Editorial

Give returning veterans the green light

Posted

Every Veterans Day, we are reminded of the sacrifices that those in the military have made for this country. Most visible are those who are affiliated with local veterans’ organizations — they organize and march in parades, hand out literature, attend local and national events and, most of all, they remind us to “never forget.”

But many of our newer veterans, who may not have joined these groups, are consumed with the effort of trying to acclimate themselves to the everyday world again — and many of them are looking for jobs.

The good news here is that the unemployment rate for veterans dropped to a seven-year low in August, and the rate for veterans of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan fell to the lowest level since the federal government started tracking that population. (According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the national unemployment rate had also dropped to its lowest level since 2008.)

The unemployment rate for all veterans fell to 4.2 percent in August, a drop from 4.7 percent a month earlier and from 5.6 percent a year ago. The overall rates for vets have been below the national average for almost four years straight.

These positive changes have come about for a few reasons. Congress has made veteran employment a major legislative focus in recent years, creating a number of transition programs and conducting national campaigns to encourage employers to see veterans as a reliable, adaptable workforce. Lawmakers have pushed for a variety of measures, such as tax credits for companies that employ veterans who served in Iraq and Afghanistan. Call of Duty Endowment, a nonprofit based in Arlington, Va., helps veterans find careers by supporting groups that prepare them for the job market.

According to the Veterans Economic Opportunity Report of 2015, more veterans than ever are taking advantage of their GI Bill education benefits to pursue higher education and certification programs. Each year, more veterans participate in the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs’ loan guarantee program, which helps them purchase homes.

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