MilitaryStars Blog

Reservist's Landmark Civilian Career Case

I've seen the Uniform Services Employment and Reemployment Rights Act (USERRA) come up in two ways over the years: stories of employers being honored for supporting their Guard and Reserve employees, and others of employers breaking the law by firing employees while overseas.  After reading this, I get the feeling a lot more people will be writing and talking about it: an Air Force reservist who was unlawfully terminated from his civilian job just received over $1 million in damages.  A retired Navy captain and present attorney who helped revamp the USERRA was asked for his thoughts on how the law is sometimes perceived, especially now, and had a great answer:

"Yes, this law is a burden on employers.  Congress decided that burden on employers and sometimes co-workers is justified by the nation’s need to defend itself."

 As a Guard member or Reservist, make sure you know your rights, and that you know hundreds of employers are proud to support you - I think you'll be hearing a lot about it soon!  

Public Service Includes Service to Veterans

Last Thursday the Senate voted to expand the number of national service jobs to a quarter-million by 2017.  Included in the plan is the creation of a Veterans' Corps, where those who have served would help those who are currently transitioning to find a career and many other components of civilian life.  What remains to be seen is how exactly the group will come to be - one possibility is through AmeriCorps, who regularly attend our events.  The group is meant to function through partnerships with private organizations, and our relationship with AmeriCorps is a great example of how that can happen!  Keep it in mind and have a great week.

Servicewomen's Benefits Awareness

Shoshana Johnson, who was held as a POW with Jessica Lynch, is in her native Southwest to help get the word out about the benefits available to transitioning female veterans.  She will be speaking as  part of a womens' veterans conference in New Mexico this Saturday.  As she notes, women carry out many of the same missions as male soldiers and are entitled to the same benefits.  Hers have led her on her way to fulfilling her dreams; congrats to her for bringing attention to fellow servicewomen!

For Military Families and All Families

A week from tomorrow, on Wednesday, April 1 at 8 pm, PBS is airing a special from Sesame Workshop about military families that everyone should see.  Called Coming Home, it offers advice and inspiration for returning servicemembers and their families facing injuries external and internal.  It features Sesame Street characters but should be watched with adults; it can be intense but leads to a tremendous appreciation and pride for veterans.  I was fortunate enough to catch an advanced screening and really hope word gets out!  

Stand Out From The Job Seeker Crowd In Person

How can you turn a major challenge to your advantage?   Take a negative story and not just accept its message at face value?   Law enforcement agencies are hiring, so, as you might imagine, they're getting pounded with resumes.  We've said it since day one, and it's never been more relevant: this is why you make the commitment to attend a hiring event.  Get face-to-face interaction, get a business card, potentially get inside information not only from employers but from fellow job seekers.  Put a name with a face and do not become one in an ever-growing stack of resumes.  Employers that attend our events are hiring too, so you can imagine what their resume stacks look like as well - they are there to meet people and make decisions, so make that decision as well and stand out!  Keep it in mind, stay positive and have a great week!  

Military Leaders Ready To Talk on Your Favorite Sites

This is a pretty awesome read, taking a look at a growing wave of officers who are using blogs, Facebook, YouTube, and more.  What are they saying there?  The commandant of the Coast Guard says of his online forums:

"This is a permanent feature of our environment, and we need to understand how to operate in it, communicate with our people, and put out policies and let them understand what the organizational intent of the Coast Guard is and what we expect of them."

He's far from the only higher-up interested, either - those with Facebook pages include the heads of both US Northern and Southern Command.  They aren't just throwing pages together, either - these officers are engaging in constant discussion with their friends and commenters over how to fight the wars of the 21st century - appropriately enough, through the preferred communication methods of the 21st century.  Makes the "Which color are you" questionairres and stuff seem all the more silly, eh?   

VA Beach Follow-Up: Veterans Wanted on the Force

Thank you very much to all who made the commitment to be at our Virginia Beach event!  For those that were unable to make it, we will be back in June and October - check MilitaryStars.com at least one month out from each for details!  In the meantime, I've also learned that the Virginia Beach Police Department has also agreed to set aside jobs for veterans.  Pass it on and have a great week!

Military and Veterans: Get Hired Tomorrow in Virginia Beach!

The Hampton Roads area is well-known for its military talent, and we are extremely excited to bring top civilian and government employers with us to Virginia Beach tomorrow to meet them face-to-face!  It's a great range of opportunities for all, from those who seek a federal career and haven't been able to make it to events in DC to those interested in work in the area's world-renowned shipyards and much more.  Let it be known as always: employers are hiring, and they are hiring military!  Best of luck and thanks.

TV Show With A Great Mission

An ad agency and adventure sports company have teamed up to create a TV competition with a purpose, and their efforts have led them all the way to a Congressional task force.  The Veterans' Challenge will feature teams of veterans in different athletic competitions while raising awareness and funding for the Wounded Warrior Project.  The show's creators are headed to DC to speak at a task force fair on traumatic brain injuries.  They have been assisted in getting the show together along the way by medical experts and inspirational veterans of all ages (including a personal favorite, Rocky Bleier!).  The link states the show is a "special"; if anyone hears what channel will air it, please let me know and I'll do the same; here's hoping it's a great success and that there are more of them!  

New Transition Program For Texas Veterans

The Texas Workforce Commission has set up a one-on-one assistance program for returning veterans, to help analyze their career options and deal with many other aspects of entering civilian life.  Their goal, according to a Workforce specialist, is to "set a national standard on how to receive returning veterans", and we wish them the very best!  We will be returning to Houston in April to do our part.  Hope you or someone you know can be helped by it; have a great week!