Finding good jobs for soldiers

Gazette Editorial Board

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About one-fifth of the 2,800 Iowa National Guard members who returned from their deployment in Afghanistan in July had no jobs waiting for them. Some will take advantage of the G.I. Bill and head to college classes.

But many want and need a good job. So do others who will soon return. And that's where the Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve tries to fulfill one of its roles: connect returning veterans, as well as their spouses, with employers and meaningful jobs.

It's a task that's even more challenging these days, given our nation's high unemployment level, but that only makes it more important. Veterans who serve our country deserve the kind of help ESGR can provide.

This agency, a division of the Department of Defense, has a presence in every state and employs staff, but also relies heavily on volunteers. The Iowa office in Des Moines has three paid staffers and about 150 volunteers who assist employer and veteran outreach.

ESGR partners with employers and educates company recruiters on how the leadership and other skills that soldiers gain in the military translate into civilian jobs - skills such as human resources, accounting, supply management, maintenance and technical support. USGR is even using social media to communicate the message.

Part of the partnership-building involves recognizing employers who demonstrate outstanding support of employees who serve in the Guard or Reserve. This year's Freedom Award, the ESGR's highest honor, included The Principal Financial Group of Des Moines among its 15 honorees nationwide.

Patriot Awards - the basis used to consider higher-level honors - recently went to Iowa companies including Eastern Iowa Construction of Marion, Integrated DNA Technologies of Coralville and Worley Warehousing of Cedar Rapids.

Another important role for ESGR is to assist veterans with questions about the Uniformed Services Employment and Reemployment Rights Act - the law that protects veterans' rights to their former job, or a comparable position, if they were employed before deployment. Mark Hennessey of the ESGR's Iowa office told us companies in our state are very cooperative. Exceptions are rare and generally involve unusual circumstances, such as a company going out of business.

ESGR deserves and needs Iowans' support. For more information, or if you want to volunteer - you don't need to be a veteran - go to www.esgr.org or call Hennessey at (319) 360-2950.

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