Posted on 08/01/2006 5:16:42 PM PDT by SandRat
FORT BELVOIR, Va. (Army News Service, Aug. 1, 2006) – The U.S. Army Materiel Command provides more than spare parts, bullets and food to warfighters – it provides jobs, too.
The Always a Soldier program provides disabled veterans opportunities to seek employment within AMC, career advancement, job mobility, family wellbeing and greater financial security.
“The goal of the program is to provide continuing support to warfighters beyond their active-duty service,” said Jonathan Herst, program coordinator. “By providing jobs for these veterans, AMC can clearly benefit by tapping into the valuable experience and commitment that our men and women in uniform embody.”
Although finding jobs for injured veterans is the program’s primary mission, the staff also assists Soldiers and their families with purchasing food and clothes, explaining job-application processes and providing veteran resource information.
Most veterans recruited through the program served in operations Iraqi and Enduring Freedom, but the program is open to Soldiers wounded in all conflicts, Herst said.
The program benefits AMC and veterans alike. By employing former service members, AMC gains a dedicated employee who is already familiar with the military, someone with practical, hands-on experience with respect to the equipment that AMC develops and procures for the military, Herst said.
In turn, wounded veterans are given the opportunity to stay in the fight and stay close to the military, where their sacrifices will always be honored, he added. As well, AMC works to accommodate the challenges presented by veterans’ injuries.
“We work in reverse. We don’t say, ‘Here are the jobs we have available.’ We ask, ‘Where do you want to live? What do you want to do?’ and find something to match them specifically,” Herst explained. “I want the wounded infantry Soldier not to worry that all his experience is in infantry. We can find a rewarding career for him based on qualifications or acquired skills.”
Herst has firsthand knowledge of program benefits. On Aug. 3, 2005, then Sgt. Herst was on his second tour in Iraq with the 25th Infantry Division when he was injured by an IED. Although severe, the amputation of his left leg wasn’t the worst of his wounds. He also suffered a hole in his bladder, half of his colon was severed, and a major artery in his right leg had been cut. In less than two months Herst received more than 15 surgeries.
Through a contact with the Veterans Administration, he began communicating with then Always a Soldier Coordinator Steve Clark. Herst volunteered for three months with Clark as his mentor. Clark then suggested Herst as his replacement and assisted him with the application process. On June 1, Herst officially took over as program coordinator.
“I knew I wanted to continue working with Soldiers. The job they offered me here allowed me to work directly with Soldiers and see the results. I wanted to let Soldiers know that I know what they’re going through,” said Herst.
Since the program’s inception in June 2004, 17 Soldiers have been hired through the program. AMC hopes to hire more Soldiers from referrals received through the Army Wounded Warrior Program, the Military Severely Injured Joint Operations Center and the Department of Veterans Affairs Vocational Rehabilitation and Employment Program, for which there is a memorandum of understanding.
AMC offers wage-grade positions involving trades and labor; the Student Career Education Program providing job experience and related education; internship programs providing monitored or supervised work/training experience with learning goals; and various GS full performance positions.
For more information about the Always a Soldier program and to apply on-line, visit www.amc.army.mil/alwaysasoldier or call (703) 806-8140.
Always a soldier! Still able to serve after the "Red Badge of Courage!"
I keep hoping they come up with a MarGeezer's Brigade.
Excellent, excellent, excellent!!
One solid blow to thwart the Liberal plan for a Vietnam style backstabbing!
We must reward our brave soldiers, especially those who have sacrificed so much in our name.
WE want them to run the Future while the present crop of latte drinking, Che t-shirt wearing, tofu gobbling protesters are swilling tokay and mumbling to themselves in alleys.
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