| For some soldiers, leaving active duty service and | | | | projects, while the Secretary of Defense provides |
| entering the workforce is a frightening prospect. | | | | veterans with employment in military construction |
| Many of these individuals might worry that they will | | | | projects. In addition to programs that would help |
| have trouble finding a job during the difficult | | | | veterans build upon existing information technology |
| economy or that their military skill set will not be | | | | and healthcare skills when entering careers in these |
| enough to help them compete with college degree | | | | fields, the Veterans Employment Act directs the |
| holders. However, many federal and private | | | | Labor Secretary to encourage the employment of |
| organizations have launched programs to help | | | | veterans in the energy industry. |
| veterans ease this transition. | | | | Some veterans interested in filling state jobs related |
| Returning soldiers might consider taking college | | | | to the environment and increasingly "green" jobs |
| courses or enrolling in degree programs online or on | | | | within the energy industry and elsewhere might |
| campus as part of Montgomery GI Bill benefits. | | | | consider online degree and certificate programs that |
| Individuals who served in any branch of the US | | | | could help them update existing skills. A 2009 White |
| Armed Forces for more than 90 days after the date | | | | House study estimates that by 2016 green jobs will |
| of September 10, 2001, are also eligible to take | | | | have grown by 52 percent from 2000 levels. To |
| advantage of a Post-9/11 GI Bill that could help them | | | | create what some refer to as "green collar" jobs, |
| complete campus-based or online degree programs | | | | President Barack Obama in 2008 said he would spend |
| by paying up to the highest in-state tuition and fees. | | | | $150 billion over the course of a decade, a Time |
| In addition, for some, there are allowances for | | | | magazine article reported. |
| housing and books. A US Senate Committee on | | | | Veterans have an array of college, university and |
| Veterans Affairs in August approved an expansion of | | | | technical school programs related to the environment |
| the Post-9/11 GI Bill as well. | | | | from which to choose. Institutions throughout the |
| The expansion is known as the Veterans | | | | country last year established or announced more |
| Employment Act of 2010. With it, veterans would | | | | than 113 academic programs with sustainability |
| receive Post-9/11 educational assistance also for | | | | focuses, the Association for Advancement of |
| apprenticeships and job training, and the Labor | | | | Sustainability in Education reports. As Illinois colleges |
| Secretary would provide monthly allowances to | | | | and universities add new green classes, they're filling |
| unemployed veterans enrolled in eligible full-time | | | | up quickly, a summer 2010 report in suburban |
| employment training programs where they learn skills | | | | Chicago's Daily Herald noted. In California, where the |
| related to in-demand careers. The Veterans | | | | state intends to slash carbon emissions by 25 percent |
| Employment Act also calls for ways that colleges, | | | | into 2020, gas and electric companies have |
| universities and technical schools could provide | | | | suggested that mechanics be trained in natural gas |
| veterans with academic credit for military experience | | | | technology, an article in the community college |
| and training. | | | | magazine Affinityonline reported. |
| The unemployment rate among Iraq and Afghanistan | | | | The focus at community colleges particularly is on |
| veterans for July 2010 was 11.8 percent, about 4 | | | | training for "green collar" jobs that Affinityonline |
| percent higher than the rate for the same month last | | | | reports often require manual labor. These types of |
| year, as well as the July 2010 rate for veterans | | | | jobs might be found in sectors such as energy, |
| overall, according to the Marine Corps Times. The | | | | agriculture, construction, transportation and |
| Veterans Employment Act calls for the Small Business | | | | alternative fuels - and they don't necessarily require a |
| Administration to help veterans of Operations Iraqi | | | | bachelor's degree, the online publication noted. |
| Freedom and Enduring Freedom in some areas to | | | | Veterans particularly are a focus of natural gas |
| receive entrepreneurial training and counseling and to | | | | programs scheduled to start in 2011 at a community |
| assist veterans who own and control businesses. | | | | college and a technical school in Pennsylvania, where |
| States, on the other hand, through grants would be | | | | they might receive instruction in welding and brazing, |
| able to establish volunteer and employment | | | | rotary drilling and more. |
| opportunities for veterans in state conservation | | | | |