Joining Forces Blog

  • A New Resource for Veterans and Military Families

    Posted by Brad Cooper on November 11, 2011 at 3:37 PM EDT

    Watch a message from the First Lady here. 

    Our veterans and military families have done so much for our country, and each of us can do something to give back. At Joining Forces, we’ve been asking businesses, government, community organizations and individuals to do what they do best, and channel some of their efforts towards our military families. 

    There has been much progress, and this week alone there have been many important announcements about programs, tools and resources designed to help our servicemen and women transitioning back into civilian life and the private workforce, as well as new commitments from private sector companies to train and employ veterans and their spouses.  

    Today, we can tell you about another one. Google for Veterans and Families is a single interface that brings together Google products and platforms for service members and their families. It was created by veterans, and family and friends of veterans, who work at Google. It was created to help all veterans, whether still in the service, transitioning out, or on a new path in their civilian lives. Here are some examples of what you’ll find on the site:

    read the rest
    Learn more about Veterans

  • Helping Veterans Get Back to Work: Maria Canales

    Posted by Colleen Curtis on November 11, 2011 at 3:00 PM EDT

    Watch Army Veteran Maria Canales, here.

    Maria Canales joined the Army in 2002, when she was 22 years old. First stationed in Germany, the Brooklyn, NY native, served in Iraq from October 2005 through October 2006. Although she left the Army in 2007, Canales did not find a job until October 2011.

    Looking for work in the private sector was challenging. “I didn’t really know how they were going to perceive my experience. I could not translate my military skills well enough to get a job offer.” But now that she is working in a related field, Canales  is using what she learned in the Army every day.

    She says the initiatives announced this week by President Obama – the Veterans Job Bank, My Next Move for Veterans and the Veterans Gold Card – are extremely important.

    “Not everyone has a support system, not everyone knows exactly what to do when they come home. They are coming back with lots of uncertainty and don’t know exactly who to reach out to. When we have a plan for them before they get out then we are doing the right thing for every  veteran who is coming home.”

    Despite the fact that our veterans have unique skills and experiences that make them excellent hires for any civilian business, their unemployment rate tops 12 percent. Read the stories of veterans like Maria who have struggled to transition their skills into new careers and find out why fighting for these heroes is a priority for the Obama Administration.

    Learn more about Veterans, Women

  • Helping Veterans Get Back to Work: Matt Colvin

    Posted by Megan Slack on November 11, 2011 at 2:00 PM EDT

    Watch Air Force Veteran Matt Covin, here. 

    Matt Colvin joined the Air Force on September 11, 2001. During his two tours in Afghanistan he participated in more than 80 combat missions. He left the military in 2007 and today works with an organization called Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America, which helps support veterans once they leave active duty, and is working toward a bachelor’s degree in business through the Post 9/11 GI Bill.

    Colvin says that, as a result of their military training, veterans have “endless” skills that make them ideal employees for civilian businesses and that provisions in the American Jobs Act will help our heroes maximize those talents.

    “I think it’s absolutely important that the government is going to do—and especially President Obama and Congress—are going to do everything in their power to be able to really help vets transition into what the civilian workforce needs. They’re the people that are really going to make a difference, and the people that can take leadership roles and really grow a lot of these small businesses, and business in general.”

    President Obama knows we can't wait to help unemployed veterans get jobs. He's challenged private sector employers to hire or train 100,000 veterans, and his Administration has introduced a host of initiatives to help connect veterans with job listings and career support. And, the Senate has already passed two key pieces of the American Jobs Act, the Wounded Warriors and Returning Heroes tax credits, which will provide tax credits to businesses that hire veterans.

    Includes Video
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  • New Champions of Change Recognized for Dedication to Our Military Families

    Posted by Brad Cooper on November 10, 2011 at 7:30 PM EDT

    First Lady Michelle Obama and Dr. Jill Biden continue to ask Americans to do more for those who have done so much for us. They are highlighting outstanding American citizens, communities, and businesses that are supporting our troops and making commitments to serve our nation’s military families. They are asking Americans to get involved in any way they can. The Joining Forces team has seen people from all over the nation step up to meet the challenge, and together we have gained much momentum.

    When individuals or organizations go above and beyond the Joining Forces challenge, they become leaders and provide inspiration in their communities. It is important that we recognize these champions for their hard work and dedication to our military families.

    The White House and Joining Forces honored six individuals on Wednesday, November 9th as Champions of Change who are committed to helping military veterans. These individuals represent organizations and businesses who are working to improve the lives of veterans and military families by providing vital services or jobs to veterans.

    These Champions of Change are at the leading edge of hiring veterans and spouses. They have committed themselves and their companies to doing what is right for our nation’s military heroes.

    The President of the American Logistics Association, Patrick Nixon is recognized as a Champion of Change. The ALAis a voluntary, nonprofit organization of manufacturers, manufacturer's representatives, brokers, distributors, publishers, and other companies that sell or provide products and services to the military resale systems and MWR/Services. Under Nixon’s leadership, the ALA and their 270 affiliate companies have committed to hiring 25,000 veterans and military spouses by the end of 2013.Mr. Nixon is a veteran having served in the United States Marine Corps from 1966-1969.

    Russell Tooley heads recruitment and development of Tyson Foods’ quickly-expanding global teams. Tyson employs about 3,000 military veterans and is a member of the ALA, which recently committed to hiring 25,000 veterans and their family members over the next two years. Tooley’s team is responsible for filling those new positions that may become available within Tyson Foods. 

    Maurice Wilson is the co-founder and President/National Executive Director of National Veterans Transition Services, Inc. and a retired Master Chief petty Officer of the United States Navy. Troubled with the high unemployment, homelessness, high drug abuse and other issues associated with military-to-civilian reintegration, Wilson co-founded REBOOT, a three-week behavior-based military-to-civilian transition program designed to help returning service members/veterans/spouses successfully reintegrate back into civilian life after years of military service.

    F. Jed Becker serves as the CEO of Eurpac Service, Inc. Under his leadership, Eurpac has committed to a board-level recruiting push that recognizes the dramatic value the company receives from hiring veterans, retirees, and military dependents at every level of the organization. Jed currently serves as a Director on the USO World Board of Governors and chairs its Finance Committee.

    Nick Baucom is a 6 year enlisted Marine and Iraq veteran. Nick Baucom founded Two Marines Moving, and is now dedicated to employing veterans in the transportation field within the Washington D.C. metro area. He has assisted hundreds of veterans in their transition from military service to the civilian sector in the last three years.  Nick now employs 70 people in a variety of positions including movers, drivers, dispatchers, and sales staff. 

    Judith Markelz, the wife of an Army officer, currently serves as the Director for the Warrior and Family Support Center at Ft. Sam Houston, Texas. The Warrior and Family Support Center provides services to all Wounded Warriors injured in OIF/OEF/OND and their families. It is the only one of its kind in the nation and the only government agency supported almost entirely from donations, except for salaries which are paid by the US Army.

    Learn more about Veterans

  • 100,000 New Jobs for Veterans and Military Families

    Posted by Matt Compton on November 10, 2011 at 3:03 PM EDT

    20111110 FLOTUS Joining Forces Announcement

    First Lady Michelle Obama delivers remarks to business leaders, veterans and military spouses as part of her Joining Forces initiative, at the U.S. Chamber of Commerce’s 4th Annual “Business Steps Up: Hiring Our Heroes” event in Washington, D.C., Nov. 10, 2011. (Official White House Photo by Lawrence Jackson)

    Today, First Lady Michelle Obama was at the U.S. Chamber of Commerce to talk about what private companies are doing to help military families. 

    She announced that a range of businesses now plan to hire 100,000 veterans and military spouses by 2014. She said that the Veterans Jobs Bank -- launched on Monday -- now hosts more than 550,000 job postings from military-friendly employers.

    She told the crowd at the Chamber:

    This commitment of 100,000 jobs isn’t about making headlines. These wonderful programs don’t just provide a good opportunity for a press conference. All of these efforts are about upholding our sacred duty to our veterans and their families. 

    Since Joining Forces got off the ground, 16,000 veterans and spouses have already found new positions.

    Later today, the Senate is expected to vote on and approve a provision of the American Jobs Act -- which will offer business a $9,600 tax credit for hiring disabled veterans and create additional tax credits for employers who hire veterans who have spent four weeks or more out of work.

    Learn more about Economy, Veterans

  • A Day to Honor Our Heroes

    Posted by Tom Vilsack on November 10, 2011 at 1:19 PM EDT

    This Friday, as on Veterans Days past, we stand with the men and women who have served this nation in uniform and commemorate their achievements. As preparations are made for a week of USDA events and celebrations, I am reminded of the everyday courage and strength these men and women display, and without whom our great country would not be what it is today. While we can never fully repay our debt of gratitude to the service members who have been wounded and died while protecting our country, we should take time to recognize the more than 20 million living American veterans and offer special thanks to them for all they’ve done for us throughout the years.

    About 6.1 million American veterans live in rural communities, making it the most highly concentrated population in the country. At USDA, we have worked with the rest of the Obama Administration to tackle a host of challenges facing our nation’s rural veterans. I described some of this work in my weekly column recently.  And we have made a point to hire more veterans to work at USDA in accordance with President Obama’s 2009 executive order on veteran employment. This year, nearly one quarter of our permanent hires have been veterans, bringing our number of USDA employed veterans to over 10,000.  I want – especially this week – to thank them and acknowledge their continued service to country.   

    Earlier this week President Obama announced the Returning Heroes and Wounded Warrior Tax Credits, two provisions in the American Jobs Act that Congress is scheduled to consider soon and will encourage businesses to hire unemployed veterans. Also, the President announced three executive actions that will help veterans find jobs. This announcement is part of a series of executive actions to put Americans back to work and strengthen the economy.

    Here at USDA, we’re celebrating Veterans Day with a number of activities including a fee waiver day for many day-use recreation sites at National Forests, a ceremony honoring military veterans, and a talk by legendary Tuskegee Airman, Dr. Ivan Ware. A more complete list of activities and descriptions can be found by visiting the USDA website. 

    I hope you’ll join me this Friday in honoring our nation’s heroes and enjoying the freedoms they’ve fought so hard to preserve.

    Learn more about Veterans