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Synopsis /  Author Bio

Leslie served as a Marine public affairs specialist from November 2003 to November 2011 and now volunteers as a media coordinator with the Cuyahoga County Veteran Service Commission. Leslie has a B.A. in English and a M.S. in Public Relations Management. Both degrees were earned at the University of Maryland.

Author's Name

Leslie Palmer

Phone

240-412-1240

Web Site

www.uschamber.com/hiringourheroes/cleveland-oh

Email

CLICK HERE

Americans have a number of things to be grateful for from the last decade. Two of America’s most wanted terrorists were plucked from the world Osama Bin Laden was killed in 2011, and Saddam Hussein was killed in 2006. Today, more than eight million Afghan children are enrolled in school compared to fewer than one million children who were enrolled in 2002 (Miles, 2012). Today, 80% of Afghanistan’s population is able to use more than 6,200 miles of paved roads to better their country’s economy (Miles, 2012). Since the terrorist attaches of 9/11, America has experienced a political fracas among conservatives, liberals and everyone in between. Politics aside, the U.S. military is responsible for helping to further the social and economic dynamic of both Iraq and Afghanistan.

“I believe the insurgency is starting to understand that they cannot continue their terrorist acts of the past against the Afghan people, and the only clear solution is reintegration into a peaceful Afghan society,” Brig. Gen. Carsten Jacobson of the German army, spokesman for the NATO-led ISAF coalition, said in a news conference in the Afghan capital of Kabul, January 24th, 2012. Despite the costs, America’s military played a significant role in freeing Iraq and is now helping to make significant headway in building a stronger and more independent Afghanistan.

I will admit that I got more out of the United States Marine Corps than the Corps got out of me. Having decided to serve my country, and from my experience in the Corps, I saw what veterans go through, as I went from being a teenager with no discipline to being a Marine – one that was polished, disciplined, and proud to serve the Corps. I spent eight years as a public affairs specialist and during that time, I was stationed in Japan, Maryland, and Washington, D.C. where I worked in radio, print and the public affairs office in the pentagon. I joined the Marine Corps right out of high school with no college education, and honorably exited the Marine Corps eight years later, with both a Bachelor’s degree (Majored in English and minored in Journalism) and a Master’s degree (Public Relations Management) – all achieved with the help of the GI Bill which enabled me to graduate debt-free.

Although I never deployed to combat, I have heard stories and listened to Marines and other military members who were involved in legendary battles, like the first push for Fallujah (Iraq), and have seen hell, only to return with irreparable scars and painful nightmares. When one travels afar for war and has seen a lot of combat, in a country far away from home, no doubt will that person have changed. Unspeakable acts of horrors and violence occur in war – war is not pretty, clean, nor merciful. Some may come back “a-ok” while others may have a hard time getting adjusted to society.

America is a place of limitless opportunities and unsurpassed freedom – paid for dearly with the blood and tears of ordinary women and men of our military, from its infancy to present day. Each branch of the service contributed their part to defending America’s freedom, from the inception of the Marines, Navy and the Army in 1775 to the Air Force in 1947. It’s no small wonder why America is the greatest place on Earth to live: our military.

In 2011, the U.S. Department of Labor reported the unemployment rate among veterans between the ages of 18 and 24 more than double the unemployment rate among non-veterans within the same age. Aaron Smith, from CNN, reported the jobless rate for Iraq and Afghanistan veterans has dropped nearly five percentage points below what it was a year ago, from 12.5% to 7.6% (Smith, 2012) . Awareness and education probably contributed to the decline in veteran unemployment these last few months. However, with the war winding down in Afghanistan, the number of troops coming home will rise, adding to the unemployment rate once they look for jobs and try to rejoin the workforce. Today's veterans are diverse, adapt to different environments, are disciplined, vigilant, and have a strong work ethic – traits that many companies look for in a potential employee. In short - veterans are very employable. We just have to help them make the right connections and arm them with the right tools, so they can continue to succeed in the future.

To help arm veteran with those tools, Hiring our Heroes, a national program of the US Chamber of Commerce, is being brought to Cleveland by the work of the Ohio Department of Veteran Services, Cuyahoga County Veterans Service Commission, Ohio Department of Jobs and Family Services, Cleveland State University, MAGNET and the Greater Cleveland Partnership. All services provided at the event are free. Each company in attendance will be hiring for at least five open positions within their company June 29th from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.
If you are an Ohio veteran who is seeking employment and wish to attend, you must register at: https://hoh.greatjob.net/sc/viewEvent.action?id=298903. If you’re and employer wishing to attend, you will be provided with a setup at the fair. Employers may bring their own display and other items for marketing. To reserve a space, log onto https://hoh.greatjob.net/sc/viewEvent.action?id=298903. If you need assistance registering, please contact hiringourheroes@uschamber.com. 

References

Miles, D. (2012). Accomplishments in Afghanistan set stage for 2012 progress. American Forces Press Service. Retrieved March 25, 2012 from
http://www.defense.gov/news/newsarticle.aspx?id=66944.

Smith, A. (2012). Jobless rate for veterans plunges. CNNMoney. Retrieved March 25, 2012 from http://money.cnn.com/2012/03/15/news/economy/veterans-jobs/index.htm .