Georgia Army Base Hosts Career Workshop for Wounded Veterans

WASHINGTON, Aug. 8, 2006 – A workshop today and tomorrow at Fort Gordon, Ga., is providing career guidance for wounded servicemembers. The Defense Applicant Assistance Office, of the Office of the Secretary of Defense, and the Army's Installation Management Agency are sponsoring the "Hiring Heroes/Wounded Warriors Technical Workshop" and career fair at Fort Gordon's Gordon Club.

The program will provide transitional career and employment information for soldiers who have suffered injuries while supporting operations Iraqi Freedom and Enduring Freedom. DoD officials said the program is the first of its kind and will address issues such as benefits, entitlements and employment options for veterans with disabilities.

Nearly 250 soldiers and 26 spouses are attending the event. About half of that number will be bused from other Army bases in the region, including forts Benning, McPherson and Stewart, in Georgia; and Fort Jackson, S.C.

Today's program is devoted to an employment workshop and seminar, including a resume-writing session. Braille software will be provided, as needed, officials said. An awards reception this evening will feature guest speaker Herman Boone, whose experiences as a high school football coach were depicted in the recent movie "Remember the Titans."

Also during the reception, representatives of the Army's "Freedom Team Salute" will recognize the participating spouses. The Freedom Team Salute program is designed to help soldiers recognize those who support them -- spouses, parents and employers. The program presents U.S. Army pins to such supporters nominated by servicemembers.

The resume lab will continue tomorrow. Tomorrow will also include a daylong career fair co-sponsored by the Office of the Secretary of Defense and Monster.com, an online job site. About 50 employers will be represented at the fair, officials said. Officials hope offers of employment at tomorrow's job fair will help the Army support DoD's goal of having 2 percent of its civilian workforce manned by personnel with targeted disabilities.

Leslye Arsht, deputy undersecretary of defense for military community and family policy, said her office is proud to support the Army's Installation Management Agency to "provide this unique and robust career fair experience to our severely wounded." "The career fair at Fort Gordon and others like it will help ensure that those severely wounded servicemembers and their spouses who are looking for employment outside of the active duty military service are armed with the necessary skills to find a career in a field where they can both contribute and excel," she said.