Please review my latest editorial on veteran unemployment

[w8liftinglady]

for spelling,punctuation and content (I am generally given all the space I need to comment). Thanks,as always

There have been reports lately of the improving employment figures in The United States. Currently,the unemployment rate,on average,is now nine percent- the lowest it has been since 2009. While this is promising news,one group is left unmentioned. The current unemployment rate for Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans is over fifteen percent.

There are currently 1.7 million Iraq and Afghanistan veterans in the United States. Of these,the Labor Bureau has disclosed that over 300,000 IAVs (about one in five) were unemployed in January 2011. This does not include the veterans who are underemployed or working minimum-wage jobs. Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America(IAVA) are reporting the unemployment/underemployment rate is closer to twenty percent.

To further complicate this,Defense Secretary Gates is planning reduction in forces for all branches of the military,thereby creating 50,000 more new veterans looking for civilian jobs.

Twenty percent of troops who served their country in a time of war have come home to a nation that has forgotten them.

There are a few glimmers of hope on the horizon for our new veterans.

The first glimmer was the appointment of Senator Patty Murray as the Chairman of the Senate Veterans Affairs committee. Senator Murray has been a tireless advocate and has sponsored many bills to assist our nation's veterans. The Senate could not have made a better choice.

The second glimmer was the "Startup America" program. This program has two separate catagories of help for veterans wanting to start businesses.

While these are both positive actions, much more needs to be done to support these new veterans.

IAVA has made veteran employment a priority in 2011. According to IAVA Executive Director Paul Rieckhoff "We look forward to engaging in a conversation with President Obama, DOD, VA, and the 112th Congress about opportunities to develop public and private sector programs that encourage veteran employment and connect veterans with tools they need to succeed in the civilian workforce."

I encourage veterans of Iraq and Afghanistan to join IAVA. You can find out more at :
http://iava.org/

I also encourage business owners to make the effort to support these veterans and give them a chance. Show them your support as they enter civilian life,just as you did when they entered the battlefield.

[virgogal]

1. There HAVE been reports--------1st line.

[w8liftinglady]

2. lol ... duh! Thank you!

[spanone]

3. k&r ....

[pscot]

4. K&R

and as a vet, thanks.

[Dappleganger]

5. Well done!

[Obamanaut]

6. Spaces vs punctuation - in message block ->

Currently,the unemployment rate,on average,is now nine percent

promising news,one group

complicate this,Defense Secretary

they enter civilian life,just

[midnight]

7. Thank you for your info. about the appointment of Patty Murray.