Helping Veterans Recover, Access Education, and Get Jobs

Transitioning veterans often face a myriad of challenges as they re-enter civilian life and reflect on the next steps to take. They are also a significant part of the diverse population of the country. As noted by the Employment Situation of Veterans Summary released earlier by the Bureau of Labor Statistics, in 2014, 21.2 million men and women, or 9 percent of the civilian noninstitutional population age 18 and over, were veterans.

The US Department of Veterans Affairs has a number of education and training programs aimed at preparing veterans for jobs. It also has programs for the rehabilitation of wounded and disabled veterans.

In addition, other initiatives are still being created, by the government and other resources, including revovery programs for wounded veterans.

Recently, President Obama launched a program in cooperation with the Department of Energy that seeks to train and provide solar jobs for veterans. An article by EcoWatch notes that there are nearly 17,000 veterans of the U.S. Armed Forces who are working in the solar energy industry, and this initiative will all the more boost job opportunities for veterans. As the article continues, the solar industry in America is becoming increasingly diverse, with minorities, women and veterans representing a growing percentage of the workforce. - Read more here:

In the local level, one program seeks to help their new employees who are re-entering the civilian workforce from the military. “One of the things, as a service member, you get uprooted and moved every few years. You almost immediately help each other out: ‘Here’s the housing, here’s the educational experiences, here’s what you need to do,’” said Leland “Rocky” Rockstraw, associate clinical professor in the College of Nursing and Health Professions, who is a veteran of the Air Force. Rockstraw, who served for 11 years in the Air Force, is looking to help create that sense of community for veterans again with an employee/colleague resource group at Drexel. - See more at:

North Florida congresswoman Gwen Graham wants to put more resources into a Veterans Administration program that transitions those wounded warriors from military to civilian life. The VETS Act -- Veterans, Education, Training Act -- would require the Veterans Administration to work with existing nursing schools to create a curriculum to train veteran recovery coordinators. - Read more :

These are only some of the newer intiatives designed to help veterans start anew in the civilian world.

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