Before leaving the military and economic downturn, some are fi nding As a policy associate for IAVA,
with the help of the Army Career and their jobs phased out — in which case, Tarantino works as an advocate for
Alumni Program, Rosano put together USERRA no longer protects them. legislation and policy that improve
a résumé. “I had been an infantry Tarantino has fi rsthand experience the lives of America’s newest gen-
team leader, which didn’t mean too struggling to fi nd a civilian career. eration of young veterans. Taran-
much to civilian employers. I was He served 10 years in the Army, with tino says there is much going on to
qualifi ed for security guard, prison deployments to Bosnia in 2000 and to recognize and support the needs of
guard, and border patrol [agent]. That Iraq in 2005, where he served as a cav- today’s veterans. He points to pas-
didn’t appeal to me,” says Rosano. alry and a mortar platoon leader with sage of the landmark Post-9/11 GI
“I thought maybe I would go to the 11th Armored Cavalry Regiment. Bill, which makes a college educa-
school. But at $1,200 a month [prior Still, the Bronze Star recipient had tion affordable with unprecedented
to the Post-9/11 GI Bill], that doesn’t trouble fi nding work after leaving the funding for veterans. MOAA, along
cover much unless you move back military. “I went from being an XO of with veterans’ organizations such as
home. I worked a couple of dead-end 400 guys to being unemployed,” he IAVA, was instrumental in passing
jobs. I was bouncing around looking says. “I was getting interviews, but I that legislation.
for better pay. I ran up some credit wasn’t getting offers. ... I had an im- But, says Tarantino, there is a long
card debt. At one point, I called the pressive set of skills and work ethic way to go. “Our military does an excel-
folks for a couple of dollars to help and discipline. But I didn’t have the lent job of training our citizens to be
pay the bills,” recalls Rosano. practical knowledge. Companies are warriors. We do a better job than any
Many veterans have found them- leery about the learning curve.” other country. But we do a terrible
selves in the same boat as Rosano. job of teaching our warriors to be citi-
“Unemployment among veterans A misunderstanding zens,” he says.
is higher than in civilian populations. According to a 2007 survey by Mili
This is a fairly large crisis, and it’s
tary.com, 61 percent of employers Transitional training
not a new phenomenon,” says former surveyed reported they did not have a Maj. Gen. Matthew Caulfi eld, USMC-
Army Capt. Tom Tarantino, a policy complete understanding of veterans’ Ret., an MOAA board member, is a
associate for the Iraq and Afghani- job qualifi cations, and more than 75 long-time advocate of
stan Veterans of America (IAVA). percent of veterans surveyed reported veterans’ employment. He
Figures from the Department of an inability to effectively translate is a founder of Helmets
Labor (DoL) and the VA show rates their military skills into civilian terms. to Hardhats, which helps
of unemployment for active duty vet- “When you consider that only 10 veterans fi nd placement in
erans after Sept. 11, 2001, have been percent of the population has served construction careers. He
higher than in the civilian sector in in the military and only 1 percent of currently is affi liated with
recent years, with the steepest rates the population has served in Iraq the United Association
for veterans ages 22 to 24. and Afghanistan, there is a very real of Journeymen and Ap-
possibility that you are ... interview- prentices of the Plumbing
New set of rules ing with someone who [not only] has and Pipe Fitting Industry
The transition from the military to never served in the military [but also] of the United States and
the civilian world can be diffi cult. doesn’t even know someone with Canada (UA) Veterans in
Even though veterans bring a desir- military service,” says Tarantino. Piping (VIP) program.
able set of skills to the marketplace, After 10 months searching for a job, Through the program, the
such as leadership, respect, advanced Tarantino got a call from Paul Rieck- UA provides veterans with
decision-making, safety conscious- hoff, executive director and founder of 16 weeks of accelerated
ness, and performance under pres- IAVA, who served as a fi rst lieutenant
sure, they often fi nd that those “soft” and infantry platoon leader in Op-
skills might not be as valuable to an eration Iraqi Freedom. “Paul saw my (right) Glenn Tillman
employer as more tangible skills. résumé, and he understood what I did works his sewing magic
Guardmembers and reservists also [in the Army] and what I could bring in the laundry depart-
are struggling. Although their civilian to a job,” Tarantino says. “I didn’t ment of MCVET. (above
jobs are protected by the Uniformed have the legislative experience, but he right) Robert Adam
Services Employment and Reemploy- knew from my skill set that the time leads a daily affirmation
ment Rights Act (USERRA), with the spent training me would pay off.” at the center.
58 MILITARY OFFICER NOVEMBER 2009
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