Welcome to the Veterans’ Employment Services (VES) Newsletter. Our mission is to assist you and your family secure meaningful careers in Michigan.

The concept of veterans helping veterans is a trademark of the VES team and one of the keys to its success. Veterans face many challenges when transitioning out of the military – finding meaningful employment should not be one of them.

• Veterans in need of employment assistance should contact the nearest Michigan Works! One-Stop Service Center by calling 800-285-WORKS (9675) or visiting MichiganWorks.org.
• More information about Veterans’ Employment Services is available at Michigan.gov/VES.
• Register today and start your job search at Pure Michigan Talent Connect at MiTalent.org.

Ever wondered how job fairs can propel your job search forward? Check out the next Employment Readiness Series on February 1, 2022 from 7 p.m. to 8 p.m. Veteran Career Advisor Shane Scherer will lead a presentation about how attending job fairs can help in your career search and how to prepare for them. 

Register for the event here.

The Michigan Veterans' Employment Services and the Michigan National Guard Family Programs teams have partnered to ignite the potential of our stakeholders through weekly tips and monthly presentations.

A Few Question With ...

Dale Ginzel – Veterans' Career Advisor, Cadillac

How has your military experience helped you in your position as a VCA?

Serving for more than twenty years in the military has assisted me in quickly establishing a connection and relationship with other veterans. We’re usually able to discuss things in an open and honest manner which helps build a trust derived from common experiences and challenges.

What should Veterans expect when they meet with a VCA?

Veterans should expect to have a conversation about what they are currently experiencing related to employment, housing, their health, and any other circumstances that may be perceived as a barrier to employment. After the initial conversations they can expect to discuss ways on moving forward and identifying ways to overcome those barriers. Those can be in the form of job search assistance, resume writing, interviewing, career and interest assessments, educational opportunities, and referrals to other resources.

What resource do you recommend to Veterans seeking employment? 

There are many resources available to veterans. It just depends on the individual veteran’s circumstances, needs, and interests. However, I always inform veterans of Pure Michigan Talent Connect (MiTalent.org) and ensure they are aware of the 24 hour job holds for veterans. Veterans who have service-connected disability ratings from the Department of Veterans Affairs (DVA) may be eligible for the Veterans Readiness and Employment (VR&E) program administered by the DVA. I also make sure veterans are aware of the services offered in their local Michigan Works! office and recommend that they utilize those services while seeking employment.

On Dec. 15, 1981, the Office of the Assistant Secretary of Labor for Veterans' Employment was established to alleviate unemployment for disabled and Vietnam era veterans by implementing policies and programs to increase opportunities for training, counseling and employment placement services.

While much has changed in the past 40 years, including their name, now the Veterans’ Employment and Training Service (VETS), they’ve remained committed to serving all veterans, including the 4.5 million post-9/11 veterans who now represent the largest group of veterans in the labor force. 

VETS helps to prepare America's veterans, service members and spouses for meaningful careers; provide them with employment resources and expertise; protect their employment rights; and promote their employment opportunities.  

Last year, over 2,800 VETS staff, contractors and grantees served more than 370,000 customers.   

Liam Fyvie is a U.S. Army veteran who was trained in gunsmithing and served as a firearms specialist. He had recently finished his second enlistment after initially joining the Army in 2015 and while on terminal leave from the military, he was referred to Veteran Employment Services (VES). Liam was qualified for VES services due to a pending VA disability claim.

Liam was first made aware of VES via the Ontonagon County Michigan Works! office. Veteran Career Advisor Lindholm reached out to him virtually and Liam became “job ready” very quickly before being referred to Local Veteran Employment Representative (LVER) Kendal Kettle for dual case management.

VCA Lindholm and LVER Kettle helped Liam research local On the Job Training and apprenticeship opportunities as well as helping him apply for traditional jobs. After a series of interviews and LVER advocacy, he was offered a position at Guardian Pest Control as a technician. Liam began training for his new position on November 15 with a starting salary of $18/hour. 

Liam’s story is just one example of the collaboration and employment success for veterans through a strong partnership between VES and the Michigan Works! networks.

Trade Adjustment Assistance (TAA) is a federal program that assists workers who have lost or may lose their jobs as a result of foreign trade. TAA provides adversely-affected workers with opportunities to obtain the skills, credentials, resources and support necessary to become reemployed.

This includes job training, career counseling, wage supplements for older workers, job search and relocation allowances, and income support for workers in an approved training program. 

TAA has already helped numerous Michiganders, including Brandon. Watch this short video to see how TAA was able to help him and his family. And for more information about TAA, go to Michigan.gov/TAA.