Johnny Got His Gun, but Now He Can't Get a Job

The GIs put their lives on the line far from home. Now some have returned to the unemployment line.

Several of the service members who came to a job fair in Culver City on Saturday are emblematic of a troubling problem: the unemployed, or underemployed, veteran.

At the National Guard armory, Diane Kehrlein steered her wheelchair through the rows of recruiting tables. An Army sergeant in the first Gulf War, and a reservist through 2000, Kehrlein was partially disabled while in the service. She is now a student looking for a good job.

"I can get up and walk," said Kehrlein, smiling and upbeat. "I just can't walk a long way.

more....
http://www.latimes.com/business/careers/work/la-me-vets21may21,1,3329988.story?coll=la-headlines-business-careers

It seems to me that coming from a "fight zone" and assimilating into a monotonous job position is a hard transition. Especially when you are coming back... 20yrs old or so with no wife or children to support. That obligation to the family that older, married enlistees weighs stronger on the side of these vets to get back and do the family thing.

vets have seen can't be helping (it's too bad the VA is trying its best to not help vets get assistance for mental issues).

it really sucked. Even the VA didn't want any Vietnam era vets to soil their premises.

I've seen clips of that film, plus the material that was used in the Metallica video. Chills me to the bone, so it does :scared:

while in the military (not to mention take classes and get degrees), those in Iraq often only learn how to stay alive. (Those in the Navy and air force (as well as in the Marines and army) still have some opportunities to acquire job skills, although perhaps war has decreased that opportunity (as they need to focus more on war-related duties?)).

It depends on what "vets" you're talking about; I doubt officers have problems (well, not more than anyone in the general population has); I wonder if the vets having problems finding jobs would have had the same (or worse) problems had they not gone into the military - many turned to the military because of this.

to Iraq. When I asked him why, he mentioned "bored" as a reason. Meanwhile he was rushing eggs, pork chops, pancakes etc to loaded dining rooms.

maybe he can get a job making those yellow "support our troops" magnets.