Yesterday, President Obama addressed thousands of veterans at the American Legion convention in Minneapolis and reiterated that his administration would not reduce the federal debt on the backs of veterans. Veterans represent the largest demographics of any group, with the highest unemployment.
The American Legion and the Veterans of Foreign Wars, which held its convention in San Antonio, are asking what the President plans to do about unemployment as it relates to veterans? Next week the President will announce his proposal for job creation while the nation is still reeling from high unemployment, which has persisted for the past three years.
Veterans returning from both Iraq and Afghanistan face bleak unemployment prospects and a country who know very little of their sacrifice. Next weekend the nation commemorates the tenth anniversary of September 11th. The euphoria and patriotic fervor of that time has faded into history as Americans have really little or no connection to those who served in Iraq and Afghanistan.
Veterans today face a different set of circumstances then was faced by veterans from Vietnam. The nation shunned Vietnam veterans, but today the country knows little of their sacrifices and even less of military service. Too often companies have no concept of what veterans can bring to their organizations. Much of what they do know is rooted in misguided or delusionary rhetoric portrayed by Hollywood.
Veterans face the prospects of having to explain in basic terms what they accomplished in the military and at the same time reservists face the prospect of being denied a job simply because they serve in the military reserves.
Where is the America that honored its veterans?
http://militarybriefingbook.com/topic.cfm?topic=Military%20Strategy%20and%20Transformation
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