Research - Rehabilitation - Re-Employment

Sgt. Shaft 10/06/2003

Dear Sgt. Shaft, I am a retired mustang from the Army who just completed a master of  public administration degree from a program consistently rated in the top 20 in the nation. I am also a finalist for the Presidential Management Intern Program for 2003

During my military career I gained a broad generalist background, with my final tour of duty as comptroller for a mechanized infantry division. In that capacity, I was called upon at times to supervise or review the work of several civilian budget analysts. My master's specialization is in financial management and administration. Yet OPM consistently tells me I lack the background to perform the duties of an entry-level budget analyst. You may give kudos to the Office of Personnel Management for their programs. They really do look good on paper and as sound bytes on the news or C-SPAN. Reality is something entirely different. I have applied to the Department of the Army, the Department of the Navy, the IRS, Department of Homeland Security and several other agencies. My efforts extend from the time of my retirement in 1994 to the present. The preponderance of results: "You lack the specialized experience to perform the duties described at the GS-07/09 level." The people over there talk the talk about hiring qualified and dedicated veterans, but they do not walk the walk.

I have a wealth of experience, coupled with a cutting-edge, current graduate degree. If I am experiencing such difficulty with getting employment at age 50 with my credentials, what about others with lesser credentials?

Retired Capt. Bob C.
Gainesville, Texas

Dear Bob: I have referred your complaint to the top apparatchiks at the Office of Personnel Management [OPM]. Federal departments should not disregard veteran's preference laws, and agencies and OPM should get the full authority from Congress to implement these laws. A veteran's dedication and experience is a terrible thing to waste.

Shaft Shot
A high-caliber shot is in order for Sen. Barbara A. Mikulski, Maryland Democrat, and her personal flak, reporter Christopher Lee of The Washington Post, for their cheap slam at fellow Vietnam veteran Len Lenkowsky, former chief executive officer for the Corporation for National Service [CNS], and the many dedicated employees of the corporation who received minuscule bonuses. As Kelly Daly, president of the CNS Employees Union, pointed out in a recent rebuke to Mr. Lee's article, most corporation employees do not receive automatic salary increases like other federal employees. The article, titled "$411,655 in Bonuses at AmeriCorps's Parent Agency decried," was malicious and irresponsible. It is true that the educational trust fund of the corporation has been mismanaged from its inception [eight years of which were under the Clinton administration]. But it was Mr. Lenkowsky who was responsible for making significant changes on how the corporation conducts its affairs, stressing greater financial and program accountability. The Maryland senator sat on her hands during this time and continued to appropriate taxpayer dollars without oversight. A wonderful Democrat, the late Thomas P. "Tip" O'Neill of Massachusetts, once said that "all politics is local." However, the good senator from Maryland shows that some politics is loco.

Shaft Kudos
The Sarge was honored to join Tom Ridge, secretary of homeland security, and Anthony J. Principi, Veteran Affairs secretary, in a recent emotional ceremony making Army Spc. Hilario Bermanis of the 82nd Airborne Division a U.S. citizen. Spc. Bermanis lost both legs and his left hand during an attack on June 10 in Baghdad while he and a fellow soldier, who was killed instantly, were guarding a weapons turn-in point. He was awarded the Bronze Star for his conduct in action and a Purple Heart for his wounds. A citizen of the Federated States of Micronesia, Spc. Bermanis enlisted in the Army three years ago. His parents and 5-year-old brother witnessed the oath ceremony at Walter Reed Army Medical Center along with many of his wounded comrades and other guests on July 3. * The Sarge congratulates Sandy Garfunkel, director of the District's VAMedical Center, and his dedicated staff on the recent opening of their RenalCare Center. The clinic area was designed with patient comfort in mind. The circular nursing station allows an unobstructed view of the patients. The waiting room is large and sky lit. Each new patient dialysis chair has a personal TV. Thanks to the generosity of the DAV Charitable Service Trust, the Renal Care Center was designed with a comprehensive approach to treatment in mind. There is a social worker and a nutritionist assigned to the unit, and a part-time pharmacist. The total number of employees is 24. The new facility will increase capacity by 18 to 20 patients

Send letters to Sgt. Shaft, c/o John Fales, P.O. Box 65900, Washington, D.C. 20035-5900; fax to 301-622-3330; call 202-462-4430 or email sgtshaft@bavf.org.

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