More on Hidden Wounds The mission of Hidden Wounds, a non-profit
organization headquartered in Columbia, SC, is to provide temporary
counseling and support to military personnel afflicted with Post
Traumatic Stress Disorder or other such mental ailments until such time
as the Veteran’s Administration or the Veteran’s Affairs agencies are
prepared to deliver long term services to our clients through government
programs.
Founded by Anna Bigham in memory of her brother, Lance Corporal Mills
Bigham, Hidden Wounds offers temporary help to veterans suffering the
lasting effects of post traumatic stress disorder.
On March 6, 2010, Hidden Wounds will host a pancake breakfast benefit at
Fatz Cafe on Forest Drive in Columbia, SC. The event is 7:30 am to 10:30
am, and proceeds will go to program initiatives.
VetVenue staff will also be at the event as volunteers. If you
would like to volunteer your time, contact Hidden Wounds via email
here or visit the website for more information.
More than anything, if you or someone you know if suffering with PTSD,
please seek out help through Hidden Wounds, your VA representative, or
your family physician immediately.
Click here for information
on the Hidden Wounds Pancake Fundraiser.
Ken Grant - A Success Story
Repetition was key to Ken Grant’s success and advancement throughout his
two decade-long Air Force career. Out of the military since 2005, Grant
just accomplished something he hasn’t been able to for a very long time.
He started a new job. Recently hired by a Pittsburg, PA-based consulting
firm, Grant’s new work will utilize his array of skills, not only the
focus and discipline he applied to his military assignments, but the
upgrades he attained on his own since he was discharged.
“I am a Logistics Coordinator; I coordinate trouble tickets to assure
solutions are handled swiftly.” Grant’s military orientation reinforced
his ability to problem-solve, think on his feet, and adapt quickly. With
tours of duty in Korea,
Germany, and Hawaii, in addition to
domestic assignments, Grant is bringing to his new job the global
perspective many employers seek. But making that connection with an
organization that demanded what he could supply took quite a while.
Advancements in technology since 1985, when the Mississippi native began
administrative work in the military on a Selectric II typewriter, made
upgrades necessary. “Of course, I had worked with computers for much of
my military career.”Unable to transfer skills that made him a good
Master Sgt. into a civilian sector job when he first came out of the Air
Force, Grant returned to school. “At
WebsterUniversity I got a degree
in Information Technology Management.” The degree did not immediately
open doors to employment.
One short-run job Grant held after his retirement from the military
helped him make the transition into private sector employment. “It took
me a year, and then my first job after the Air Force was with the South
Carolina Film Commission.” Grant explained his year-long contract
involved helping manage a group of employees update the visual library
from hard-copy to digital. That contract ended, but he tapped other
resources available
“When I went through Voc Rehab, Lori Ehlers sold me on the importance of
becoming A-plus Certified,” Grant said from his Blythewood home, “and
through a Creating Futures grant, I was able to take the training that
prepared me for the qualifying test.”
A-Plus Certification is an internationally validated credential that
demonstrates to prospective information technology employers a candidate
has expert knowledge of both hardware and software technologies.“I
thought it would be to my advantage, especially to be considered for
federal jobs, to have the A-Plus certification,” so Grant set himself on
a self-paced course to prepare for the certifying exams. Then, surgery
and rehabilitation after it interrupted his timeline, but he continued
studying on his own at home.
Finally, his patience and persistence paid off and he was given an
opportunity to interview with the Pittsburg company. “The preliminaries were all
handled remotely,” Grant said. “Then I was asked to come to Pittsburg to complete the
paperwork Human Resources needed. I started my new job right before
Thanksgiving."
To learn more about Ken's transition, click
here
for a webcast featuring his story.
A Way to Say Thanks to Our Troops In an exciting new campaign, Xerox has
launched Let's Say Thanks, a
website where you can create and send "thank you" cards to troops
currently serving overseas.
For each card created online, Xerox will print and mail that card to a
service-member. What better way to thank our troops for their service?
Please take a few moments during this busy holiday season, and remember
those who cannot be with loved ones. It's completely free and only takes
a few minutes of your time, but it is priceless to those who receive it.
Be a careful consumer this holiday season. As the holidays approach, many people are
on the lookout for the best possible deals. Don't let the lure of low
prices make you a victim of scams, identity theft, or worse.
Here are a few tips to make your holiday shopping safer:
1. Only go to recognized shopping websites. If you find a fringe website
with deals that seem too good to be true, they probably are.
2. Many websites offer special discounts to members. It will ask for
billing information, and what you may not realize is that you will begin
to get charged monthly for these discounts. Over time, the discounts are
nothing compared to the fees.
3. Don't enter your credit card information into any website that does
not have a safety certificate. Look for the lock symbol in your internet
browser to be sure.
When in doubt, do your shopping in person rather than online. Click
here for a list of local merchants
offering special discounts to veterans.
Education on the Move Are you looking for a way to keep your
skills current even when away from home? If so, there are lots of great
resources online that can help you achieve your goals, keep those skills
fresh, and even earn continuing education credit -- all for FREE.
As some of you may know, there are countless ways to learn. The two most
popular methods are in-person classes and online classes. If you are on
the move constantly, either getting stationed different places,
deployed, or in a field that requires lots of travel, online is the way
to go.
If technology is your interest, you will not find a better resource than
GCF Learn Free. GCF offers
self-paced online tutorials on Microsoft Office applications, job
skills, and even new media like Facebook. They also offer online classes
that you can take to earn CEU's. Again, everything on this site is free!
Another great resource is
Custom Guide,
an online directory that has countless handouts and "cheat sheets" to
make anyone a pro in Excel or Word.
Last but not least, the Kuder
Quick Reference Guide is out there for all the people who haven't
picked a career path yet. There are multiple assessments that will help
you discover what you might excel at or be most successful in. This
process can take up to an hour but is a valuable tool to find your next
career.
IMPORTANT SAFETY NEWS
According to national reports, a new telephone scam is now being aimed
at veterans. This new scam uses Veterans Administration records to
access names and basic contact information of American veterans. They
call veterans, claiming that there has been a change in VA status and
they must get all your pertinent information, like your social security
number, claims number, and mother’s maiden name.Some even ask for banking information for quicker service.
Never give these kinds of information out over the phone. Always require
they send you written documentation, a call-back number, and the name of
a local associate you can speak to. When in doubt, call your case
manager at the VA or Vocational Rehabilitation and confirm that this
information is needed and will be protected.
Some other warning signs for phone scams:
·There is an
immediate need for the information, has to be done now.
·The caller cannot
answer basic questions about your history or case management.
·It is after
standard business hours; generally, after 5 PM is not legitimate.
·There is a pressure
sales feeling, or mentions of a limited-time offer.
·The caller cannot
give you their information for you to confirm.
It
is NEVER safe to give these kinds of information over the internet or
phone.
Protect your identity; no one else will.
Feature Article:
An Interview with Tony Carmichael
Success has taken one of Fast Forward’s best ambassador veterans off the Ready Active list. Now that veteran Tony Carmichael has the job he was striving for, he can no longer drop in at 3223 Devine Street to talk up the advantages the community technology center offers veterans.
“I still come as often as I can, but my new job is a full commitment,” said Carmichael, who just began a civilian Information Systems position at Shaw Field AFB.
While he was searching for the right job, one that would build upon his military experience in that field, he frequented Fast Forward, to participate in programming, to brain storm with other veterans, and to give Executive Director Dee Albritton a hand wherever she needed one.
“After I retired from my military career in June 2008, I was looking for an upper-edge advantage because competition was stiff.” Although Carmichael worked in top security areas and did some pretty cutting edge work, he didn’t have a way to prove parallels between what civilian employers needed and what he could provide.
“It didn’t matter that I had two degrees and Information Technician attached to my name; I didn’t have on my resume what they wanted to see to consider me for some of the better jobs.”
Not finding something in his field right away, he took a job at Wal-Mart to support his family. “In my searches I noticed that jobs I was interested in had WorkKeys certification as a base requirement. I didn’t even know what that was!”
Carmichael learned that WorkKeys® job skills assessment system primarily targets
industry jobs applicants. “The assessment connects real world work skills, training and testing, and both employers and educational institutions use it,” said Carmichael. “The purpose is to set benchmarks.”
Applied technology, an area in which Carmichael is well versed, is one for which WorkKeys assesses. “Also math and business writing,” said Carmichael, whose writing during his military career was limited primarily to technical writing and letters home from his various assignment locations around the world.
Through his vet network, Carmichael was encouraged to find a program to help veterans entering the civilian workforce. “So when I discovered Fast Forward, the stipend to cover the cost of the WorkKeys exam was important to me – there are eight courses, and I wanted to certify in all eight areas. That could really add up!”
Once Carmichael got started in the free program that prepares veterans – of any war – to take and pass WorkKeys, he worked some at Fast Forward, some with a study group comprised of other veterans trying to better their chances in the civilian workplace, but mostly on-line from home. He mastered the requirements, and when he was ready to take them, the tests were proctored at Fast Forward. He knew almost as soon as he completed the test how he’d scored.
Carmichael began applying for industrial-type jobs. “I still didn't get many callbacks. About this time it was brought to my attention that certifications were cinching the jobs in the Information Technology (IT) arena.
As he progressed he became aware that Fast Forward had scholarships available to tackle becoming A+ certified. “The A+ certification demonstrates competency as a computer technician, which was the background basis of all the jobs I was applying for, including the industrial jobs.”
Carmicheal said Fast Forward provided the study material, including books, software and
access to online computer based training in preparation for the A+ exam, which was paid for with the scholarship.
“After securing the A+ certification, the doors started opening,” Carmichael said, “and I started receiving callbacks - finally I could pick and choose which job I would accept.
Ultimately, I went with the job located closest to where I live that paid the most.”
With his A+ certification now solidly on his resume, Carmichael learned – again from Fast Forward – that he could continue working on certifications. “I immediately enrolled in the Network+ certification program.” Carmichael explained that Network+ is a certification used to measure skill as a network technician: understanding of network hardware, installation, and troubleshooting. “Being Network+ -certified further advanced my career; it put me into a higher status where I can earn more.”
Realizing there was still more potential to grab, Carmichael went for the Security+ certification. “This too was at no cost to me, like the Workkeys assessments. All of this was provided by Fast Forward. Without them, I would not be where I am today. I love what I’m doing, but there is always room to grow.”
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