Posted on Fri, Nov. 07, 2008
Job expo beckons military veterans
BY ADAM H. BEASLEY
Until September, the slumping economy didn't much affect Miguel Camino.

As a corporal in the Marines stationed in California, Camino pulled in a steady income, ate three squares a day and had a place to live.

But since his discharge two months ago, Camino, 22, has returned home to Kendall to learn firsthand what the rest of Florida has known for a while: The job market is dry.

''You apply to a number of places but you never hear back from them,'' said Camino, who worked in administration in the Marines.

On Thursday, he aimed to change that. Camino was one of hundreds of résumé-toting job seekers who attended a job fair tailored exclusively for veterans at Dolphin Stadium.

The event, put on by the national firm Recruit Military, brought in representatives from more than two dozen businesses and government agencies from the area and around the state.

The Hollywood Police Department was looking for 21 cops. Carnival Cruise Lines had sales openings. Business both large and small staffed booths.

And they all had a captive audience.

The recruiting expo came the same day the federal Labor Department announced that the number of people continuing to receive unemployment benefits reached its highest level in more than 25 years.

Recently discharged veterans, ages 18 to 24, are the most likely to need work.

According to Labor figures, 12 percent of vets in this age group were unemployed in 2007 -- long before high gas prices and the financial meltdown further damaged the economy.

While that rate isn't statistically different from those of nonveterans of the same age and gender, according to Labor, veterans often have unique issues that make their search tougher ''due to not having the skills, training, and networking for the available jobs in their hometowns,'' said Steven Rondone, a government economist.

``Many veterans left for the military after high school, which prevented them from acquiring additional education and technical skills for their respective work environment.''

Robert J. Walker, Southeast regional director for Recruit Military, said veterans are uniquely employable because they've been through nontraditional professional training.

By and large, Walker said, those leaving the military are willing to learn, disciplined, hard workers and great leaders.

''The military makes for great salespeople,'' Walker said. ``They're driven.''

Paul Lawton, 25, of Hollywood, just wants to drive a firetruck.

The Navy veteran been looking for steady work since last spring, making it difficult to provide for two kids and a third on the way.

He was a master of arms in Iraq, but is done with police work. He wants to fight fires.

''They do try to prepare you [for life after the military],'' Lawton said, ``but once you're discharged, you're on your own.''

This report was supplemented by The Associated Press.

Ellie