WKRN, Nashville, Tennessee News, Weather, and Sports |Veterans battle for civilian jobs after their service

Veterans battle for civilian jobs after their service

NASHVILLE, Tenn. - More and more soldiers returning from war are finding themselves in a battle for civilian jobs.

New numbers from the Tennessee Department of Labor show unemployment stayed at a consistent 10.5% from September to October, though it continues to exceed the national average of 10.2%.

More than 100,000 veterans are counted among the nation's unemployed.

A career fair, designed to help soldiers get back on solid financial ground, was held at LP Field Thursday.

Jason Morgan, who plans to leave the military in April, told News 2, "After 9/11, I joined up.  I've been to Afghanistan and Iraq.  I get out in April, and I'm looking for a job.”

As frightening as Iraq and Afghanistan can be, for military men like Morgan, coming home isn't a piece of cake.

"It's scary," he said.  "I've got a wife, a kid and another on the way in January, and I have to provide for them."

The latest unemployment figures show the jobless rate among veterans is 2% higher than civilians, and there's currently nearly as many out-of-work veterans in the U.S. as there are active soldiers in Iraq and Afghanistan.
 
Michael Scarbrough is a Desert Storm veteran.

"It's a shame, because we do serve our country, and it's hard, especially for the guys who are just getting out.  A lot of them are getting out now, and they'll have it even tougher," he told News 2.

According to Kyle Doyle, representing Kyzen Corp. at the fair, many of the soldiers are highly-skilled.

He said, "It's people who have leadership abilities.  They get training in high tech, and they are familiar with management and leadership concepts."

Diane Spencer knows the job search is still difficult, even though she is a skilled airport mechanic.

"You think you've been to school, and you get all of this training and education, but you try to find a job... it's tough," she said.

Bridgette Kaeseman, an unemployed accountant, said, "It gets frustrating sitting at home looking for a job."

Tina Whitley, a Desert Storm veteran, said, "I think it's hard to transition from military to the normal workforce, because it comes off as chaotic. We are used to that structure."

Soldiers and former soldiers say transitioning back to civilian life is hard enough, but trying to find a job in this economy makes it even tougher.

To find resources for soldiers seeking jobs after the military, visit ArmyStudyGuide.com.