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About The independent. (Vernonia, Or.) 1986-current | View Entire Issue (April 7, 2011)
Page 8 The INDEPENDENT, April 7, 2011 Tips for transitioning from the military Walk a mile in her shoes for CCWRC by Jason Alderman (www.prac- ticalmoneyskills.com) Reentering the civilian work- force after a career in the armed forces can be challeng- ing even during the best of times. But with today’s eco- nomic uncertainty and high un- employment rates, retiring and discharged military personnel may need extra help to develop a game plan and manage their personal finances during that transition. The issue has gained in- creased visibility with the re- cent creation of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau’s Office for Service Member Af- fairs, to be headed up by Holly Patraeus, wife of Gen. David Patraeus, and a long-time ad- vocate for educating military families on consumer issues. Here are a few resources to help with the important financial and job-transition decisions you may face: Transition Assistance. The government provides an inten- sive three-day Transition Assis- tance Program (www.taonline. com/TAPOffice) to separating or retiring service members and their spouses. Workshop attendees learn about setting career objectives, conducting job searches, current occupa- tional and labor market condi- tions, resumé preparation and interviewing techniques. The Department of Veterans Affairs’ VetSuccess Program (www.vetsuccess.gov) pro- vides additional assistance to M military personnel released be- cause of service-connected disabilities. For those whose disability is so severe they can- not immediately consider work, VetSuccess offers services to improve their ability to live as independently as possible. Finding a job. Although ex- pertise acquired during military service often translates readily into marketable civilian job skills, it sometimes takes extra effort to make those links more apparent. Consider these tac- tics: • Begin your research well before you leave the military – a year or more, ideally. • Contact organizations that link job seekers with military- friendly employers such as Hire a Hero (www.hireahero.org), Military Exits (www.militaryex its.com), Helmets to Hardhats (www.helmetstohardhats.com) and Vetjobs.com (www.vetjobs. com). • Make your resumé civilian- friendly – watch out for military jargon that might be hard to un- derstand. • Become acquainted with and post your resumé on popu- lar online job sites such as Monster.com (www.monster. com), Careerbuilder.com (www. careerbuilder.com) and USAJOBS.com, the govern- ment's official job site (www.us- ajobs. com). • Many service members have one government-provided relocation left when they leave the service; so if a potential job al Marijuan c i d e a entails a move and you’re flexi- ble about where to live, use that free relocation to your competitive advantage. Continuing education. While investigating career options, learn what additional required education or certifications you lack so you can begin acquiring those skills now – or at least map out a game plan for how to proceed after you leave the mil- itary. The Post 9/11 GI Bill (www. gibill.va.gov) provides financial support for education and housing to military veterans, in- cluding undergraduate and graduate degrees and voca- tional/technical training. Other VA-sponsored education assis- tance programs include: • Reserve Educational As- sistance Program for reservists called up to active duty. • Survivors and Dependents Assistance for eligible depend- ents of certain veterans. • VA Work-Study Allowance Program for full- or three-quar- ter-time students in college de- gree, vocational or professional programs. One last tip: Money could be tight during your transition, so it’s vital to develop a budget you can live with. Numerous free budgeting tools, including interactive budget calculators, are available online at sites such as the U.S. Financial Lit- eracy and Education Commis- sion’s www.mymoney.gov, the National Foundation for Credit Counseling (www.nfcc.org), www.mint.com, and Practical Money Skills for Life (www. practicalmoneyskills.com), a free personal financial man- agement site run by Visa Inc. ivery Service l e D High Quality Fast Service 503-805-2663 O.M.M.P. card required 503-901-1705 April is Sexual Assault awareness month. Join the Co- lumbia County Women’s Re- source Center (CCWRC) and our allies on April 16. There will be a one-mile high heeled walk to raise awareness and reduce incidence of sexual assault. Come and join our male allies as they “Walk a Mile in Her Shoes ® .” The walk will take place be- ginning at IGA/Red Apple in St Helens at 12, noon. The walk will end at the Columbia View Park with a short program, mu- sic, prizes and fun. We hope our male allies can make it the downhill mile in heels! All are welcome to be a part of this international movement where men walk in heels to support survivors and make a statement that gender violence is NOT OKAY in our communi- ty! This Walk a Mile in Her Shoes ® Event will be a playful opportunity to raise awareness about the serious causes, ef- fects and prevention of sexual- ized violence. Special thanks to our event sponsor Counseling and Wellness. Sexual Assault is not just a women’s issue. It affects indi- viduals of all gender identities as well as women, men who care about them, their families, their friends, their coworkers, and their communities. Sexu- alized violence is epidemic. Every two minutes someone in America is raped. One in six American women are victims of sexual assault and most of these assaults are never re- ported. That means someone you know, someone you care about, has been or may be- come the victim of sexual vio- lence. It may be your mother, your sister, your friend, your girlfriend, your wife, your coworker, or your daughter. This event will be perform- ance art to get people talking and working together to end vi- olence in Columbia County. There is a $10 registration fee before April 11 that includes a walk t-shirt, after April 11 regis- tration is $13. For more information and to register for the walk see our website www.ccwrc.com, call 503.397.7110 or email events @ccwrc.com/ . CCWRC is the only agency of its kind dedicated to serving victims and survivors of family violence and sexual assault in Columbia County. The 22-bed shelter is more than temporary housing. CCWRC provides wrap-around services to women and chil- dren. Supports and programs include job training, connec- tions to medical and mental health care, legal advocacy, counseling, support groups, education, risk assessment and safety planning. Columbia County Mental Health 800-294-5211 ----------------- Suicide Hotline 1-800- 784-2433 or 1-800-273- TALK(8255) Domestic Abuse Hotline 503-397-6161 or 866-397-6161 ----------------- Military Helpline 888-HLP-4-VET (888-457-4838)