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Some Texas Veterans facing tough job search
SAN ANTONIO — The transition into civilian life hasn’t been easy for Michael Jenkins.
After 23 years in the Army, he retired as a sergeant first class in February. He has been unemployed ever since.
Jenkins is not alone in his struggle.
The Bureau of Labor Statistics reported that while veterans have a nonseasonally adjusted unemployment rate of 6.6 percent, Gulf War-era II veterans — or those who have served in the military since Sept. 11, 2001 — have an unemployment rate of 10.9 percent. The country’s overall unemployment rate is about 8 percent.
During his military service, Jenkins said he suffered three strokes that have limited his physical abilities and caused a traumatic brain injury.
Although he attends rehabilitation therapy four days a week, those disabilities have become the biggest obstacles to his landing a job, he said.
“I didn’t think it would be this hard,” said Jenkins, 45, who is a single father of three. “Everyone has issues with transitioning. My issue was I didn’t know. I didn’t know it would be like this.”
Chris Suter is another veteran looking for a job.
The 48-year-old retired in March after spending four years in the Marines and 17 years in the Army. He would prefer a federal job where he could apply his military expertise, but after sending out at least one résumé a day since April, he’s searching statewide for anything.
“I could live on a minimum-wage job with a company who wants me there tomorrow,” Suter said.
http://www.marinecorpstimes.com/news/2012/09/ap-job-search-trying-for-veterans-092012
/After 23 years in the Army, he retired as a sergeant first class in February. He has been unemployed ever since.
Jenkins is not alone in his struggle.
The Bureau of Labor Statistics reported that while veterans have a nonseasonally adjusted unemployment rate of 6.6 percent, Gulf War-era II veterans — or those who have served in the military since Sept. 11, 2001 — have an unemployment rate of 10.9 percent. The country’s overall unemployment rate is about 8 percent.
During his military service, Jenkins said he suffered three strokes that have limited his physical abilities and caused a traumatic brain injury.
Although he attends rehabilitation therapy four days a week, those disabilities have become the biggest obstacles to his landing a job, he said.
“I didn’t think it would be this hard,” said Jenkins, 45, who is a single father of three. “Everyone has issues with transitioning. My issue was I didn’t know. I didn’t know it would be like this.”
Chris Suter is another veteran looking for a job.
The 48-year-old retired in March after spending four years in the Marines and 17 years in the Army. He would prefer a federal job where he could apply his military expertise, but after sending out at least one résumé a day since April, he’s searching statewide for anything.
“I could live on a minimum-wage job with a company who wants me there tomorrow,” Suter said.
http://www.marinecorpstimes.com/news/2012/09/ap-job-search-trying-for-veterans-092012
4 replies
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= new reply since forum marked as read
Why aren't they on the front lines fighting for our Vets to find jobs in Texas?
