How come so many veterans are unemployed after they get out?

Question

Out of the military.

Answer 1

Well, my boyfriend was in the US Navy for over 10 years.  He left with all kinds of medals and a high lvl security clearance. Good for him.

There are a few reasons why finding work was difficult, even though he was one of the most highly trained MOS's.  First of all- he didn't start looking for a job early enough.  He was POSITIVE that he'd nail something RIGHT AWAY after he got out. His little brother had just left the Navy about 6 months prior, and had been recruited by a company, so he had no trouble at all.  My boyfriend didn't start his job search in a timely fashion.  It would have been great if he had 100's of employers banging on his door, and he was getting to pick, but because he started his search AFTER he separated, things were slower because you've got to spend at LEAST a month, sometimes two just getting your name to the right people when doing a GOOD job search.

Secondly, he NEEDED some time off.  He returned from a deployment to Iraq (sailors usually don't go to landlocked countries, so this was a hard deployment for both of us) about 2 months before he separated.  He didn't even have enough time to remember what it was like to live in America before he was walking out the door as a civilian.

Another roadblock was that, he'd never BEEN a civilian before.  His parents had BOTH been in the Army his whole life, and he enlisted in the Navy IMMEDIATELY upon coming of age.  He had NEVER had a job in the civilian sector, and certainly didn't know how to go about FINDING one!  When you want to sign up for the military, you just walk in and sign up, finding a job is A LOT DIFFERENT!  :)  

Additionally, because he was a saught after employee, employers from all over the nation were contacting him after a while, and we had to decide TOGETHER where we wanted to live.  Tough choice, we are used to going where we are TOLD, not where we WANT.  

So, you see, it's simply a whole new world, that takes a lot of getting used to.  We had to buy him a suit- he'd never had one before... teach him to write a resume, and to answer questions the way they want them answered in an interview.  One of the hardest things was learning how to describe what he did in the Navy in civilian terms- that's REALLY DIFFICULT with some jobs!!!  It took a team, but now he makes six figures.  Some poor guys just don't know where to start when they get out, and they don't have a team to help them.  After having been told what to do for at least the last 4 years of their life (if not more), it's hard to know exactly where to start!

Answer 2

They didn't do anything to build any skills or education while they served.  

Answer 3

i think republicans have the answer

Answer 4

I was called a murder at an interview (never saw action, mind you) there are a ton of reasons, from what city you're in, to what your MOS was and the job your trying to get and sometimes it could be the people who interview you, plus there is a bit of an economic issue these days  

Answer 5

Older veterans,those who served twenty years and retired,are usually well adjusted and make excellent employees for any company.However,the younger ones,those who served one term of enlistment or those who were kicked out,are lazy,arrogant,have disdain for civilians,and think the country owes them a living.I work for a company that hires a lot of ex-military people.The younger ex-military types are the most worthless people I have ever seen.When I look at them I see the reason our country has not prevailed in Iraq and Afghanistan.They are really quite pathetic.

Answer 6

Because America is full of ****.

All the talk about "supporting the troops" is merely that....talk....

Best friend Vets have in Washington State is a Democrat.....

Patty Murray

http://murray.senate.gov/news.cfm?id=296...

fought to keep VA Hospitals open to spare VETS long trips to medical facilities.

Won't be long until Conservatives and Republicans make homeless Iraq/Afghanistan War Vets  the butt of their humor....

and the squeeky clean ever so special people who never did nor ever will go out of their way to serve the country will soon be squawking to city councils and mayors to find way to keep the "bums" moving along.

(people like BOO up above there)

They spoiling the view.

MARK MY WORDS

Answer 7

Here you go again, Erudite, spreading more lies and dissension.  When do you plan to grow up?

I walked out of my career with the Army, spent four months finishing an advanced degree, and then went right into the job that I have held for the past 21 years.  And while I may not be typical, it is not so much a matter of why I *couldn't* get a job, as that I was doing other things before taking permanent employment.

And I'd be really interested in what figures you're citing for "so many veterans" who are unemployed.  I believe that their employment stats are probably a lot better than the average schlumpf coming out of high school.

Answer 8

It's called freedom. They don't have to conform to your demands and can take time off if they choose. Slavery in America has been banned for over 140 years...

Answer 9

Just think about the question that you just asked ?

Think for a little

Think as you where in there shoes

Answer 10

good question, When I retired I traveled around for a few months but when I decided it was time to go back to work it took almost 2 weeks to find a decent job. I guess they just aren't looking. If there truly are that many, since you supply no numbers or links.

Answer 11

Some, if they were in a combat zone, suffer from PTSD or other combat related injuries which make it difficult to find a decent paying job.

Others prefer to wait awhile before going back to  steady employment.

There is also the fact that the civilian job market has shrunk making it a lot harder for anyone to find work.

Answer 12

The answer to this very broad question is as individualistic as the soldiers themselves.  Some soldiers return and just want to wander aroudn for a bit and enjoy their new freedom.  If you're good, you have have a nice nest egg saved up that you can live on for a while.  When my brother came back from Iraq, he had 10k in savings that he bummed around on.

Then you have those like me who came back from Iraq with severe problems.  These soldiers have trouble integrating themselves into normal life, much less working life.  They have to rediscover the need and point behind doing things they consider pointless and that takes time.  PTSD and Traumatic Brain Injuries are more prevelant than ever due to our medical advancements saving lives that would have been lost before.  These people look "normal" but are really messed up.  For them, finding a 9-5 job is really not that important.

And then you have those who are holding out for a job they feel fits them perfectly.  Maybe another job that will provide the structure, comradere and benefits of the military, which there are precious few.  These guys and gals usually reenlist.  

That's not a complete answer but the best one I can provide.  

Answer 13

because they just left there job...?

Answer 14

Because they're messed up and life seems meaningless? A natural result of killing lots of people you don't know and have nothing against.

Because the army turns men into robots then when they leave they cannot remember how to think for themselves?

Because the sons of the poor are sent at a young age (18, 19 etc.) to fight rich old men's wars and when they've done it they're just waste material/ collateral damage.

Lots of them end up in prison - one in five or something: how's that for a thank you?