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VETS News Release: [06/11/2003]
Contact Name: Elissa Pruett
Phone Number: (202) 693-4676

Assistant Secretary Fred Juarbe Testifies on Administration’s Commitment to Prepare New Veterans for Civilian Careers

WASHINGTON—Assistant Secretary of Labor for Veterans’ Employment and Training Fred Juarbe, Jr. today testified before the House Veterans’ Affairs Subcommittee on Benefits on the Administration’s commitment to providing quality job counseling to service men and women as they transition to civilian careers upon separation from service.

In his testimony, Juarbe announced that Secretary of Labor Elaine L. Chao and Secretary of Defense Donald H. Rumsfeld soon plan to sign a memorandum of understanding to formalize their dedication to cooperative efforts to improve assistance for separating service members worldwide. The departments’ cooperative effort includes a plan for the Department of Labor to assume responsibility for employment workshops, which the Department of Defense currently provides overseas.

“The Department of Labor and the Department of Defense both strive to ensure all our nation’s heroes are not just prepared and competitive, but confident, as they transition from military service to the civilian careers they choose to pursue,” said Juarbe. “In order to accomplish this goal, it is important that we provide the same level of services to all members of our armed services, wherever they are stationed around the world.”

The memorandum of understanding will be the latest in a series of actions the departments have taken to improve and expand transition assistance. Last month, under a joint program between the U.S. Department of Labor’s Veterans Employment and Training Service and the California Employment Development Department, four job-training counselors boarded the US aircraft carrier Constellation in Perth, Australia and began conducting classes as the ship headed to its homeport of San Diego. The classes on the Constellation marked the first time the workshops have been held aboard a returning warship, or anywhere outside of military installations. Similar workshops are soon to be held on the USS Kearsage as she returns to her homeport.

Juarbe also elaborated on the department’s efforts to take advantage of today’s technology to improve transition assistance services to our military overseas. “We have combined and updated all our Web-based resources into a personalized Internet tool-kit called e-VETS,” Juarbe said. “The e-VETS kit offers a wide range of helpful topics, such as job search tools and tips, career assessment, education and training information, including services available through the One-Stop Career Centers, civilian certification and licensing, personal financial assistance, employment opportunities, a military occupational specialty crosswalk and veterans’ benefits.”

For more information about U.S. Department of Labor programs for veterans, contact the Veterans Employment and Training Service in the phone book listings for the Labor Department in the United States Government listings, or visit the VETS web site: www.dol.gov/vets.

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