DOL VETS Newsletter – April 2016

All of us at the Veterans’ Employment and Training Service take great pride in the positive overall employment trends for veterans. But, we know that as long as one veteran hasn’t found a meaningful civilian career, we still have work to do. That is why we continue to refine our services and resources for veterans, transitioning service members, and their families. That is also why we are dedicated to fostering strong relationships with our government and private sector partners to help build better networks of services for our veterans.
One of the ways we are working to build a better network is through our newest website, Veterans.gov — designed to be the first stop in the employment search process for veterans and in the hiring process for employers. If you’re a veteran or service member looking for your first civilian job, wanting a career change, or hoping to start your own business, Veterans.gov is your one-stop shop for resources that will help you chart a new path forward. Here are some of the resources you’ll find on Veterans.gov:
For Job Seekers • Connect with one-on-one assistance in the nearly 2,500 American Job Centers located conveniently in communities around the country; • Explore Veterans’ Job Bank /National Labor Exchange online job listings; • Search career paths by industry, by similarity to military careers, or by keyword; • Locate approved local training programs, colleges and universities; • Access resources from Federal partners to connect with industry career programs in sectors including agriculture, transportation, energy/utilities, homeland security, and employment in the Federal government; • Learn how to start a business; and • Link to the Veterans Employment Center (VEC) portal.
For Employers • Connect with DOL VETS’ regional employer outreach specialists to access local resources for meeting your unique hiring needs; • Post position descriptions and openings in the Veteran’ Job Bank /National Labor Exchange database; • Access the free “America’s Heroes at Work” veteran hiring toolkit and other resources for employers; and • Make a commitment to hire veterans on the Veterans Employment Center (VEC) portal.

As we continue to grow Veterans.gov and its content, we are looking to make this the most robust and valuable customer experience we possibly can. To do that, we are meeting with our partners to learn from them what works well and what suggestions they have to improve the site. We ask each of you to try out the site, share your feedback with us at vets-outreach@dol.gov, and spread the word about all Veterans.gov has to offer.

Mike Michaud,
Assistant Secretary
@MikeHMichaud

VETS Hosts Oregon Women Veterans Conference

USDOL VETS in partnership with Oregon state and local agencies, and veteran service providers hosted the biennial Oregon Women Veterans Conference, March 18-19, 2016. More than 300 women veterans participated in the two-day event, and joined in featured workshops on topics like VA Benefits, Women’s Health, Home Loans, Retirement, Financial Planning, Guided Meditation, Coping with Trauma, YOGA, and Veterans Employment — hosted by DOL VETS and WorkSource Oregon.

Women Veteran Program (WVP) Manager Speaks at CA²VES Meeting

Dr. Nancy A. Glowacki, DOL VETS Women Veteran Program Manager served as a subject matter expert on women veterans at the Center for Aviation and Automotive Technological Education Using Virtual E-Schools (CA²VES) 2016 National Visiting Committee Meeting April 6-7 on the Clemson campus in South Carolina. CA²VES is developing a toolkit to expose women veterans to advanced manufacturing career opportunities and to provide education, training, employment, and advancement resources related to advanced manufacturing careers. Currently, women only make up 27 percent of the manufacturing workforce. With the manufacturing industry estimating a 2 million worker shortfall over the next decade, this industry may provide women veterans with sustainable career options. A recent study revealed that more than 2/3 of women in manufacturing would stay in manufacturing if they were to start their career today due to the attractive pay, work-life balance, and opportunities for challenging and interesting assignments.

ASVET Michaud Visits HVRP Grantee the St. Patricks Center & Missouri AJC,

DASVET Gerton Speaks with Sergeants Major Academy leadership.

ASVET Michaud Participates in NASWA Veterans' Affairs Committee conference in St. Louis, MO.

ASVET Michaud Participates in Veterans in Trucking Roundtable hosted by Secretary of the Army Patrick Murphy, Louisville, KY

#ByTheNumbers: Veteran Unemployment Remains Lower Than Overall Rate at 4.5%

In March, the veteran unemployment rate maintained a lower level than the overall unemployment rate. This continues a 24-month trend with a single exception, when veteran unemployment was 0.1% higher than overall unemployment in December 2015.

Preparing Soldiers for Transition: Sergeants Major Receive VETS briefing

Being the future sergeants major and command sergeants major of Army units, members of Sergeants Major Course Class 66 are in a unique position to be able to carry forward information to Soldiers who are preparing to transition out of the service, said Teresa Gerton, deputy assistant secretary of Policy, Veterans Employment and Training Service, U.S. Department of Labor.

Gerton was at the U.S. Army Sergeants Major Academy March 24 to talk to Class 66 and inform them of what the DOL has available for transitioning Soldiers through VETS, and to encourage the future sergeants major to ensure Soldiers go through the Transition Assistance Program early.

“If I could just say one thing about the TAP program, please, please, please make sure that your Soldiers go; make sure they go early. The average time on a job search these days is 6-9 months," Gerton said. "If you have servicemembers that are not going to TAP until about 30-days before they are about to (leave the service), those servicemembers are going to be unemployed ” Read more

Honoring Every Woman Veteran for Her Service:

Every year, the National Women’s History Project selects a unifying theme to be shared with all who want to promote women’s history. This year’s theme was “Working to form a more perfect union: honoring women in public service and government.” As an Army veteran and the Women Veteran Program Manager in the Labor Department’s Veterans’ Employment and Training Service, I can’t think of a theme more fitting to honor women veterans.

As a nation, we really have come a long way in recognizing and honoring women veterans as a population for their public service. Yet, I continue to hear from individual women veterans that they feel overlooked or forgotten, and that assumptions about them are still being made. For example, that she is a spouse or caregiver to a male veteran, but probably not an actual veteran herself.

How can this still be happening in 2016? Perhaps it’s because assumptions are largely based on personal memories and experiences. Nearly everyone has interacted with a male veteran. Sixteen percent of the male adult population in America is a veteran. That’s one in every six men. Read more

Wyoming DVET Meets An Original “WASP”:

Wyoming DVET Laura Jeffrey attended the 27th Annual International Women in Aviation conference held in Nashville, Tennessee 10-12 March 2016. DVET Jeffrey was selected by the Wyoming Army National Guard and the Air National Guard, along with an enlisted member, to attend the conference. The conference offers opportunities for female aviators to network as well as seek career guidance and growth. It also offers an introduction to aviation positions and support positions within the military, federal, private, and commercial organizations.

“I had to the opportunity to share experiences as a female combat aviator with women and girls who possess an interest in pursuing careers in military aviation,” said Jeffrey. “I also had the opportunity to meet this young lady, Bernice “Bee” Haydu, one of the original Women Airforce Service Pilots, or WASP, who served our country in World War II.”

The conference featured multiple panel/education discussions ranging from Leadership in the Cockpit, Women Military Aviators in Combat, self-development, professional development, Crew Resource Management, safety in flight, and many other professional growth topics. “The opportunity was rewarding and allowed opportunities for mentorship for those women and girls seeking military aviation opportunities.”

North Carolina DVOP selected as the DVOP of the Year for the American Legion:

DVOP Dwight Butler, a career advisor with NCWorks, will receive regional and national recognition – to include DVOP of the Year Award from the American Legion -- for his commitment to veterans with significant barriers to employment find work.

“Dwight Butler is a North Carolinian hero and a shining example of what it means to serve others,” said Governor Pat McCrory. “He bravely served this nation in the U.S. Navy, and he’s now devoted his life to serving our veterans. Our state motto means ‘to be, rather than to seem,’ and Dwight exemplifies this deal by devoting his life to veterans instead of simply talking about helping.”

Butler will receive the regional award on Friday, July 1, 2016, in Wake Forest. He will receive the national award during the American Legion’s National Convention in Cincinnati, Ohio, on Wednesday, August 31, 2016. Butler says it is an honor to receive the award, which he considers a reflection of the strong work performed by his team in Fayetteville every day.

How can you help? If you know a veteran who is seeking employment, point them to an American Job Center (www.servicelocator.org) or share this "How-To" video to help them find their path.

Together, we will continue build employment opportunities for our veterans, and honor their service by allowing them to continue service in the career they choose.

VETS prepares America’s veterans, service members and their spouses, for meaningful careers, provides them with employment resources and expertise, protects their employment rights and promotes their employment opportunities.

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