BEND, OR -- Post 9/11 vets have continually reported higher unemployment than the rest of the population and the Director of Oregon’s Department of Veteran’s Affairs is concerned it could get worse.
Cameron Smith tells KBND more vets are looking for work as military activities wind down in Iraq and Afghanistan, and many don’t know how to market themselves in the civilian job market. "Often, returning vets pigeonhole themselves into a security job or fire department. If you’re coming out of the infantry or coming out of the artillery, it’s hard to show how those skills work across to the civilian sector. But, what employers are looking for are the education, commitment, leadership and initiative. And, that’s what our veterans bring back in spades – the reliability, to be able to make decisions and that team effort." He adds, "As they are coming home, whether active duty or National Guard, often it’s a challenge if they’re not diving back into school with community colleges and universities, to hit the ground running and to transition what are very much core values, leadership and military skills into the civilian sector and the civilian employment market."