Wounded Warriors find federal civilian employment after transitioning through the Operation Warfighter Program

Photo By 1st Lt. Antonia Elena Pearse | United States Marine Corps Chief Warrant Officer 3 (retired) Thomas Layou, senior budget analyst at the Federal Emergency Management Agency was an Operation Warfighter Fellow at FEMA earlier in 2015. Layou medically retired from the USMC after an injury in Helmand province, Afghanistan.  

WASHINGTON, DC, UNITED STATES

12.16.2015

Story by 1st Lt. Antonia Elena Pearse 

U.S. Army Medical Readiness Command, East

WASHINGTON – The Operation Warfighter Program (OWF) is a Department of Defense program established in 2006 that matches qualified wounded, ill and injured service members with non-funded federal internships and fellowships in order for them to gain valuable work experience during their recovery and rehabilitation. Many of the internships and fellowships take place at federal agencies like the Department of Homeland Security’s Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA).

The OWF Program helps service members (SM) find unpaid positions in the National Capital Region, and beyond. While participating in this program, the SM remains on active duty and assigned to their current transition unit. These positions build a broader capacity for relevant skills needed in the civilian job market - allowing each SM to have a maximum impact that works for their medical appointments, and various other military obligations. Each internship helps the SM see, and work, past their injury or illness in the hopes of continuing contributions in either a military or civilian field.

“We have found some outstanding candidates through the OWF Program” says Adam Anicich, director of external coordination for FEMA, and one of the participating hiring managers. “These candidates come to us with core skills already intrinsic – leadership, accountability, and technical acumen – so from an Agency standpoint, it’s a big win.”

“I love it [OWF internships], because for us [the Warrior Transition Brigade] at Walter Reed Naval Military Medical Center [WRNMMC] in Bethesda, Md., it is a real blessing and benefit. Being so close to the Nation’s capital, there are a huge amount of federal government agencies for the Soldiers to intern at. It is really a win–win situation, because we can put Soldiers into these internships. It provides them daily purpose other than focusing on their medical care, and for those Soldiers who are considering medical or military retirement, it also provides them an opportunity to explore something possibly completely different. The beauty of it is that they’re able to do this while they’re still receiving their normal military pay,” remarked Col. Christopher Boyle, brigade commander for the National Capitol Region.

The OWF Program is a great opportunity for service members on medical hold to build their resumes, explore employment interests, develop job skills, and gain valuable federal government work experience that will help them prepare for their adjustment to the civilian workplace.

“I found that the OWF Program was a perfect fit to strengthen my financial management skills and test out civilian life. Through the hard work and professional connections I made, I was offered a job upon retirement,” says United States Marine Corps Chief Warrant Officer 3 (retired) Thomas Layou, senior budget analyst at FEMA.

SM’s are paired with opportunities that challenge and sharpen both their military and civilian skills, and ready them for a competitive job market.

“The OWF Program has provided a steady stream of qualified, and job-ready, skilled professionals who know what it means to serve. Their contributions have helped FEMA during critical times, and allow the Agency to continue supporting our citizens and first responders across the nation,” says Tom Lowry, FEMA’s chief financial officer and participating senior executive.

Active duty SMs and those assigned to a National Guard or Reserve unit can participate in the program while on active duty.

If interested in the program, both medical and command clearance is required before participating. The average length of an internship is 3– 6 months.

For more information, please see the Office of Warrior Care Policy’s website at: http://warriorcare.dodlive.mil/wounded-warrior-resources/operation-warfighter/ or the Department of Homeland Security’s website at: http://www.dhs.gov/homeland-security-careers/operation-warfighter.

“The OWF Program is a great way to continue service to America,” says Lowry.

• Date Taken: 12.16.2015
• Date Posted: 01.04.2016 22:54
• Story ID: 185635
• Location: WASHINGTON, DC, US