Though Memorial Day celebrations have quieted and summer is officially underway, local veterans and their families still need community support to help them transition into civilian life. The national unemployment rate for veterans returning from Iraq and Afghanistan remains high at 10.9 percent â significantly higher than the national unemployment average. Veterans often have a harder time transitioning into the civilian workforce after years of military service.
Goodwill Industries of the Southern Piedmont and Central Piedmont Community College (CPCC) are helping bridge the gap between veterans returning home from service and gaining employment with the Operation Independence program.
Through an Elevate America veterans initiative grant, Microsoft Corporation awarded Goodwill $2 million in cash and up to $6 million in software to provide veterans and their families with a comprehensive set of services to help them transition to civilian careers, including technology skills training, job placement, career counseling, and computer training.
âTogether with partners like Microsoft and CPCC, we are working to answer the need to further support veterans and their families in our community,â said Michael Elder, president and CEO of Goodwill Industries of the Southern Piedmont. âWith the Operation Independence program, every day is Memorial Day.â
Cheryl Godwin came to Goodwill in April 2011 in search of job training and guidance after five years out of the workforce. The wife of a Major in the Army National Guard, Cheryl had enjoyed 18 years as an employee of a national insurance company, and had never had to interview for a job before.
âI had only been out of the job market for a few years, but I just got lost in the fold she said. That’s when her husband told her about Operation Independence. Even though some career assistance services are offered on the military base where she lives, Cheryl chose Operation Independence because of the one-on-one training the program offers.
âWhen I heard about the program, it gave me such hope,â Cheryl said. âMany people donât realize the sacrifices that military families make, so it was such a relief to know that Operation Independence is run by veterans who would really understand what we have gone through. We have a common bond.â
Cheryl is already working with career specialists on strengthening her resume and identifying the careers she should target. Her goal is to find a new career path and begin working toward that career by this summer.
For more information about Operation Independence, please call 704-332-0272 or click here.
