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.

The Tuskegee Airmen were a group of primarily African American military pilots (fighters and bombers) and airmen who fought in World War II. They formed the 332nd Expeditionary Operations Group and the 477th Bombardment Group of the U.S. Army Air Forces.

The name also applies to the navigators, bombardiers, mechanics, instructors, crew chiefs, nurses, cooks, and other support personnel. Their efforts help paved the way for:

• 1940: The U.S. Army gets its first Black general.
• 1979: The U.S. Army gets its first Black female general.
• 1989: The U.S. sees its first Black Chairman for the Joint Chief of Staff.
• 2000: A black woman is the first female fighter pilot in the U.S. Air Force.
• 2001: The U.S. gets its first Black Secretary of State.
• 2015: A Black woman becomes the first Black Surgeon General of the Army.
• 2021: A four-star general is named the first Black Secretary of Defense.

Check out the next Employment Readiness Series on March 1, 2022 from 11 a.m. to noon. Veteran Career Advisor Deborah Bohanon will lead a presentation about drafting a compelling cover letter, how to include your references and when to follow up.

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.

The Michigan Department of Corrections (MDOC) is currently hiring Corrections Officers, Food Service Workers, Qualified Mental Health Professionals, Psychologists, Licensed Practical Nurses, Registered Nurses, Skilled Trades, and more! 

Facility staff and MDOC's Recruitment Section are hosting hiring events at facilities across the state. They are offering on-the-spot interviews and application assistance for the Corrections Officer positions. 

View the full list of events here or contact Veteran Liaison Darrick Alvarez, Michigan Department of Corrections: 

Office Phone: 517-335-1863
Cell Phone: 517-927-2556
AlvarezD4@michigan.gov

Attendees should bring an up-to-date resume, a list of three references, and a state-issued ID. Business attire is preferred, however, all applicants interested in becoming a Corrections Officer should bring a change of clothes for the PT test. A t-shirt, shorts and athletic shoes are recommended. 

A Few Question With ...

Jason Albert – Veterans' Career Advisor, Jackson

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

I find it easier to communicate with other veterans because we all have a lot of the same background and a common language. I also find that conversations about their military background opens veterans up and puts them more at ease.

What should Veterans expect when they meet with a VCA?

They should expect empathy and professionalism. We need to try and understand their situation the best we can without judgement and be exemplary professionals. Additionally, the veteran should see us facilitating pre-vocational and career coaching activities while also collaborating with the Michigan Works Agency.

What resource do you recommend to Veterans seeking employment? 

I always recommend that veterans use the ONET online resources to help them translate their military occupational specialties into civilian terms to better assist them in building their resume.

The Michigan Secretary of State offers a veteran designation on licenses and state ID cards to give veterans an easy and optional way to show their veteran status to receive discounts from businesses.

Eligible veterans may get the word "Veteran" printed in red on the front of their card by visiting any Secretary of State office or when renewing through the mail at no additional charge. 

The designation also allows the Secretary of State to partner with Veterans’ Employment Services to provide referral information, so veterans are more aware of what resources and services are available to them. Read more about veteran designation and veteran/military service plates. 

Contact your local Secretary of State to apply for a military waiver even exchange. The Commercial Driver’s License even exchange waiver form may be used by service members who are currently licensed and who are or were employed within the past 12 months in a military position requiring the operation of a military motor vehicle equivalent to a Commercial Motor Vehicle.

This waiver allows a qualified service member to apply for a CDL Class A or B without the need for written knowledge testing or skills testing. 

William Ennis led a successful career as the Executive Director of Westside Food Bank in Arizona until he retired and moved to the Upper Peninsula with his wife. The Vietnam Veteran then decided he wanted to support and serve his country by working for the U.S. Census, requiring William to go to his local Michigan Works! office and apply.

The Michigan Works! staff identified William as veteran and he was eventually connected to Veterans' Career Advisor (VCA) Aaron Lindholm. 

With Aaron's help, William quickly became job ready an was referred to Local Veterans' Employment Representative (LVER) Kendal Kettle for dual case management supportive services. Kendal and Aaron utilized a people-centered approach to provide William the best support and services to ensure his success.   

Both Aaron and Kendal helped William research and apply for local opportunities. William turned down several jobs offers during his employment search to find the one that would fulfill his goal of a meaningful career where he could continue to serve. After a series of conversations and strategic planning with VES staff, William was encouraged to apply for the recently-vacated VCA position in his hometown of Hancock.

William has now joined those who helped him from VES, and together, they will serve veterans just like William.

William’s story is a great example of how even well qualified veterans may need to apply for, interview, and consider multiple opportunities during their employment search to find the perfect fit. The collaboration between UP Michigan Works! and VES ultimately removed barriers and successfully placed another veteran into their dream career.

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 Heather. Watch this short video to see how TAA was able to help her. And for more information about TAA, go to Michigan.gov/TAA.

After facing significant challenges throughout her life, including time in the foster care system and living on her own while trying to graduate from high school, Shelby Essenmacher always thought obtaining a college education and a fulfilling career with a good paycheck were out of her reach.

That is, until the native Detroiter learned about the Michigan Reconnect scholarship program. Michigan Reconnect is the largest effort in state history to ensure that Michiganders who are 25 or older and don't have a college degree have an opportunity to earn an associate degree or skills certificate with free or deeply discounted tuition.

"This is a life changer. I can now seriously go after my dream of becoming a nurse without worrying about the cost of tuition, which has always been a major obstacle preventing me from going back to school," Shelby said.

Shelby is among the 91,000 Michiganders accepted into Michigan Reconnect since its launch in February 2021 and one of 12,000 scholarship participants currently working towards a degree or skills certificate through the program. She is taking advantage of the program to pursue an Associates of Applied Science in Nursing degree at Wayne County Community College District.