The tough transition into the civilian workforce

Farming is an untapped and gainful alternative source of employment and civilian transition for returning vets.

An article in the Wall Street Journal describes the plight of Iraq War veterans competing for jobs with their civilian counterparts. The article quotes figures from a new report by the Veterans Affairs Department:

…the percentage of veterans not in the labor force — because they couldn’t find jobs, stopped looking for work, or went back to school — jumped to 23% in 2005 from 10% in 2000. Half of the young veterans — ages 20 to 24 — with steady employment earned less than $25,000 per year…

The report said, “Transitioning into civilian life and the workforce requires help and guidance. ”

Military and civilian policy makers increasingly are concerned about a different aspect of the long wars — the physical, mental and financial well-being of the young veterans who leave the military and attempt to reintegrate into the civilian world.

Veterans Administration efforts so far have failed to do a good job of guiding veterans through the transition to civilian employment.