoming holiday season. The program manager asked Gibson if she was interested in working on a “battleship” and told her about their connection to the museum. Gibson accepted a job making $14.50 per hour and now works as a tour guide a few days a month in addition to teaching full-time.

Gibson is thankful that she reached out to the Women Veteran Center and discovered the HVRP resources to apply for a job and find an apartment. Her message to every veteran is, “do not wait for things to get worse; seek assistance. Being educated on something you do not know can never hurt, so go learn what you do not know.”

If you are interested in applying for funding through HVRP, visit dol.gov/agencies/vets/programs/hvrp for information on when the competitive grant program opens.

If you are interested in finding out about local HVRP grantees, visit nvtac.org/

Geatleen Charles-Talbot, an Army veteran, is an investigator with U.S. Department of Labor’s Wage and Hour Division and on detail with the Veterans’ Employment and Training Service. Follow VETS on Twitter and LinkedIn.

McGinnis.Laura… Thu, 03/23/2023 - 12:23

Geatleen Charles-Talbot

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Homeless Veterans’ Reintegration Program Helps Native American Veteran Get Back on His Feet

McGinnis.Laura.K@dol.gov — Fri, 17 Mar 2023 13:14:51 +0000

Homeless Veterans’ Reintegration Program Helps Native American Veteran Get Back on His Feet

Wil Lowe is no stranger to adversity. After graduating from the Muscogee (Creek) Nation Boarding School, he started pursuing a college degree, but the desire to serve his country was too strong. He put his educational goals on hold to join the Marine Corps and served honorably for nine years.

While he reflects fondly of his time with the Corps, he made the personal decision to leave the service. He found a job, then relocated to another state where he found a different position working in tourism. Lowe continued to work full-time while attending college classes at night, pursuing a bachelor’s degree. However, his plan for his future was derailed when he unexpectedly lost his job in 2016. For the first time in his adult life, he faced the prospect of being homeless.

Lowe contacted the Muscogee (Creek) Nation’s Reintegration Department for help finding a job. At the time, the Reintegration Department housed one of three Department of Labor Homeless Veterans’ Reintegration Program (HVRP) grantees in Oklahoma.

HVRP is the only federal grant program focused on reintegrating homeless veterans into the workforce. HVRP assists organizations in addressing the complex problems that homeless veterans face by providing a variety of services to help veterans find employment.

The HVRP grantee helped Lowe prepare for an interview with Oklahoma State University Institute of Technology and bought him new professional clothes. Their assistance helped him secure a job, but it didn’t stop there. They also encouraged him to expand his future employment opportunities by furthering his education. Lowe completed his bachelor’s degree, followed by an MBA. Throughout the process, he continued to look for opportunities to serve in his local community since the desire to serve is something that’s inspired him throughout his life.

Today, he is the Director of Human Resources & Special Projects at Bacone College, a private Tribal-focused university in Muskogee, Oklahoma. He was elected Speaker of the House for the Muscogee (Creek) National Council in 2020. He said that part of his motivation to seek elected office was to change the perceptions of veterans and give them a voice within the Tribe.

Lowe is thriving and has become an advocate for the HVRP program. Having faced unemployment and looming housing instability himself, he can articulate to interested veterans what kind of support they may receive. He advises anyone facing a similar situation, "seek out the help, and this program will help you help yourself.”

Oklahoma received $1,157,525 in HVRP funding in Program Year 2021, divided between three grantees.

If you are interested in applying for funding through HVRP, visit https://www.dol.gov/agencies/vets/programs/hvrp for information on when the competitive grant program opens.

If you are interested in finding out about local HVRP grantees, visit https://nvtac.org/

Dana Kelly is a communications specialist with the Department of Labor Veterans’ Employment and Training Service and a proud 21-year veteran of the United States Army. Follow VETS on Twitter and LinkedIn.

McGinnis.Laura… Fri, 03/17/2023 - 09:14

Dana Kelly

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IT Company Recognized for Hiring Veterans

McGinnis.Laura.K@dol.gov — Fri, 24 Feb 2023 19:37:56 +0000

IT Company Recognized for Hiring Veterans

En Español

Photo courtesy of SkillStorm

Our HIRE Vets Medallion Award recognizes exceptional employer efforts to recruit, employ and retain veterans. The award highlights employers who are committed to hiring and retaining America’s veterans in promising, family-sustaining careers. Since it launched in 2018, we’ve awarded more than 3,025 medallions.

We recently spoke with leaders from a 2022 HIRE Vets Medallion Award recipient about the benefits of hiring veterans, and of applying for the award.

Building pipelines for veteran talent is of vital importance to SkillStorm, a tech talent accelerator. They are proud to invest in veterans and are determined to help them develop their skill sets and get better paying jobs. As Joe Mitchell, chief operating officer of SkillStorm, says, “Veterans have served this country, and we should invest in them. They can continue to serve the country in the cloud and cybersecurity spaces. We are helping them make the shift in the civilian world to high-paying and rewarding careers.”

SkillStorm earned a Department of Labor HIRE Vets Medallion Award in 2022 for its dedication to hiring, retaining and supporting veterans. When asked why they applied for a HIRE Vets Medallion Award, Mitchell replied, “If one thing should come out of this award, it’s the ability to help more veterans acquire the skills to get a high-paying job. We are proud to receive it and want to make the most of it.”

One of the requirements for a company to earn a platinum-level award is to have 10% of their new hires be veterans. SkillStorm surpassed that threshold by a large margin and met the requirements to have a veteran employee resource group and a veteran leadership program.

SkillStorm operates several programs to maximize success for veterans and other hirees, including pre-apprenticeship training and a three-year IT Apprenticeship Program, which is a DOL Registered Apprenticeship program that doesn’t require a degree or experience.

The HIRE Vets Medallion Award is the only federal-level veterans’ employment award that recognizes a company or organization’s commitment to veteran hiring, retention and professional development. The Department of Labor is accepting award applications through April 30, 2023, apply today.

Karla Langham is the acting chief of staff for the U.S. Department of Labor’s Veterans’ Employment and Training Service. Follow VETS on Twitter and LinkedIn.

EDITOR'S NOTE: This blog was updated to correct an error in the original, which stated that VETS has awarded more than 3,025 employers since 2018. The agency has awarded more than 3,025 medallions to more than 1,600 employers.

Premian a Empresa de IT por Emplear a Veteranos

Por: Karla Langham • February 24, 2023

Nuestro Premio Medallón HIRE Vets reconoce excepcionales esfuerzos de empleadores para reclutar, emplear y retener a veteranos del servicio militar. El premio destaca a empleadores que se comprometen a contratar y retener a veteranos de Estados Unidos en carreras con proyección de futuro que sustenten a la familia. Hemos otorgado más de 3,025 medallones desde su lanzamiento en el 2018.

Recientemente hablamos con los dirigentes de un receptor del Medallón HIRE Vets del 2022 sobre los beneficios de contratar a veteranos y de aplicar para el premio.

La creación de conductos para reclutar a talentos veteranos es de vital importancia para SkillStorm, un propulsor de talento tecnológico. Esta organización se enorgullece de invertir en veteranos y está decidida a ayudarlos a que desarrollen sus habilidades y obtengan trabajos mejor pagados. Como explica Joe Mitchell, director de operaciones de SkillStorm, “los veteranos han servido a este país y debemos invertir en ellos. Pueden continuar sirviendo al país en espacios de ciberseguridad y en temas relacionados a la llamada cloud (nube). Los estamos ayudando a hacer el cambio al mundo civil hacia carreras bien pagadas y gratificantes”.

SkillStorm ganó un Premio Medallón HIRE Vets del Departamento de Trabajo en el 2022 por su dedicación a la contratación, retención y apoyo a veteranos. Cuando se les preguntó por qué aplicaron al premio, Mitchell respondió: “Si algo debe resultar de este premio es que seamos capaces de ayudar a más veteranos a adquirir habilidades para obtener un trabajo bien pagado. Estamos orgullosos de recibirlo y queremos sacarle a esto su máximo provecho”.

Uno de los requisitos para que una empresa obtenga un premio de nivel platino es que el 10% de sus nuevas contrataciones sean veteranos. SkillStorm superó ese umbral por un amplio margen y cumplió con los requisitos para tener un grupo de recursos para empleados veteranos y un programa de liderazgo para veteranos.

SkillStorm opera varios programas para maximizar el éxito de veteranos y otros aplicantes de empleo, incluida una capacitación de pre-aprendizaje y un programa de aprendizaje en Tecnologías de la Información (IT) de tres años, que es un programa de Aprendizaje Registrado por el Departamento de Trabajo para el que no se no requiere título o experiencia.

El Premio Medallón HIRE Vets es el único premio de empleo de veteranos a nivel federal que reconoce el compromiso de una empresa u organización en la contratación, retención y desarrollo profesional de veteranos. El Departamento de Trabajo está aceptando solicitudes de adjudicación del Premio hasta el 30 de abril de 2023. Presente su aplicación hoy.

Karla Langham es la jefa en funciones de personal del Servicio de Capacitación y Empleo para Veteranos del Departamento de Trabajo de EE.UU. Siga a VETS por Twitter y LinkedIn.

McGinnis.Laura… Fri, 02/24/2023 - 14:37

Karla Langham

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Veterans’ Employment and Training Service 2022 in Review

McGinnis.Laura.K@dol.gov — Thu, 22 Dec 2022 14:32:13 +0000

Veterans’ Employment and Training Service 2022 in Review

The Department of Labor Veterans’ Employment and Training Service is committed to enabling all veterans, transitioning service members and military spouses to reach their full potential in the workplace. In 2022, working with our partners, we served more than 430,000 customers. Here are just a few of our many accomplishments throughout the year.

VETS’ Transition Assistance Program served over 270,000 participants across TAP program areas. VETS-funded contractors led employment training face-to-face and virtual workshops at 200 military installations across the globe. The Employment Navigator and Partnership Program Pilot also served participants at 22 military installations around the world. We implemented Off-Base Transition Training, as directed in the Johnny Isakson and David P. Roe M.D. Veterans Health Care and Benefits Improvement Act of 2020, to provide TAP training to veterans and their spouses at locations other than active-duty military installations. More than 1,500 veterans and their spouses completed the off-base transition training workshops in California, Texas, North Carolina, Pennsylvania and Massachusetts, and we plan to expand it to at least 20 states and 50 locations over the next five years.

Over 145,000 veterans were served by nearly 2,300 American Job Centers nationwide.

Our Jobs for Veterans State Grants’ Disabled Veteran Outreach Program Specialists provided intensive services to 43,520 veterans with significant barriers to employment and Local Veteran Employment Representatives conducted employer outreach activities. VETS completed a data integrity analysis in April, which identified inconsistencies which will help us refine processes to ensure greater equity and inclusion in our programs. The Homeless Veterans’ Reintegration Program provided funding to 160 grantees who helped nearly 17,000 veterans who were homeless or at risk of becoming homeless.

Our investigators conducted 970 Uniformed Services Employment and Reemployment Rights Act investigations across the U.S. – 238 of which were determined to have merit. Our investigators resolved 87% of the merit cases to the satisfaction of the claimant and the employer. We supported 1,030 compliance assistance events with employers and claimants and initiated an electronic case management system to streamline the process. We also reconstructed the USERRA Basic Investigator Training Course to increase VETS’ senior investigative program staff and solicitor’s participation as course instructors to leverage their experience by having them teach substantive portions of the course, contributing to a 2% annual increase in the resolution rate of USERRA cases in which VETS investigators found violations.

We continue to administer the HIRE Vets Medallion Program on behalf of the Secretary of Labor.

This year, we recognized 835 employers from around the nation for their commitment to hiring and retaining U.S. military veterans. The HIRE Vets Medallion is the only federal-level veterans’ employment award and is presented annually to employers who meet specific criteria. Since 2018, more than 1,650 employers have earned a HIRE Vets Medallion Award. The 2023 HIRE Vets Medallion Award application period opens Jan. 31, 2023.

Veteran unemployment rates are at historic lows in 2022 and we are on track for an annual rate of under 3%. As we close out this year and move into 2023, we will continue to use innovative methods to improve our programs to better support our veterans, transitioning service members, and military spouses in their search for meaningful employment. Learn more about our work at dol.gov/vets.

James D. Rodriguez is the assistant secretary for the Veterans’ Employment and Training Service at the U.S. Department of Labor. Follow VETS on Twitter at @VETS_DOL and on LinkedIn.

McGinnis.Laura… Thu, 12/22/2022 - 09:32

James Rodriguez

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