Thread by @thehalestone, Here's a sad reality about employment after service for our military veterans. [...]

Here's a sad reality about employment after service for our military veterans. Like myself, many have served honorably, have experience in their career field, and even college degrees. A thread:

During the 16 months since my honorable discharge, I’ve now applied for more than 300 positions, in more than 15 different states.

A college degree, a decorated service record and more than 12 years of experience in my career field.

I received three offers, two of which were under $50k a year.

In California no less, which is the sixth most expensive state to live in, last in quality of life and highest in veterans homelessness.

Service members aren't viewed as assets. We are viewed as liabilities.

Unfair stereotypes as drunks, PTSD issues, war junkies, baby killers, jar heads, meat heads and yes...even political stereotypes...are preventing us from receiving the same treatment as our non-military job applicants.

As a result, we get entry level jobs and bottom of the barrel vacancy fillers.

They love that we show up on time, but not enough to let us lead. They want us for our hard work and commitment, but not enough to pay us a competitive wage.

I’ve literally had hiring managers tell me in interviews they thought a position would be a good “transition job as I get accustom to real life.”

This is practically admitting that we aren't ready for real jobs, regardless of what our family needs and dynamics are.

There’s no antiquated value for us at management, supervisor or directory levels, so the wage is always below market .

But they love handing out those manual labor jobs for $48K/yr loading trucks on the graveyard shift and then putting up a plaque that says "Veteran Friendly."

The issue is not unemployment. It's UNDEREMPLOYMENT. Undervalued, underappreciated and yes, underemployed.

From as recently as Nov 2017, http://Marketplace.org ---> "Underemployment is usually a different way to describe someone with experience working in a low-wage job. Low-wage jobs are usually paid close or at minimum wage. The fed minimum wage has been stuck at $7.25 since 2009."

According to the Economic Policy Institute, one in five veterans — or 1.8 million veterans — are currently paid less than $15 an hour. Who are these low-paid veterans? Two-thirds (66 percent) are 40 years old or older, 61 percent have college experience and 69 percent work FT.

That is sad and embarrassing and shameful. Our veterans deserve better. They deserve better jobs and at market value salaries. We are smart. We are good at what we do and now, we are educated - an upward trend over the past few decades.

This is stemmed from our military competitive advancement rates across our time on active duty. The number of 'average joes' surged and being just a "good enough" sailor was no longer good enough. To advance, you needed more.

You needed extracurricular activities, volunteer hours, collateral duties and guess what: education. Associate Degrees, Bachelor Degrees and Master's, even double degrees, were vigorously pursued on active duty.

Good enough to advance a pay grade, but not enough after service?

Some Rates/MOS/Jobs in the military don't translate as well as others to the civilian work force. That's true, some don't. But most of them do. The problem is, Employers aren't looking for us.

The military has done a fabulous job in combining old legacy Rates/MOS/Jobs and making them into more modernized career paths so ensure their military is up to date with industry standards.

But a large number of employers don't consider this. We just know war.

They consistently view recently separated service members as "Entry Level" because the do not consider our work history and experience as legitimate to the industry. Never mind if a service member has 10 years of experience. It really doesn't count.

I was fortunate to eventually find employment well above minimum wage, but still drastically low from market value. I am fortunate enough to not face homelessness, although buying a home seems miles away. But so many of my brothers and sisters in arms are not so lucky.

In closing, here is the saddest part: this is not recognized as a real issue. Many elected officials and employers boast of things like the "big three:"

VA Loans - which require good credit and often higher interest rates due to no down payment...

VA Healthcare, which is average at best, generally understaffed and typically applies to a small number of veterans...

and Education Benefits, which seem good on the surface, but if we are disqualifying veterans already...

Point is, many of us want to contribute back to the civilian work force, but we can't because we are not viewed as assets to this work force.

We are, folks. And you're missing some real talent by burying us in a computer data base and sending us simple rejection emails.

Sirs and Ma'ams, my veterans and I asking you to change your perception of us, take risks on us, believe in us and give us a chance to show you what we can do. Stop viewing us through the eyes of a stereotype.

We will not let you down.

We fought for you. Who will fight for us?

Thanks for reading. Please help spread the word.

Former Mass Communication Specialist 1st Class (SW/AW) Stephen Hale
USS Carl Vinson (CVN 70) and American Forces Network
Disabled Veteran with Honorable Discharge, USN 2008-2016

Update, i managed to buy a home and I finished my masters in my career field - same career field i had in service.

And still waiting on the chance to prove stereotypes wrong

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