SEASON’S GREETINGS.

IN THE MONTH OF NOVEMBER, THE NATION RECOGNIZED THE COURAGE, SACRIFICES, AND SERVICE OF OUR VETERANS. CONTINUING THAT RECOGNITION, OUR FOCUS THIS MONTH IS ON VETERANS HIRING AND TAKING CARE OF OUR WOUNDED WARRIORS.

ALTHOUGH THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT IS THE LEADING EMPLOYER OF VETERANS, NEARLY 20 % OF VETERANS WHO LEFT MILITARY SERVICE IN THE PAST ONE TO THREE YEARS ARE CURRENTLY UNEMPLOYED. FOR THAT REASON, SENIOR LEADERS, HIRING MANAGERS, AND HUMAN RESOURCE PROFESSIONALS HAVE BEEN WORKING TOGETHER ACROSS THE DEPARTMENT TO PROVIDE CIVILIAN CAREER OPPORTUNITIES FOR OUR VETERANS AND WOUNDED WARRIORS.

WE HAVE SEVERAL SUCCESS STORIES TO REPORT RESULTING FROM OUR COLLECTIVE HARD WORK. IN NOVEMBER, ASN(M&RA) RECOGNIZED NAVAL SEA SYSTEMS COMMAND FOR ITS EFFORTS IN LEADING THE DEPARTMENT OF THE NAVY IN HIRING OVER 200 WOUNDED WARRIORS IN FISCAL YEAR 2010 WITH THE FIRST ANNUAL WOUNDED WARRIOR HIRING AND SUPPORT AWARD. NAVAL AIR SYSTEMS COMMAND EXPANDED ITS INDIVIDUALS WITH TARGETED DISABILITIES PROGRAM TO INCLUDE WOUNDED WARRIORS AND SUBSEQUENTLY HELD HIRING EVENTS IN BOTH CHINA LAKE AND POINT MAGU, CA WHERE SEVERAL WOUNDED WARRIORS WERE HIRED. AND THROUGH THE HUMAN RESOURCES SERVICE CENTER, SOUTHWEST, A FORMER HOSPITAL CORPSMAN AND WOUNDED WARRIOR WILL ENTER ON DUTY IN A FEW WEEKS AS AN IT SPECIALIST WITH THE EXPLOSIVE ORDINANCE DISPOSAL TRAINING AND EVALUATION UNIT IN SAN DIEGO.

I INVITE YOU TO EXPLORE THE SITE THIS MONTH AND LEARN MORE ABOUT THE WOUNDED WARRIOR PROGRAMS AND OUR SUCCESSES, ESPECIALLY THE TESTIMONY FROM MR. DAVID TUMAN, THE FORMER HOSPITAL CORPSMAN. I ALSO ENCOURAGE YOU TO IDENTIFY OPPORTUNITIES TO CONTINUE TO SUPPORT THOSE WHO HAVE SACRIFICED SO MUCH IN PROTECTION OF OUR FREEDOMS AND IN SUPPORT OF OUR COUNTRY.