By George Darany
This past Memorial Day was a great opportunity to pause and remember the great sacrifices that our soldiers and their families have made in order to keep the rest of us safe. These brave men and women who have paid the ultimate sacrifice deserve nothing but our respect and honor on this Memorial Day.
As we reflected on their dedication to our country, I hope we also take a moment to renew our commitment to serving those veterans who return home to their families and communities.
As a member of the House Military and Veterans Affairs and Homeland Security Committee, I have had the good fortune to meet with veterans throughout our community who have served in World War II, Korea, Vietnam, Iraq and Afghanistan. I am humbled by their devotion to their country, and I am determined to ensure that state government responds to their needs.
I am pleased to share information with you on a new veterans job program through the United States Department of Veteran’s Affairs.The VA recently announced that additional education benefits are available for some veterans. The Veterans Retraining Assistance Program offers 12 months of retraining assistance to veterans who meet the following criteria: they are unemployed, between the ages of 35 and 60, were not dishonorably discharged, are not eligible for other VA education benefit programs, are not receiving VA compensation due to Individual Unemployability, are not enrolled in a federal or state job training program, and are enrolled in a VA approved education program offered through a community college or technical school.
This program is open to a set number of participants and you must apply to the VA for this program by March 31, 2014. Participants are eligible for up to 12 months of assistance. The education program they enroll in must lead to an associate’s degree, non-college degree or certification, and train the veteran for a high demand occupation. For more information go to the VA website at www.gibill.va.gov/VRAP.
Nationally, the unemployment rate for Gulf War II era veterans has been falling since 2010. The most recent figures for April 2012 show an unemployment rate of 9.2 percent. The state of Michigan also offers special services to returning veterans who are looking for work. Information on job resources for veterans has moved from the Michigan Department of Military and Veterans Affairs to the Pure Michigan Talent Connect website and can be found at http://www.mitalent.org/veterans/.
War veterans in the Dearborn area seeking assistance can contact the U.S. Veterans Affairs Department at 2881 Monroe St. by calling 313-277-1428 and our own Dearborn Allied War Veterans Council is also an excellent resource for our veterans.
While on Memorial Day we paused to honor and remember our fallen soldiers, I hope we can also continue in that spirit by taking the time to thank the men and women who have served or who are serving for all of the sacrifices they have made to protect our freedoms.
(State Rep. George Darany represents the 15th House District. To contact him, call 855-775-1515 or email him at [email protected] To sign up for his e-newsletter, visit his website, house.mi.gov/gdarany.)