[Congressional Record Volume 144, Number 144 (Monday, October 12, 1998)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E2095]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




  A TRIBUTE TO THE CENTER FOR MILITARY AND PRIVATE SECTOR INITIATIVES

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                            HON. JERRY LEWIS

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                        Monday, October 12, 1998

  Mr. LEWIS of California. Mr. Speaker, while the end of the Cold War 
eased international tensions, it led to a significant downsizing of the 
U.S. armed forces. Nearly one tenth of our country's population, or 26 
million people, have served in uniform. Over two million have left 
military service since the end of the Gulf War. Approximately 275,000 
veterans of military service are being discharged each year, projected 
well into the next century. Once again, as in previous post-war 
periods, American employers have the opportunity to access men and 
women returning to civilian life in large numbers.
  Unlike previous periods, when American were drafted for service, 
these men and women are volunteers. Surprisingly, the harsh reality for 
many of them is that a successful military career is not a guarantee of 
gainful employment in the private sector. This is a startling 
phenomenon, especially considering the extensive experience, diverse 
talents, and strong work ethic of military professionals. Clearly, much 
needs to be done to uncover and address the reasons for the continued 
underutilization of this highly trained and motivated force.
  Indeed, a comprehensive survey conducted for the Joint Chiefs of 
Staff by a national executive search firm, Wesley, Brown and Bartle 
(WB&B) reports that stereotypes and myths caused businesses and 
professional recruiting services to discard an alarmingly high 
percentage of resumes submitted by our veterans.
  There are disturbing dimensions to the problem. The Bureau of Labor 
Statistics reports that the jobless rate for male veterans discharged 
since 1994 is seven percent, considerably higher than the current 
national average of 4.5 percent of all Americans. The rate of 
unemployment for female veterans is 5.9 percent. Even more alarming is 
the state of underemployment of former military. Our downsizing of the 
Army by 60 percent since the Gulf War has thrust hundreds of thousands 
of early retirees from military service into the private sector. The 
WB&B survey showed that they are not being welcomed as they should be 
by civilian employers, perhaps only because only one in every 147 of 
them has prior active duty military service, compared with one in every 
ten after World War II. Indeed, retired Admiral Stanley Arthur, the 
Navy's top commander in the Gulf War, said that ``the military is no 
longer an institution with which most--even many--people can 
identify.''
  A random survey of 1700 recently transitioned military personnel 
found most of them to be active job seekers. More than half of them 
sent out at least 50 resumes. Another 30 percent distributed more than 
100 resumes. Three in every four of them received not one reply. Only 
one of about every six who heard back received even a single job offer. 
Among those who accepted, 80 percent were found to earn less than 
$20,000.
  Wesley, Brown and Bartle is to be commended for founding the Center 
for Military and Private Sector Initiatives which was established to 
help military men and women more effectively transition from active 
duty to civilian life. Through the Center, corporate America has a rare 
opportunity to forge partnerships that will positively impact the 
transition of military professionals and enhance America's workforce.
  Mr. Speaker, the Center for Military and Private Sector Initiatives 
is to be commended for providing American business with the value that 
former military professionals bring to the workplace, making corporate 
America more competitive. When American businesses capitalizes on the 
value of the military experience, America wins.

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