Our Veterans

May 15th, 2012

By Lt. Governor Anthony Brown

As we observe National Military Appreciation Month, it is more important than ever that we maintain our commitment to addressing unemployment among our Veterans. These brave men and women have served this nation with courage and honor, and it is our collective responsibility to help connect them with the jobs they need to support their families when they return.

This month, Patch.com in Maryland kicked off a series of articles focused on Veterans and employment featuring efforts around the state to help Veterans find work, including MDOT’s recent Veterans Resource Expo, and some compelling personal stories from Maryland Veterans. I want to thank Patch.com for highlighting this important issue. Check out the first two articles in the series below and stay tuned to your local Patch.com website.

Vets Back From War Face Shocking Reality

“If it weren’t for my daughter … I’d be one of those guys on the corner with a sign”—Maryland veteran.

By Lisa Rossi, Brian Hooks, and Marc Shapiro Full text

When Andrew Smith III talked with his U.S. Marine Corps platoon mates in Iraq before he returned to Maryland in 2009, he recalled they agreed finding a job in a recession would be tough.

But he said he never imagined it would be like this.

Smith said he sleeps four hours a night to make time for his part-time job loading baggage for Delta Airlines, training classes in the afternoons and searching for a full-time job with benefits to support his wife and two kids without relying on food stamps and other assistance.

But last week, during a job fair organized by the Maryland Department of Transportation for veterans in Baltimore, he was almost optimistic.

Returning from War to Fight for Jobs

Maryland veterans talk about getting passed over for jobs—and how to change that.

By Lisa Rossi Full text

Stephanie Gilbert of Pasadena served six years as an Arabic linguist and was an Army intelligence officer in Afghanistan before being honorably discharged last year. The former staff sergeant is now pursuing a degree in financial economics at the University of Maryland, Baltimore County.

But when it came time for the 27-year-old veteran to seek financial services internships this summer, Gilbert was shocked when she was passed over. Twice.

“I’m 27 years old and I’m applying for internships,” she said. “It’s disconcerting when a 19-year-old gets the internship instead of me. It’s like, ‘What?’”