Returning Vets Have Mixed Results Finding Employment

June 23—LAKELAND — On first impression, Jordan Imig seems older than his 24 years.

He speaks softly and with the tranquil demeanor of a man who is not easily rattled. A stock clerk at the Lake Miriam Square Publix, he said he hopes to move up in the company and looks forward to the day he can buy shares in the employee-owned chain. There are plans for college, too.

Imig wears an apron and name tag these days, but he used to wear a helmet and carry a rifle as an infantryman in the Army.

"I would say a lot of that (military experience) flowed over into here," said Imig, a Lakeland native and Afghanistan veteran. "You're taught to dress nice and be respectful, to stay motivated and keep rolling. … I'm able to just go in and find my way, and kind of blend in with everyone else."

Publix wouldn't mind recruiting others like Imig. The Lakeland-based grocer is conducting an online and social media campaign to promote job openings that might fit veterans' skills — positions that include culinary, warehouse, manufacturing, maintenance and corporate jobs.

"It's to help veterans know that we have many positions that match their skills and experience," said Publix spokesman Brian West. "The campaign was inspired by our desire to continue to enrich the diversity of our workforce, since the military includes people from all backgrounds."

Finding work for the nation's returning veterans has been an ongoing challenge. The unemployment rate for recent vets is falling, yet it continues to exceed the national level.

The jobless rate for veterans who served at any time since September 2001 was 9 percent last year, according to the most recent available data from the Department of Labor. That was down from 9.9 percent in 2012; the overall U.S. unemployment rate was 6.3 percent in May.

Recent vets have struggled to find work in a post-recession job market that has been difficult for many job hunters. Skills taught by the military don't always match up with employers' requirements, and research indicates that post-traumatic stress, or perceptions about PTSD, are still barriers to employment.

EFFORTS LAUNCHED

A number of businesses have stepped up their efforts to employ veterans. Hiring Our Heroes, a U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation program launched in March 2011, said that more than 1,500 companies have pledged to hire 411,000 vets as part of the effort, with 255,000 veterans hired thus far. Participating firms include CVS, General Motors and Verizon.

A Wal-Mart program, the Veterans Welcome Home Commitment, offers to hire any honorably discharged veteran within their first year off active duty. The retailer expects to hire more than 100,000 vets through 2018.

Imig said he feels lucky about how his own job search panned out. He left the Army in June 2013 after a four-year stint and was hired by Publix in September.

The transition back to civilian life "was challenging. It took me about three months just to get fully used to it, because you've got your sleep schedule you're trying to get used to, and being around family and friends again," he said. "You can't do much but give it time, merge in slowly."

Another Lakeland vet, Chris Fortin, has been disillusioned by his experiences trying to find work. Fortin, 30, joined the Marine Corps in 2002, was part of the Iraq invasion the following year, and saw intense combat in Fallujah — "hence the Purple Heart," Fortin said, referring to the medal he received after a roadside bomb sprayed his face with shrapnel.

Fortin left the Marines in August after a career that included running a local recruiting office. He has applied for jobs ranging from warehouse positions to insurance sales, but has yet to land an offer. The married father of two children says he cannot afford to work a minimum wage job with irregular hours.

In August, Fortin will begin training to become a firefighter, and said he hopes that will finally lead to a stable job. For now, his family is making due with his wife's salary as a teacher, and loans from his parents.

"Not to toot my own horn, but I'm combat-decorated and have been recognized as a recruiter," the Lakeland native said. "When I got out, I thought, 'I'm going to be golden' as far as contacts and people respecting where I come from and what I've done — valuing my skills and experience.

"I've been looking for a job the entire time I've been out," Fortin said. "It's very, very disheartening."

[ Kyle Kennedy can be reached at kyle.kennedy@theledger.com or 863-802-7584. ]

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