The Buzz Archive

Previous Buzz Items: 2013

• Supporting our Service Women (Blog Post) - Read ASVET Keith Kelly's and Latifa Lyles recent DOL blog post about women Veterans:

  The service of women in American war efforts is older than our nation itself. Women served as battlefield nurses, cannon loaders, spies and more during the American Revolution. Through two World Wars, tens of thousands of army nurses served overseas to care for the wounded. Some 7,000 women served in Southeast Asia during the Vietnam War, and 40,000 by the first war in the Persian Gulf. The most dramatic shift occurred in the last decade, with 200,000 women serving in Iraq and Afghanistan. And the role of women in the military progressed further in January, when the defense secretary announced that our military will officially end its restrictions on women in combat roles exclusively held by men.

  [Read entire post...]

• Women Veterans Call Center - The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) launched its new Women Veterans hotline—1-855-VA-WOMEN (1-855-829-6636)—an incoming call center that receives and responds to questions from women Veterans, their families, and caregivers across the nation about available VA services and resources.
  
  “The Women Veterans Call Center is aimed at increasing women Veterans’ knowledge of all VA services and benefits that they deserve,” said Krista Stephenson, Army Veteran and Women Veterans Call Center Director.
  
  Since 2000, the number of women using VA health care has more than doubled, from nearly 160,000 to more than 360,000 in 2012. Women now make up 15 percent of active duty and 18 percent of Guard/Reserves service members. Based on the upward trend of women in all branches of service, the number of women Veterans and female VA users is expected to double again in the next decade.

  [More information...]

• Unishippers Franchise Giveaway Contest - Do you know Veterans who want to own a franchise? This is an excellent opportunity to pass along to your Veteran customers.

  From Unishipper:

  The Unishippers for Veterans Franchise Giveaway is sponsored by Unishippers Global Logistics, LLC, in partnership with USA Cares. The contest will award a Unishippers National Franchise, valued at over $30,000, to one deserving veteran.

  Contest entries can be submitted from May 13, 2013 through August 1, 2013. To enter, veterans must submit an application and upload a two minute video explaining how their military experience would help them be a successful Unishippers franchise owner.

  Unishippers will select up to five semi-finalists on the basis of sales presentation, compelling personal story, financial need, military service and experience. The video must clearly answer the question "How has your military experience prepared you to be a successful Unishippers franchise owner?"

  [Learn more...]

• Advance Payment for GI Bill Users - Veterans Benefits Administration's Curtis L. Coy, Deputy Under Secretary for Economic Opportunity, has distributed great information about advance payment option in relation to GI Bill benefits.

  Financial hardships are one of the leading causes that force students to drop out of school. I wanted to share with you information about VA’s advance payment feature for GI Bill students as well as funding sources that are available through the Federal Student Aid program. Please help disseminate this information to Veteran students that you know.
  
  You may have come across the term “advance payment” in dealing with GI Bill benefits. Who wouldn’t want their pay in advance? Better sooner than later, sign me up! So what exactly is it? Can a Veterans Retraining Assistance Program (VRAP) student request advance payments?

  [More information...]

• New Veterans Service Organization Launches - The American Veterans Committee (AVC) has been formed to help Veterans network with potential employers and other Veterans from around the world. The non-profit AVC aims to help spark new business opportunitites for all honorably discharge military Veterans. For more information visit their site.

  [Learn more...]

• Report: Fast Track to Civilian Employment: Streamllning, Credentialing and Licensing for Service Members, Veterans and Their Spouses - Check out the latest in efforts to help Veterans transition to civilian careers requiring special licenses or credentials. From the report:

  This report discusses the unique challenges that confront service members, military spouses and veterans in establishing their qualifications for civilian employment, and outlines the measures that the Administration and States have taken and still need to take to ensure that the skills and abilities of these individuals can be applied to meet employer needs while providing good, meaningful jobs for our military families.

  [Read more...] [See also Acting DOL Secretary Harris' blog comments...]

• Employment-Related Grants for Homeless Veterans - The U.S. Department of Labor announced the availability of up to $5 million to fund 16 or more Homeless Veterans Reintegration Program grants. Approximately 2,600 veterans will receive job training and related services to help them succeed in civilian careers.

  "Every day, our service members and their families make tremendous sacrifices for their country. Although homelessness among veterans has fallen, too many of our heroes still are without jobs or homes," said acting Secretary of Labor Seth D. Harris. "Through these grants, the Labor Department will provide those who have served our nation with the opportunity for a fresh start and a good job."

  [Read more...]

• Joblinks Employment Transportation - Veterans service providers should add this important tool to their resource links! From their website:

  Joblinks, a program of the Community Transportation Association of America, connects workforce development agencies, transportation providers and other stakeholders with transportation-to-work solutions that are affordable, reliable and accessible.

  Joblinks focuses on the mobility needs of low-wage job seekers and earners, as well as workers with disabilities, youth, veterans, and older workers.

  Joblinks activities are supported with funding through the U.S. Department of Labor: Employment and Training Administration and the U.S. Department of Transportation: Federal Transit Administration. [More information...]

• Changing Face of Veteran Reintegration (White House Blog) - "Post World War II, military veterans returned home to a community of veterans and a grateful nation that had shared in the sacrifice of war. These veterans used the brick and mortar posts of the American Legion and the VFW to maintain that esprit-de-corps. They mentored youth, advocated on veterans issues, shared war stories, and confided in each other over beers.

  For generations, when veterans took off their uniform, their desire to serve did not end. That’s just as true today. Some very creative post 9/ll veterans’ charities have adapted to this desire and have created models for continued service and engagement." [Read more...]

• Department of Labor Celebrates Centennial - March 4, 1913, marked a milestone event in the history of the American workforce. On that day, President William Howard Taft — on his last day in office — reluctantly signed legislation creating the U.S. Department of Labor and giving workers a direct seat in the President's Cabinet for the first time.

  Learn more about the history of DOL and what's in store for the future. [Read more...]

• VETS NET Newsletter is Out! - Check out the latest VETS NET newsletter for stores about new ASVET Keith Kelly, Acting Secretary of Labor's comments on Veterans, statistics about Veterans and more! [Read more...]

• Pre-War Vulnerabilities Impact Veterans’ PTSD - According to research published in Clinical Psychological Science Researchers found that traumatic experiences during combat predicted the onset of the full complement of symptoms, known as the PTSD “syndrome,” in Vietnam veterans. But other factors — such as pre-war psychological vulnerabilities — were equally important for predicting whether the syndrome persisted. [Read more...]

• Top Jobs for Military Veterans - CBS Moneywatch published slideshow of top job prospects for military Veterans. [Read more...]

• Quiz for Finding Your Ideal Job - The Work Buzz section from CareerBuilder.com has a basic quiz to help narrow job seeker work interests. [Read more...]

• VA Issues New Report on Suicide Data - The Department of Veterans Affairs released a comprehensive report on Veterans who die by suicide. The report includes state data for Veterans who had not received health care services from VA, which will help VA strengthen its aggressive suicide prevention activities. The report indicates that the percentage of Veterans who die by suicide has decreased slightly since 1999, while the estimated total number of Veterans who have died by suicide has increased. [Read press release...]

• Employability Checkup - This section of the CareerOnestop web provides an employability checkup--a snapshot of the job seeker's ability to find employment with a specific occupation at a specific wage and location. Make it a favorite and have your Veterans check it out!

• eBenefits Portal Improvements - The Departments of Veterans Affairs and Defense released improvements to the functionality of eBenefits, a joint self-service web portal that provides registered users with secure online information and access to a variety of military and Veterans benefits resources. [Read press release...]

• Think Beyond the Label - Find ways to counter attitudes and myths about people with disabilities—as well as demonstrating to businesses how to "think beyond the label" when it comes to hiring this group.

• 10 Ways to Blow an Interview - Check out this article from MSN Career's site:

  "One job applicant's blunder, however, is another's opportunity. Job interviewing may not be easy, but it's also not rocket science. It requires a combination of preparation and common sense. Just knowing the 10 most common ways intelligent job seekers blow their interviews will give you a step up in this ultracompetitive job market." [full article...]

• PTSD 101 Courses: Understanding Military Culture - VA has created a useful course called "Understanding Military Culture." This course presents important information regarding military demographics, branches, rank, status, and stressors. The author provides useful terminology and visuals to help the viewer, especially non-veterans, understand military culture. Find the course here.

• TAOnline Revamps Site - TAOnline.com, a career site specializing in veteran job referrals, has been helping the transitioning military find civilian careers since 1996. A recent re-launch of the website puts more simplified job finding and hiring capabilities in the hands of its veteran and employer members. Check it out: www.taonline.com