Yesterday, Jeff Piekarczyk and I attended an event at the Gary National Guard co-hosted by Bob Carnagey, a Vietnam Veteran volunteer who worked with the Army National Guard Employment Coordination Program and SHRM the Society for Resource Management. We were made aware of the incredibly high unemployment and disproportionate unemployment rate of our Indiana Guardsman...23% as compared to Indianas 6-7% unemployment rate as well as other issues they face. Jeff Ficaro, a Marine Veteran and Branch Manager at Standard Bank and Trust, presented workshops to a room full of Guardsmen on resume building and interview skills. He focused on breaking down the language barrier that exists between Military and civilian language which is a major difficulty our Guardsmen face. Representatives from the Electricians, Plumbers and Carpenters unions were there encouraging our Veterans to join apprenticeship programs. The line that really struck me was...What is more American than the Military and the Union?!?!?. The afternoon was spent at a job fair with Veteran friendly businesses, including, Standard Band and Trust, Strack and Van Til (who also provided food for the event), OReilly Auto Parts, Securitas, Levin Tire and Indiana Beverage who was ready to hire! Several Universities were also represented including my Alma Mater, Indiana University Northwest, as well as Indiana Wesleyan University, DeVry University, and Indianas newest nonprofit online university WGU...Western Governors University. All the universities present were designated Military Friendly Schools by GI Jobs Magazine. Success School, LLC Barber School was also there and giving free haircuts! Although Jeff and I were there to assist our Guardsman...it was an incredible learning experience for both of us. It opened our eyes to the many issues our Guardsman face... unemployment, poverty and the difficulty of straddling two worlds...that of the Military and that of the Civilian. Our organization had already planned on assisting our Veterans with resume writing, business etiquette and and attire as well as providing mock interviews. Attending this event confirmed that we are on the right track. Now we have a better understanding and more tools in our toolbox that we can pass on to our Active Military, Guardsmen and Veterans. We made many alliances and will be partnering with SHRM, and their President Cyndi Harbin, to tackle these unemployment issues. If you are a Guardsman, Active Military or a Veteran who needs assistance, or if you would like to volunteer with us, please call email me. 219-798-1212 or [email protected] Blessings~ Annemarie
Posted on: Sun, 04 May 2014 14:23:52 +0000
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