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Veterans leading the way in helping others |
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November 7, 2017 |
By U.S. Senator Mike Crapo
Idaho veterans and veterans service providers
have been among those assisting with hurricane
recovery and other emergency response. Staff
from the Boise Veterans Affairs Medical Center
headed to Puerto Rico to assist. Area veterans
and veterans service providers have skills of
great use in a variety of fields, especially
emergency response.
They are highly trained, hard workers, who above
all, have a deep personal understanding of what
service means. They know what it is to overcome
extreme conditions, fatigue and exhaustion to
work together to assist others and save lives.
Astute government agencies and organizations
recognize this and tap into the skills of area
veterans and military personnel to the benefit
of our communities.
The U.S. Department of Interior’s Bureau of Land
Management (BLM) has recruited veterans for its
wildland fire crews recognizing that they have
strong leadership, communication, team work,
logistical abilities, emergency medicine and
more necessary for effective fire response.
The BLM reports that, “People who work with
these Veterans report that they are dedicated,
first-rate fire crews who have transferred their
love of public service to protecting America’s
public lands.”
Similarly, the U.S. Forest Service recruits
veterans for wildland firefighting programs,
such as the Veterans Fire Corps.
Time and time again, veterans step up to serve
others. They are often among the first ones in
our communities to offer a helping hand. From
welcoming returning veterans to assisting with
navigating veterans services to providing
listening ears and warm meals, veterans are
consistently there and serving with
extraordinary dedication and know-how.
We can all learn from the devoted service of
veterans and help to honor their service by
following their examples and helping to advance
opportunities to leverage their talents in our
communities.
The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA)
provides resources for veterans and others to
volunteer. These include opportunities for
businesses to start company-sponsored volunteer
opportunities to assist veterans and students to
obtain experience and training while assisting
veterans at VA medical centers.
There are also opportunities to assist with
providing transportation for veterans seeking
medical services, participating in welcome home
events for returning veterans and more.
Information about these volunteer programs can
be accessed at
www.volunteer.va.gov.
At www.va.gov/jobs,
the VA also provides resources aimed at
employing the great experience of veterans in
our nation’s workforce.
As we celebrate veterans and their service
during Veterans Day this month, I will be
focusing my guest columns on honoring veterans’
service through effectively employing their
skills and experience when they return home and
ensuring access to resources that support their
service and reflect their commitment to our
nation. |
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