As unemployment ranks swell, veterans fare worse

[Karmadillo]

http://www.mcclatchydc.com/nation/story/79538.html

By Les Blumenthal | McClatchy Newspapers

WASHINGTON — Victor Ruiz has been looking for work since January.

An Air Force pension helps, but it's not enough to keep his family afloat. His house is in foreclosure, and he and his two teenage children are leaving Fircrest, Wash., to live with his parents in Chicago.

Ruiz, 39, is a retired Air Force major who has an MBA, oversaw an $80 million computer network that helped track incoming missiles and nuclear detonations, and at various times supervised more than 100 people.

"I am the most educated of my three siblings, but I am the one moving back home," Ruiz said.

Ruiz's story isn't uncommon. Many veterans, especially younger and injured ones, are struggling to find civilian jobs in a troubled economy.

The unemployment rate for veterans who left the military during the past three years is 18 percent, nearly twice the national average. The average for all veterans is about 11.6 percent. Even those numbers, however, may not reflect the situation as the economy worsened.

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[NNN0LHI]

1. Not many jobs around here for people who can track incoming missiles and nuclear detonations

Not a lot of jobs period. But I never see anyone advertising for experienced missile and nuclear detonation trackers.

Don

[RKP5637]

2. I've heard this before and it is quite sad. In my earlier years a lot of people

got their computer training from the military and that + the educational credentials of an MBA pretty much guaranteed you a very good job. I have some friends with several degrees and outstanding experience that can't find jobs. They are in their very early 50's. Job creation has always been haphazard. In the 21st country this well might not work because of increased worker productivity, world labor markets, growing populations, etc., etc.

[Obamanaut]

3. This sort of story is strange, in that a retired major (O4) has a retirement

pay greater than that of several teachers I know. His retirement would be in the area of $3,000/month according to OSD pay charts.

And, he is eligible for health care (tricare prime) for about $60/month - to include himself and his two sons.

[butterfly77]

4. Just wait until the Pres..

de-escalates there will be many,many more..