Skip to main content

Veterans Returning to the Workforce

By: Robert Fragasso, Animal Friends' Board of Directors
It is uplifting to see the gratitude that Americans exhibit toward the one percent of our population that serves in the all-volunteer military of our country, this rounded statistic according to the Department of Defense. These men and women have chosen to serve our country and will later return to productive civilian life. They are sorely needed as we are experiencing a shortage of qualified workers here in our area and nationally. There are several factors causing this.
  • Unemployment nationally and locally ranges between 4-5%. That is considered full employment.
  • Our educational system educates, but doesn’t typically teach marketable skills at the secondary and even post-secondary levels in many disciplines.
  • Employers are finding it difficult to locate potential employees with the right work attitude and people skills.
Military veterans, by nature of their service, present both job-specific skills and the right attitude toward work, customers and fellow workers. The Bureau of Labor Statistics places unemployment among returning veterans the same as at the national levels, so most veterans come home prepared to enter the workforce. However that masks the challenges that a minority of returning veterans face in acclimating to civilian life.
 
Pew Research estimates that 10,000 Baby Boomers (born 1945 to 1964) will retire each day for the next 19 years. As Baby Boomers retire in increasing numbers, we will face an even tighter job pool from which to hire. This will result in higher pricing for goods and services and maybe even disruptions in the supply chain. Taking full advantage of the skills and life experience of returning veterans is mandated, as well as being the right thing to do for those who served our country.
 
The Department of Defense research studies put the ratio of returning vets with stress related issues at 10-18%. That doesn’t make them unemployable, but they may need adjustment assistance. My reading on the subject indicates that past wars and military campaigns were no different – they just weren’t as closely studied.

That’s where the Pets for Vets program at Animal Friends comes in to help. Emotional support dogs, trained to the unique needs of the veteran experiencing a physical or emotional challenge, are provided free, including complete starter equipment and ongoing consultative support. If a dog isn’t right for the veteran’s lifestyle, a companion cat or domesticated bunny serves very well in its place.
 
The monetary fund that supports Pets for Vets is named in memory of Major Ben E. Follansbee, a Green Beret and Army Ranger who succumbed to the stresses of his multiple combat deployments. Ben is one of the estimated 22 military veterans who take their own life every day. The Pets for Vets program at Animal Friends is meant to mitigate that statistic through the documented lifesaving power of companion animals.
 
You can help further the aims of this endeavor by:
  • Referring a veteran who may benefit to this program, which can be found described here.
  • Make a tax-deductible contribution. Checks should be made payable to Animal Friends and memo noted that it is for the Pets for Vets program. Send to Animal Friends, 562 Camp Horne Road, Pittsburgh, PA 15237.
  • Refer a companion animal trainer to the program. The trainer’s compensation is covered by the Major Ben E. Follansbee Memorial Fund.
In this way, we can truly say “Thanks for Your Service” to the men and women who safeguarded our way of life in the war on terror and in past military conflicts.

    Comments

    Popular posts from this blog

    Ronan: Home to Home Adoption Program

    This handsome boy is Ronan! He is a very sweet, affectionate cat who is about 5 years old. He is neutered, very outgoing and gets along with other felines. Ronan has always been a friendly stray cat. He has been living outside, receiving care from a Good Samaritan, but has never had a home he could call his own. At one point during his life, Ronan was hit by a car and his hind leg was broken in three different places. Since he had no family, the broken bones were never set properly and never properly healed. To ease his pain, a veterinarian decided to amputate his leg. He is recovering well from his surgery and is adjusting quite nicely to a life with three legs. During his most recent visit to the veterinarian, Ronan was diagnosed with FIV. With regular visits to the veterinarian, though, cats with FIV can live long, happy lives! Ronan can go home to a family with other FIV positive felines or a home where he will be the only feline. Ronan is looking for a home wher...

    What is the best age to spay or neuter my pet?

    This is a very common question from pet owners who are trying to make the safest and healthiest decision for their beloved animal companions. And, depending on who you ask, you can get many different answers.   Most private practice veterinarians won’t schedule a spay/neuter surgery until the animal is at least 6 months old. Meanwhile, common shelter practices involve spaying or neutering as early as 2-3 months of age.   While there may be a difference in opinion among veterinarians about the ideal age to alter an animal, the truth is that pediatric spay/neuter (or surgery performed on a pet younger than 5 months) has been safely performed for years. Pediatric spay/neuter is a common practice among animal welfare leaders like Animal Friends for a number of reasons.   First, it allows shelters to find adopters for their younger residents during a highly adoptable period of their lives. Before pediatric spay/neuter, shelters would adopt out unaltered young animals with the ...

    duble worked

    Way back in 1971, C.P. Snow wrote about technology in the New York Times. He said, "Technology... is a queer thing. It brings you great gifts with one hand, and it stabs you in the back with the other." Many dealers are voicing that sentiment these days. Far too few have done anything about it. Some have learned to use computer software with skill. They use the apps on iPhones, iPads, and  Blackberries. They have created an effective Web site. They use Facebook and Twitter and LinkedIn for social networking. For others, these are merely words and technologies that test their ability to conduct both business and their private lives. Dealers, already feeling the brunt of the two-plus year recession and massive changes in the car industry, are becoming increasingly concerned about their ability to not only keep up, but to even remain in the playing field. Why should dealers bother with such things? Isn't the old way good enough? Nope! Customers who always shopped on the ...