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    Returning S.C. National Guard members attend VOW Act employment workshop

    Returning South Carolina National Guard members attend VOW Act employment workshop

    Photo By Col. Cindi King | U.S. Army Spc. Anthony Brown-Thompson, a military policeman in the 132nd Military...... read more read more

    COLUMBIA, SC, UNITED STATES

    08.14.2014

    Story by Maj. Cindi King 

    South Carolina National Guard

    COLUMBIA, S.C. - When a National Guard member returns from deployment, the initial feelings are often happiness, gratitude and a sense of relief. Unfortunately for thousands of returning Guardsmen across the nation, many are faced with the realization of being unemployed after reintegration home.

    Thanks to the 2011 Veterans to Work (VOW) Act, 25 Soldiers from the 132nd Military Police and 124th Engineers, S.C. Army National Guard, participated in a resume writing class at the Bluff Road Armory, Columbia, South Carolina, Aug. 14. Both units had returned from Afghanistan less than three weeks ago and these Guardsmen were in need of jobs.

    “I worked for a security firm before I deployed,” said U.S. Army Spc. Anthony Brown-Thompson, 132nd Military Police. He is from Charleston, S.C. and has served in the S.C. Army National Guard
    for five years.

    Capt. Ryan Purdie, the VOW Act Coordinator for the S.C. National Guard said that within 30 days of returning from deployment, unemployed service members attend the three day workshop that assists with resume writing and interview skills. In the past year, more than 300 service members have completed the VOW Act Employment Workshop Training .

    “Our program takes that extra step to not only assist Soldiers and Airmen with preparing a resume, we actually link them with potential employers through our Employment Services,” said Purdie.

    The J1.1 Service Member and Family Care Directorate was established in 2011 under the direction of Maj. Gen. Robert E. Livingston, Jr., the adjutant general for S.C., to consolidate services that support the well-being of Guard members and their families. In J1.1 there is an Employment Services section that works closely with numerous federal, state and local agencies and maintains contact with numerous companies. They initiated Operation Palmetto Employment with the S.C. Department of Employment and Workforce to better assist service members, veterans and family members with finding meaningful work. South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley launched OPE in February 2014.

    Since October 2011, the J1.1 Employment Services has assisted more than 2,380 individuals find employment, bringing the unemployment rate from 16 percent in 2011 to currently less than 4 percent in the S.C. National Guard.

    “We also teach the most current techniques for finding jobs,” said Purdie. “Many don’t realize that today’s employers rely heavily on technology and use internet-based resumes to find potential employees.”

    Purdie said it is very important for Guard members to understand how to dress, network and develop an online profile on sites such as LinkedIn to make themselves more marketable. He said their resume workshop is a great starting point, and their Employment Services can assist in finding a good job fit and help tailor their resumes for a specific skill.

    “I hope to see what opportunities in law enforcement may be out there now that I’m back,” said Brown-Thompson. “I’m pretty confident I’ll find a job.”

    Information about Operation Palmetto Employment can be found at operationpalmettoemployment.sc.gov.

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    NEWS INFO

    Date Taken: 08.14.2014
    Date Posted: 08.15.2014 12:41
    Story ID: 139446
    Location: COLUMBIA, SC, US

    Web Views: 189
    Downloads: 0

    PUBLIC DOMAIN