What advice do you have for transitioning and unemployed veterans?
Often, the amount of information and services available can be quite overwhelming. First things first, find out what the veteran needs - employment, housing, education, etc. You are a network to the veteran you serve. Utilize people you know and organizations that you are affiliated with to help connect the veteran to what he/she needs. Know what's in your community as well as online.
There are so many discussion groups on LinkedIn centered around veterans and the military community. Also, start subscribing to mailing lists that provide veteran services, information and events.
For example, I subscribe to many LinkedIn military-only discussion groups and the California State Veterans Newsletter (CalVet), and I am affiliated with the local veterans organizations in my community such as The Vet Center and the Employment Development Office, Veterans Division as well as the local Dept of Veterans Affairs Health System in LA.
Of course, maximize RallyPoint and connect with other service members and military organizations on here as well so that you can further expand your network and continue to serve other veterans in a larger capacity.
Also, if you know veterans in California, please feel free to refer them to me for assistance, information and resources.
Dear SPC from Mountain View, there are a couple of links that may be helpful for Guard/Reserve personnel that you may want to refer to for more information on assisting NG/RS:
http://www.benefits.va.gov/guardreserve,
If any of those resources are helpful for you or for others that you work with then please feel free to use them. Similarly, if/ when you come across resources in your job that would be valuable additions to this page for our members then please do let us know!
RallyPoint - The Professional Military Network
Our servicemembers and veterans value their privacy. Please confirm your service on the next page for free, permanent access to your military network.