Research - Rehabilitation - Re-Employment

Sgt. Shaft 02/07/2000

Dear Sgt. Shaft:
I wanted to respond to the letter from R.G. of Washington, D.C. that you published in your column. R.G. had a problem accessing the Veterans' Employment and Training service (VETS) web sites on veterans preference and the Uniformed Services Employment and Reemployment Rights Act (USERRA). I believe the problem was due to a typographical error in the web site address as published in the column.

The easiest way to get to the web sites is by using www.dol.gov. After reaching this site, the user can either scroll down the page until he or she reaches the "elaws" sites or the user can click on the DOL Agencies block on the left. If the user scrolls down to the "elaws" site and clicks, he or she can get to either the USERRA or veterans preference site by typing in 'USERRA' or 'veterans preference' in the Search by keyword section, or by clicking on Veterans Employment and Training Service in the Search by agency section.

The user may choose to click on DOL Agencies from the DOL home page. Scroll down and click on Veterans Employment and Training Service. Once the user is at the VETS home page, he or she will see a list of different sites, including 'Veterans Preference" and USERRA Elaws Advisor. The user can click on either of these to get to the special sections on veterans preference or USERRA.

I'd like to take this opportunity to recommend to your readers our new web site, which has a great deal of information on certification and licensing for military personnel and veterans. Many civilian jobs require prospective employees to have a credential, as evidence of skills and knowledge in a particular field. This new web site will help veterans and transitioning military personnel determine if the civilian occupations they are interested in require some sort of credential and how their military training and experience impact on their ability to acquire such credential. This web site can be accessed through VETS' section of the Department of Labor's web site.

Thank you for this opportunity to correct an error and promote our new site, which we believe will ease the transition from military to civilian careers.

Espiridion (Al) Borrego
Assistant Secretary for Veteran's Employment and Training
U.S. Department of Labor

Dear Secretary Borrego:
The Sarge joins the American Legion in praising your new VETS web site and certification program.

The Military and Veterans Credentialing Network -- www.dol.gov/dol/vets -- provides employers and credentialing boards a means to reach the roughly 50,000 military personnel who annually leave active-duty status with military training and experience in a field that requires civilian workers to be certified. Military training is not necessarily recognized by civilian licensure boards.

"The American Legion fought hard to improve the transition of military nurses, mechanics, technicians and others into quality civilian career paths," National commander Al Lance said. "Members of the armed forces are highly capable; they already meet many of the civilian certification requirements by their military training and experience. The Web site facilitates the entry of these well-trained individuals into America's workforce. I'm confident that after they clear the certification hurdle, veterans will remain among the best, brightest and most dedicated workers."

Dear Sgt. Shaft:
This is to let you know that I received my New York State conspicuous Service Cross last month. It was submitted last April after you had sent the form. Thanks for your help. It paid off.

Joe Schuppel
by e-mail

Dear Joe:
You are quite welcome and deserving. Display it proudly.

SHAFT KUDOS
The bad news is that the U.S.Army is losing one of its brightest stars, Army Surgeon General, Ronald R. Blanck.

The good news is that good friend, Major General Blanck was selected by the University of North Texas (UNT) to become the new president of the UNT Health Science Center at Fort Worth. The General entered the Army in 1968 and has had a distinguished 31-year military career. His initial military assignment was as a medical officer in Vietnam. He later served as commander of Walter Reed Medical Center North Atlantic Region Medical Command and director of professional services and chief of Medical Corps Affairs in the office of the Surgeon General of the Army. He is currently the Surgeon General of the United States Army and commander of the U.S. Army Medical Command with more than 46,000 military personnel and 26,000 civilian employees throughout the world. General Blanck will retire from the Army on July 31 and commence his new assignment at UNT on August 15, 2000. Best wishes to you and Donna; you will be greatly missed by your many friends in Washington -- our loss, Fort Worth's gain.

A pat on the back to Rev. Imagene B. Stewart, past national chaplain in the American Legion Auxiliary, America's largest women's patriotic organization. In honor of Imagene's Shelter for Homeless Veterans 25 years of distinguished service, the American Legion Auxiliary -- D.C. Department, will have a charity dance on Monday, March 27, at 7:00 p.m. at the Hyatt Regency Hotel on Capitol Hill, 400 New Jersey Avenue, N.W. The function will benefit the House of Imagene Shelter. Enjoy country and western plus oldies but goodies music. If you are busy that evening, please send a donation to the House of Imagene Shelter, 214 P. Street, N.W., Washington D.C. 20001. Phone: (202) 518-8483.

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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