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Disabled vets face challenges finding a job
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Technological savvy
Other organizations besides The Hartford are looking to help disabled vets find jobs and careers.
A year ago, Rodriguez’s employer Raytheon increased its effort to hire disabled vets who have tech savvy.
While there are positions available throughout the company, Bob Foley, a retired U.S. Marine lieutenant colonel and corporate HR manager for Raytheon, says they’re in the market for disabled vets with degrees in engineering and science, as well as knowledge of computer science and logistics. (Check out www.rayjobs.com.)
“In some cases, they can work from home,” Foley says, adding that the company is well-versed in making accommodations for disabled workers and will do what it can to accommodate wounded vets.
In some cases, wounded vets who joined the armed forces at a young age, before finishing schooling or starting a career, will need to get more education.
While Congress is expected to beef up education funding as part of the GI Bill, many disabled vet advocates believe it won’t be enough to cover all the costs.
Education programs
Some universities and schools are stepping up to the plate.
The University of Idaho created the “Operation Education Scholarship” program two years ago to provide disabled veterans seeking a college degree with full financial assistance. “We want them to not have to work and graduate from school without debt,” explains Karen White, chair of the program.
Sessions Online, an Internet-based school for graphic design, just announced it’s offering scholarships for injured vets that will cover 100 percent of courses “for graphic and Web design, as well as Apple iMac computers and professional-level design software,” according to a spokeswoman.
Disabled vets should also check out the Department of Labor’s Recovery & Employment Assistance Lifelines (REALifelines) program, which launched in 2004.
Michael Biddle, an agency spokesman, said 7,040 disabled service members and their families have received employment assistance through the program, which offers job counseling and job training.
‘Take a chance’
There are also opportunities in entrepreneurship.
Former Army Staff Sgt. Robbie Doughty runs two Little Caesars franchise stores, one in Kentucky and another in Tennessee.
Doughty lost both his legs to a roadside bomb while he was serving in Iraq and spent time recovering at Walter Reed Army Medical Center, which came under fire recently for its shoddy treatment of vets. While there, a newspaper was doing a story on the hospital and he was included in the article.
The founder of Little Caesars, Mike Ilitch, was so impressed with his story and decided to give Doughty the opportunity to open a location.
“I couldn’t pass it up,” says Doughty, who was pretty much given the store for free.
He has done so well that he recently opened up the second location, but this time, he paid for it himself.
The Little Caesars Veterans Program was launched in 2006 and provides qualified veterans a $5,000 break on the franchise fee for the first store, financing benefits and a $5,000 credit on the initial equipment order. Disabled vets can get the whole franchising fee of $20,000 waived for the first store and a $10,000 credit on equipment. More information is available at franchise.littlecaesars.com.
It’s been a long road for Doughty, who admits there were times he was upset following his injury. His original goal was to retire from the Army and possibly become a state trooper.
“After the injury, I knew things were going to change,” he says. “You have to be ready to take a chance.”
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