Watch President Obama's full remarks here. 

The overall unemployment rate ticked down last month and our economy has added more than 350,000 private sector jobs over the past three months. But, over 850,000 veterans were unemployed as of October and the jobless rate for post-9/11 veterans was 12.1 percent. Having served and defended our nation, it just doesn’t make sense that so many of these well-trained, highly skilled, motivated and disciplined veterans can’t find a job worthy of their incredible talents. As the President has said, "If you can save a life in Afghanistan, you can save a life in an ambulance. If you can oversee millions of dollars of assets in Iraq, you can help a business balance its books here at home."

Ensuring our nation’s veterans get the opportunities they have earned has been one of President Obama’s top priorities as Commander-in-Chief. Having already sent 600,000 veterans back to school on the Post-9/11 GI Bill and having hired over 120,000 veterans into the federal government, this Administration continues to take action to help create job opportunities for veterans.

Today at the White House, leading veterans service organizations joined President Obama to announce their support for the Returning Heroes and Wounded Warrior Tax Credits, two provisions in the American Jobs Act Congress is scheduled to consider this week. The Returning Heroes Tax Credit provides firms that hire unemployed veterans with a maximum credit of $5,600 per veteran, while the Wounded Warriors Tax Credit offers firms that hire veterans with service-connected disabilities a maximum credit of $9,600 per veteran.  

The President also announced a series of executive actions that will provide new resources for veterans to translate military experience to the private sector job market, give veterans additional career development support and better identify companies looking to hire veterans. These initiatives include:

Veteran Gold Card:Effective today, post-9/11 veterans will be able to visit dol.gov/vets/goldcard.html to download the Veteran Gold Card, which entitles them to enhanced services including six months of personalized case management, assessments and counseling, at the roughly 3,000 One-Stop Career Centers located across the country. This should help serve the more than 200,000 unemployed post-9/11 veterans. The President directed the Department of Labor to launch this initiative in his August 4, 2011 speech at the Navy Yard.

My Next Move for Veterans: The Department of Labor will launch My Next Move for Veterans (mynextmove.org/vets), a new online resource that allows veterans to enter their military occupation code and discover civilian occupations for which they are well qualified. The site will also include information about salaries, apprenticeships, and other related education and training programs.

Creating a Veterans Job Bank:Today, the Administration launched the Veterans Jobs Bank, at National Resource Directory (NRD.gov), an easy to use tool to help veterans find job postings from companies looking to hire them. It already searches over 500,000 job postings and continues to grow. Additionally, in a few easy steps, companies looking to hire veterans can make sure the job postings on their own websites are part of this Veterans Jobs Bank.

I still believe that all Americans can agree that veterans shouldn’t have to fight for a job once they’ve come home from the fight overseas. While this Administration has been fighting for veterans every day, this week we will commemorate and celebrate Veterans Day. In that spirit, I hope Congress can come together and do the right thing by our nation’s veterans. Together, these initiatives and the tax credits will lower veteran unemployment by increasing hiring, improving resources for veterans to translate their military skills for the civilian workforce, and providing veterans with new tools to aid their search for jobs.

That's why President Obama called for a new Returning Heroes Tax Credit of up to $5,600 for firms that hire unemployed veterans and a Wounded Warriors Tax Credit that will increase the existing tax credit up to $9,600 for firms that hire veterans with service-connected disabilities.These credits are included in the American Jobs Act. Unfortunately, these tax credits that could help companies hire veterans are held up in Congress.  

While we will continue to work with Congress to bring up the American Jobs Act piece by piece, we will increase our focus on taking executive actions that fight for the middle class because the American people simply can’t wait. That’s why today, the Obama Administration is announcing two new initiatives to help create jobs for veterans. 

1. Hiring 8,000 Veterans in Three Years: The Community Health Center Veterans Hiring Challenge 

Today, the Obama Administration challenged Community Health Centers to hire 8,000 veterans – approximately one veteran per health center site – over the next three years. The National Association of Community Health Centers will also contribute to this effort and joined the Administration in announcing this Community Health Center Veterans Hiring Challenge. 

2. Helping Veterans Become Physician Assistants 

Under this initiative, the Administration will make it easier for veterans to use the training they have received in the military to become physician assistants. We will begin to give priority in physician assistant grant awards to universities and colleges that help train veterans for careers as physician assistants. In an effort to expand the number of training programs that accommodate veterans, the Administration also will identify model programs that offer expedited curricula for veterans and that offer enhanced veteran recruiting, retention, and mentoring services, and help bring these best practices to other programs. 

These efforts build on previous Administration efforts to create jobs for veterans including sending 600,000 veterans back to school on the Post-9/11 GI Bill and hiring over 100,000 veterans into the federal government over the past year and a half. And just last week, First Lady Michelle Obama announced that the American Logistics Association (ALA) and their 270 affiliate companies committed to hiring 25,000 veterans and military spouses by the end of 2013. This commitment is part of the First Lady and Dr. Jill Biden’s Joining Forces initiative to support veterans and military families. The ALA’s commitment will fulfill a quarter of the President’s challenge to the private sector to hire or train 100,000 veterans and military spouses by the end of 2013. 

This work is also happening across the federal agencies.The Departments of Defense and Veterans Affairs, are working closely with other agencies and the President’s economic and domestic policy teams, to lead a new task force to ensure that every member of the military receives the training, education, and credentials they need to transition to the civilian workforce or to pursue higher education. This initiative includes the design of a “Transition Boot Camp,” which will give service members additional counseling and guidance and help them depart their active duty service “career-ready.” 

Over the weeks and months ahead, we’ll continue to take actions like these that will improve the economy and help middle class families including our nation's veterans because we simply can't wait.

President Obama also can't wait for Congress to:

• Reduce prescription drug shortages
• Help businesses grow
• Lower monthly student loan payments
• Help America's graduates
• Help homeowners refinance their mortgages

President Barack Obama speaks about the economy and the Administration’s efforts to prepare our nation’s veterans for the workforce during a statement at the Washington Navy Yard in Washington, D.C. August 5, 2011. (Official White House Photo by Lawrence Jackson)

This morning, President Obama challenged the private sector to hire or train 100,000 unemployed veterans or their spouses by the end of 2013. The White House also announced a list of companies who are taking action to help put our veterans to work. Here’s what some of these companies are saying:

• Siemens: At the launch of the White House’s Joining Forces initiative in April 2011, Siemens Corporation pledged to fill 10 percent of the company’s 3,000 open positions with veterans.  Today, at an event with President Obama, it was announced that Siemens exceeded its goal and will increase its commitment to actively seek and hire the best and brightest from the nation’s military by reserving an additional 150 positions for veterans. 
• Microsoft: We applaud the President for continuing to draw attention to this very important issue, supporting veterans, as they move from the military to civilian life, and ensuring they are fully supported and see great success along the way. Microsoft also understands the need in this area. In response, we will step up our existing efforts.

• Lockheed Martin: In response to President Obama’s call to action to support U.S. military veterans, Lockheed Martin (NYSE: LMT) today announced its strong endorsement of his challenge to support military families by actively recruiting and hiring veterans transitioning back into the workplace. 
• U.S. Chamber of Commerce:  We have been working together with the Administration over the past several months in expanding the “Joining Forces” initiative, and the Chamber remains at the forefront of the private sector’s efforts to tackle the issue of veterans’ employment head on….We know that today’s announcement by the President will continue to raise awareness around the country about the need to help many of America’s finest men and women find the career opportunities they deserve and are qualified to fill.  And whether it’s a mega hiring fair in New York City or a smaller one in Great Falls, our commitment to connect talented veterans and military spouses with employers that have job opportunities is equally strong. 
• Humana: Mike McCallister, chairman and chief executive officer of Humana, joined the president at the Washington Navy Yard as Mr. Obama urged U.S. companies to hire or train an additional 100,000 veterans by the end of 2013.  Based on its experience working with military veterans and recent extensive research of veterans’ financial and medical needs, Humana (NYSE: HUM) today is announcing a new, national Veterans Initiative.
• Honeywell: Honeywell (NYSE: HON) today announced its support of President Obama’s initiative to encourage private companies to hire and train more military veterans.  As part of its ongoing efforts, Honeywell recently expanded its recruitment efforts to include a target job placement goal of at least 500 veterans in 2011 across the company’s four businesses…
• HP: As part of the Obama Administration's goal to strengthen support of military families, HP joined the White House in a new program, "Veterans Fast Launch."  This program is part of First Lady Michelle Obama and Dr. Jill Biden's "Joining Forces" initiative aimed at helping veterans build careers upon returning home from military service. HP, in partnership with SCORE, an organization that provides small business advice for entrepreneurs, is providing mentoring, tools, and training support to military personnel and their families. Specifically, HP is helping to support veterans and their spouses by making them aware of HP's Virtual Rooms technology, and its free, 60-day trial.
• JP Morgan Chase: “Many of our nation’s veterans face tremendous challenges when transitioning to life after military service, and we recognize that it takes a partnership of committed individuals and organizations to help them successfully reenter the civilian world,” stated Tom Higgins, JPMorgan Chase’s Managing Director and Head of Operational Control who represented the firm at today’s event. “JPMorgan Chase is committed to helping ease that transition whenever possible by providing jobs, homes and educational opportunities. We are partnering with other companies who are equally committed to helping these deserving individuals lead healthy, happy and successful lives.”

In addition to these important efforts, many firms already have excellent veteran-focused programs

• The Center for Energy Workforce Development and the Edison Electric Institute worked with various public and private partners to develop a “Troops to Energy Jobs” program.  Through this program, veterans will have the opportunity to transfer their military education and experience into college credit that will bring much-needed skills to our utility companies and help meet our nation’s increased energy demands.
• Veterans on Wall Street(“VOWS”) is an initiative supported by a coalition of Wall Street banks, including Goldman Sachs, Bank of America, Merrill Lynch, Citi, Credit Suisse, and Deutsche Bank that united to help support, educate and recruit military veterans and their families as they transition to the civilian workplace through hiring fairs, mentoring programs, an annual industry conference, and philanthropic support.

President Obama is committed to ensuring that all of America’s veterans have the support they need and deserve when they leave the military, look for a job and enter the civilian workforce. In the weeks ahead, we will build on today’s announcement and continue to do all we can to support our veterans.

Watch the President's full remarks here.

I am a veteran of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan.  When I left the military in 2007, I went through something called the Transition Assistance Program (TAP).  It was a memorable experience, if only because I hadn’t seen overhead projectors and transparencies used since I was in grade school.  There was probably some valuable information covered in the three-day course, but I couldn't tell you what it was. And, what any veteran could tell you is that this outdated program serves mostly as a cursory check in the box on your way out the door to civilian life.

In the military, I never felt unprepared. I went through training for everything I might encounter on a deployment (and many, many things I would not).  But, when it came time to separate from the military, for the first time in my adult life, I wasn’t prepared – at least not in the way I had been in the military.

In my TAP class, I was with men and women who had led in battle – making life and death decisions on a daily basis.  There were engineers, pilots, mechanics, logisticians - great Americans who had served and sacrificed,  the men and women who make our military the finest fighting force the world has ever seen.

So, given what these men and women have proven they can do in the most extreme circumstances, how is it that there are currently 1 million unemployed veterans?  And how is it that the unemployment rate for post-9/11 veterans is at 13.3%?  Does it make any sense that a combat medic who saved lives on the battlefield would have trouble finding work as an EMT back at home?  Or, that we ask our young Marines and soldiers to be warriors and diplomats, to deploy time and time again into harm’s way, but cannot help them when they ask something of us – even something as easy as leveraging their skills, talents and unparalleled experience into a job?

It’s time to do more for veterans seeking employment. We have an obligation to make sure our veterans are able to navigate this difficult labor market and succeed in the civilian workforce. That’s why the President today announced a comprehensive plan to ensure that veterans have the employment support and assistance they deserve. Building on the First Lady and Dr. Jill Biden’s work through Joining Forces, and on the President’s Veterans Employment Council, the proposals outlined by the President today use every available avenue to make sure that veterans have the skills employers want and that employers understand the value of hiring a veteran. 

President Barack Obama shakes hands after speaking about the economy and the Administration’s efforts to prepare our nation’s veterans for the workforce at the Washington Navy Yard in Washington, D.C., Aug. 5, 2011, (Official White House Photo by Pete Souza)

Here’s what the President’s proposal does:

• Returning Heroes and Wounded Warrior Tax Credits:  A new Returning Heroes Tax Credit for firms that hire unemployed veterans (maximum credit of $2,400 for every short-term unemployed hire and $4,800 for every long-term unemployed hire) and a Wounded Warriors Tax Credit which will increase the existing tax credit for firms that hire veterans with service-connected disabilities who have been unemployed long-term (maximum credit of $9,600 per veteran) and continue the existing credit for all other veterans with a service-connected disability (maximum credit of $4,800).
• A Challenge to the Private Sector to Hire or Train 100,000 Unemployed Veterans or Their Spouses by the End of 2013:  The President will challenge businesses to commit to hire or provide training to unemployed veterans or their spouses. Joining Forces will lead this work with businesses and industry.
• Presidential Call for a Career-Ready Military:  The Departments of Defense and Veterans Affairs, working closely with other agencies and the President’s economic and domestic policy teams, will lead a new task force to develop reforms to ensure that every member of the service receives the training, education, and credentials they need to transition to the civilian workforce or to pursue higher education. These reforms will include the design of a “reverse bootcamp,” which will extend the transition period to give service members more counseling and guidance and leave them career-ready.
• Transition to the Private Sector:  The Department of Labor will establish a new initiative to deliver an enhanced career development and job search service package to transitioning veterans at their local One-Stop Career Centers. The Office of Personnel Management will create a “Best Practices” Manual for the private sector to help businesses identify and hire veterans.

The conference took place in New York City on board the Intrepid Sea, Air and Space Museum and coincided with a U.S. Chamber of Commerce “Hiring Our Heroes” job fair.  Approximately one thousand veterans were on site to meet with more than a hundred employers, including some of the largest Wall Street firms. Application reviews and initial interviews were conducted on the spot.  Veterans also had access to seminars on a range of topics- everything from the basic concepts of the financial industry to resume-writing. And there were seminars for employers, too – because it’s important for businesses to understand the value they receive when they hire a veteran.  This conference is a great example of advocacy groups and industry leaders coming together to ensure that those who have served are not left behind.  It’s the kind of thing that we know can have a real impact. 

As our veterans return from war and transition into the next phase of their lives, we must continue to stand by them and support them at every turn.  Communities are an integral part of making a successful transition.  This conference was an example of one community coming together to hire veterans, but so much more remains to be done.  Behind this large, well-financed and well-produced event were people willing to help organize a community to tap into our nation’s greatest asset – our men and women who serve and have served in uniform.

Watch a video from the Conference below:

To find out how you can get involved in helping veterans and military families, go to www.joiningforces.gov

Matt Flavin is Director of Veterans and Wounded Warrior Policy.

I hope this initiative is worthy of your sacrifice...

After launching Joining Forces on Tuesday at the White House in front of senior military leaders, Cabinet Members, CEOs, heads of non-profits, and military families, the First Lady and Dr. Biden hit the road to talk about the campaign.

The first stop was Camp Lejeune, NC to thank our military and their families for their extraordinary service. Mrs. Obama and Dr. Biden spoke to a crowd of Marines, sailors and even some soldiers who drove in from Ft. Bragg before delivering gifts to expectant mothers.

It is always great to get out of DC and even better when you get to spend time with Marines and their families.  As the First Lady said to the crowd, their ordinary is extraordinary. From the families who help our wounded warriors heal, to the spouses who comfort others in their time of grief, their faith, courage and perseverance embody the best of America.

It was an extraordinary start to the trip, and, as a veteran, I am grateful to see this initiative in action.  I hope all Americans will Join Forces and help serve our military families.  For their service and sacrifice, kind words are not enough.  Please help make this initiative worthy of our military families.

 

First Lady Michelle Obama and Gen. Joseph Dunford stand during national anthem at Goettge Memorial Field House at Camp Lejeune, N.C., April 13, 2011. (Official White House Photo by Chuck Kennedy) April 13, 2011. (Official White House Photo by Chuck Kennedy)

 

First Lady Michelle Obama delivers remarks to some 3,000 Marines, soldiers, sailors, and military family members at Goettge Memorial Field House at Camp Lejeune, N.C., April 13, 2011. (Official White House Photo by Chuck Kennedy) April 13, 2011. (Official White House Photo by Chuck Kennedy)

 

First Lady Michelle Obama greets Marines following her remarks to the base community at Goettge Memorial Field House at Camp Lejeune, N.C., April 13, 2011. (Official White House Photo by Chuck Kennedy) April 13, 2011. (Official White House Photo by Chuck Kennedy)