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WASHINGTON D.C. (April 18, 2008) - Returning from combat in Iraq
or Afghanistan with a disability certainly brings with it a number
of challenges, but for one soldier, a great aid to his successful
recovery was the easy transition he made into the civilian job
market.
Justin Callahan enlisted in the U.S Army as a combat engineer
when he was 18. When he was 21, he deployed to Afghanistan, where
he led an eight-man squad. During a routine patrol, Justin was hit
by an improvised explosive device and suffered a left leg
amputation below the knee.
During his recovery at Walter Reed Army Medical Center here,
Justin was approached by John Bardis, a businessman who offered him
a job as soon as his health returned.
Callahan inspired Bardis to found Hire Heroes USA, a non-profit
organization dedicated to helping disabled veterans to find the
right fit in the civilian job market. Hire Heroes USA is a member
of America Supports You, a Defense Department program that connects
individuals, non-profit groups and companies who want to support
U.S. military men and women.
"Hire Heroes USA was designed to give other wounded
servicemembers like myself the opportunity that I was fortunate to
have right out of the hospital," Callahan said during an interview
on America Supports You Live BlogTalkRadio. He and Bayne Tippins,
the organization's director, discussed the Hire Heroes USA's
success during the interview.
Callahan explained that the biggest challenge for many wounded
warriors is getting their confidence reestablished after a tragic
event.
"It's really to pick them up and point them in the right
direction, helping them to re-establish the confidence they've lost
going through something traumatic ... and the direction to move
forward," he said.
Part of reestablishing this confidence is understanding how the
skills developed in the military apply to the civilian job market.
One skill, Callahan mentioned, is leadership.
"A noncommissioned officer is responsible for six to eight
soldiers operating under very stressful situations. ... They are
taught the hard things by the military."
Callahan talked about his day-to-day experience working with
countless organizations that see great value in employing those
with military experience. Employers notice military experience and
benefit from an incredibly motivated group of individuals, Callahan
explained.
"These men and women are so motivated to get into a good job
that has a steady salary where they have the opportunity to
advance."
Now the challenge for Callahan and Tippins is reaching out to
the many veterans who might need assistance and do not realize how
to best market their skills to a new audience. Callahan explained
that the organization places everyone from sales reps to
information technology professionals, and from security personnel
to project managers.
"A lot of servicemembers don't know what's out there. They are
used to doing a certain job in the military, and when they get in
the civilian world they do not always know how to apply and
transfer the skills they have learned making them noticeable to
employers," Callahan said.
One example of many such skills is the ability to handle
logistics, Tippins said.
"Getting men and troops and supplies from point A to point B is
an incredibly transferable skill," he said.
Tippins also said learning new skills easily is a common
attribute of veterans.
"They are extremely trainable," he said. "The acquisition of the
new skills within a new position comes easily because of their
experience in the military."
Tippins explained that the mission of Hire Heroes USA is to
reach out to candidates, identify their strong qualities, and let
them know that there are jobs available for them.
"Some servicemembers just need to understand that company XYZ
has a need for you. ... Hire Heroes USA is designed to be a bridge
to get out in front of organizations that are anxious to hire
them," Tippins said. "We want to help them adjust to becoming a
great member of society that they have already defended so
bravely."
Editor's Note: To find out about more individuals,
groups and organizations that are helping support the troops,
visit www.AmericaSupportsYou.mil. America
Supports You directly connects military members to the support of
the America people and offers a tool to the general public in their
quest to find meaningful ways to support the military
community.
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