It's not hard to see companies like Vetjobs: America's Premier Job Board for Veterans, and others like the one I read is offering over 300,000 jobs for vets are committed to helping them secure jobs and also train for new careers. Of course it's a great thing and yet I have some mixed feelings because after all that vets have been through and still go through I feel it's too much to ask them to hold down a job. Their healing and recovery should be the main priority. Also, you can hear in the news how often they aren't receiving their benefits when they return home or that it takes a year or longer until they receive certain benefits.
I've been in a position where I know what it's like to fight for my life. Not as a veteran, but I was recovering from severe mercury poisoning and it was a long, slow recovery. I understand what it's like to have to single-pointedly focus on getting well and getting your life back together. I believe many vets are in that same position. With so many symptoms from PTSD and worse, I wish there was a way for them to have a steady income and be able to focus on recovering. After all, these are our heroes, every single one of them.
Maybe they could share their personal life stories and life lessons so that we all could learn from them. With a little bit of instruction in storytelling they could share with the world their most valuable, hard earned life lessons. Imagine if they could get paid to do it and the world would be happy to pay for such a rich experience. I for one would love to hear them or even read what they've brought back from serving our great country. They surely have great stories to tell.
Considering the speed at which technology moves, there must be a way vets could even sell their stories, whether over the internet or through cable tv or something. Then they would be their own boss and could network with other vets and also focus on their healing and recovery.
I don't want to be too pessimistic toward the many companies and organizations that are sincerely helping veterans. It's just not hard to find so many stories where the system doesn't seem to be working. The benefits aren't there or the company hiring turns out to be more selective in their hiring process or whatever. This is why I envision a more empowered veteran, even while going through a slow recovery.
To sum up my main points, I strongly wish it was a priority to focus on the health and recovery of veterans before they are expected to hold down a job. They deserve to be honored in such a way. There could be a short instruction offered to help them tell their personal stories in a powerful, effective way and also a venue for them to sell their valuable life lessons. They would be like stars, even with all their wounds. Whether the wounds are physically present or only on the inside. I'm sure you would agree that many times the deepest wounds are in fact on the inside.
Author Resource:
Jeffrey Gilliam wrote this article on Jobs For Vets to give voice to veterans most important issues. His mission is to Empower you to heal from the past and live your dreams. Learn how you can live your dreams at Healing America