IAVA - The Campaign | Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America

No veteran should come home from Iraq and Afghanistan to an unemployment check.

STORM THE HILL: THE FIGHT AGAINST VETERAN UNEMPLOYMENT

Storm the Hill is IAVA’s premiere advocacy and leadership development program. We bring dozens of diverse Iraq and Afghanistan veterans from across the country to Washington to meet with lawmakers, tell their stories and urge them to pass targeted legislation. In prior years, we’ve focused on passing the New GI Bill, securing Advanced Funding for VA healthcare and improving the disability reform process. This year, like in 2011, we’re focusing on fighting veteran unemployment.   

America’s best veteran career-training program, the New GI Bill, is at risk. And we’re fighting to protect it from predatory for-profit schools so our vets get the career-ready education they’ve earned. At Storm the Hill 2012, we’re calling for Congress to protect the New GI Bill that makes career-ready education possible for thousands of new vets across the country.   

Storm the Hill is also a training resource designed to empower Member Veterans to become leaders, organizers and spokespeople for the New Greatest Generation.

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IAVA is fighting veteran joblessness through our innovative year-long Combat to Career campaign to help the over 2.2 million veterans of Iraq and Afghanistan successfully transition into the civilian workforce. Veteran unemployment was nearly 30% in some states in 2010 - click here to see where your state stacks up in our infographic. Then click the icons below to learn more about our efforts working with the public and private sectors to lower the new veteran unemployment rate by Veterans Day 2011.

PUBLIC SECTOR | PRIVATE SECTOR | SUPPORTERS

CONGRESS

On November 21, 2011, IAVA Member Veterans Maria Canales, Eric Smith, Brian Sullivan and IAVA Founder and Executive Director Paul Rieckhoff will join President Obama on stage at the White House as he signs The VOW to Hire Heroes Act into law. For nearly two years, IAVA has pushed Congress for legislation to stem the rising tide of veteran unemployment. Thanks to the bipartisan leadership of Chairman Patty Murray (D-WA) and Chairman Jeff Miller (R FL-1), and the tireless efforts of IAVA staff, members and supporters from around the country, veterans will soon be better prepared for the civilian workforce.

Included in the VOW to Hire Heroes Act are provisions that will:

Make the Transition Assistance Program (TAP) mandatory for service members transitioning to civilian life to help them secure 21st century jobs through resume-writing workshops and career counseling.
Help veterans translate their military skills and certifications into similar jobs in the civilian work force.
Expand education and training opportunities for older veterans by providing 100,000 unemployed veterans of past eras and wars with up to 1-year of additional Montgomery GI benefits for education or training programs at community colleges or technical schools.
Provide disabled veterans up to one year of additional vocational rehabilitation and employment benefits.
Allow service members to begin the federal employment process prior to separation in order to facilitate a truly seamless transition from the military to jobs at VA, the Department of Homeland Security, and the many other federal agencies in need of our veterans.
Authorize tax credits of up to $5,600 for businesses that hire veterans who have been looking for a job for more than six months, as well as a $2,400 credit for veterans who are unemployed for more than 4 weeks but less than 6 months.
Authorize tax credits of up to $9,600 for businesses that hire veterans with service-connected disabilities who have been looking for a job for more than six months.

LOCAL GOVERNMENTS

IAVA is coordinating with state and local governments to connect Iraq and Afghanistan veterans with employment resources and opportunities in their communities like San Fransisco's innovative 311 Veterans Portal. IAVA has also testified before the New York City Council on what is needed to build a better support system for new veterans, including providing liaisons within city departments to address the unique needs of veterans, particularly those of Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation Enduring Freedom.

BUSINESSES

IAVA is also working with corporate and nonprofit partners to develop programs like CB Richard Ellis (CBRE) who is working with IAVA to launch a new mentorship program for veterans who are interested in the commercial real estate industry. IAVA and the US Chamber of Commerce recently partnered for the first of five annual smart job fairs nationwide, directly fighting veteran unemployment by providing opportunities for veteran members to meet with vet-friendly businesses. To learn more about IAVA's work with other non-profits and employers, check out our Employers page.

To solve this national crisis IAVA calls on corporate leaders to:

Provide research funding and resources for a study on the similarities and differences between Department of Defense (DOD) and civilian vocational certifications and licenses. This study should be conducted through coordination between private business and trade groups, educational institutions and the Departments of Labor (DOL), Veteran Affairs (VA), Defense and Education.
Improve industry standards for protecting the jobs of Reservists and National Guardsmen beyond the USERRA protections and provide additional training to ensure that they have the same level of training and seniority as their nonveteran peers.
Ensure access to capital, insurance and bonding to small business owners in the National Guard and Reserves to mitigate the effects of frequent and lengthy deployments.
Establish a set of best practices for recruiting, hiring, employing and retaining veterans.
Facilitate the development of internal veterans affinity groups and encourage support and mentorship programs across veteran and civilian employees.
Launch a national employment and career database for veterans that connect veterans with jobs that value their unique knowledge and experience.
Convene a cross-sector summit on veteran employment that connects veterans, corporate leaders and community-based nonprofit organizations.
In partnership with the DOD, VA and DOL, collaborate with corporate America and community based non-profits to facilitate transition from the military to civilian workforce.

Together, we can show the 2.2 million veterans of Iraq and Afghanistan and their families that we’ve got their back – and make this new generation of veterans the Next Greatest Generation.

SUPPORTERS

IAVA encourages every American to open new doors for Iraq and Afghanistan veterans by donating, pledging their support online at Stormthehill.org and sharing Combat to Career campaign information in their local communities. To celebrate July 4th, one patriotic community in Maryland decided to donate the proceeds from their lemonade stand to IAVA as their way of showing support to the men and women who keep our country free. Thank you Indian Springs for having vets backs!