Why Hire an Injured Veteran?

Hiring a wounded Veteran is not good will, it’s just good business.

by Captain Lonnie Ryan

Getting a job is tough these days. But to one select group of Americans, the job hunt may be more bewildering than for most people. They’re wounded warriors, home from the battlefield, trying to heal and figure out how to transition to the career world. Finding a job can be difficult. But for thousands of wounded soldiers with life-altering injuries from the war, the challenge is even greater. Severe burns, prosthetic limbs and traumatic brain injuries can add formidable obstacles to everything from submitting a résumé to preparing for a job interview.

What severely wounded veterans do have on their side is perseverance. Strained by war, recently discharged wounded veterans are having a harder time finding civilian jobs and are more likely to earn lower wages for years due partly to employer concerns about their mental health and overall skills, a government study says. Military personnel officials are launching an outreach program as part of a push to hire more wounded warriors and their spouses as civilian employees. The most prevalent injury among injured soldiers and veterans is post-traumatic stress disorder followed by traumatic brain injuries and amputations.

"Many times, our wounded warriors’ source of income is their spouse’s work," Dr. Susan Duncan said. She added, though, that the Army personnel community is also redoubling its efforts to hire wounded veterans into the civilian workforce.

"Our wounded soldiers have a tremendous amount of knowledge and experience to share in civilian employment, but employers must first recognize that the injuries our soldiers face are both visible and invisible, and sometimes require adaptations to office space or scheduling," explained Career and Education Coordinator Rose Marie Tinker. "It’s sometimes a challenge to find companies that are able to follow through and hire wounded veterans. For those who have, however, it’s been a win-win situation. The employer provides job opportunities and support, and the wounded veterans provide unique capabilities and dedication to their work," Tinker said.

Said Calvin McCloy "A wounded Soldier is not just going to walk up and say, ‘hey, I have a traumatic brain injury and can you help me?’" McCloy was a first sergeant with the 1/41st Infantry near Ramadi, Iraq, when his vehicle hit an improvised explosive device in April 2005. He suffered severe burns. He was angry when he was told that he couldn’t stay in the Army. Being a first sergeant was his life, he said: "That’s all I wanted to do." After spending several months in the burn unit at Brooke Army Medical Center in San Antonio, Texas, McCloy went to the Warrior Transition Battalion at Fort Riley.

HireVeterans.com, which was acquired by VeteransToday.com in May 2006 and is now part of The VT Network, is now a leader in online veterans and military recruiting and is also expanding in virtually every category of the veterans and military e-recruiting space. Those Veterans seeking jobs are afforded a free opportunity to post their résumé at this website.

Wheather sound of body or carrying an injury from your service of our country, you are encouraged to submit your best résumé. Employers are searching for you, the wounded warrior, right now! Employers, Veterans who’ve been injured or wounded while in service and who are transitioning into civilian careers can bring a diverse set of skills to your organization.

• Contact Captain Lonnie Ryan at [email protected] for information on how you, the Veteran employer can become a member on the HireVeterans.com website.