GI jobs: states are helping veterans find good jobs based on the training and education they received in the military.

• Author: Reed, James B.
• Position: VETERANS AFFAIRS

When millions of veterans flooded home after World War II, the federal GI Bill helped them pay for their education, find a job and survive unemployment. Most agree the legislation fueled job growth, helped the economy absorb the new workers and created a new cadre of entrepreneurs. The economic boom that followed lifted millions of Americans into the middle class.

Today, tens of thousands of service men and women are returning home from the Middle East and the post-9/11 GI Bill helps them assimilate, as do many other services offered by all levels of government, nonprofit organizations and private businesses.

The real key to veterans adjusting to life back home is finding a good job. But even with the support, the tough job market and sluggish economy makes that difficult. Veterans and their wives and husbands face some unique obstacles in finding and retaining civilian jobs, even when they have marketable skills.

Many have received specialized training in the military for jobs that would require a state occupational license or credential in the civilian world. But military preparation isn't always recognized or valued in the civilian world.

And that's where state lawmakers are trying to make a difference.

Experience Counts

"Montana is working hard to get separating and retiring service members to work," says Senator Elsie Arntzen (R) of Montana, adding that the state's unemployment rate for post-9/11 veterans is 17.5 percent, while the state average is only 5.7 percent. "It is critical that we give recognition for military service and training for state licensing, to help these Montanans transition into jobs in the private workforce."

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Several state legislatures have made changes to occupational licensing requirements to more readily recognize and accept military training, education and experience, particularly in jobs related to military specialties.

States regulate hundreds of occupations, mostly in the health field, through various boards and agencies. Typically, to qualify for a license, four elements are considered: a person's formal education, work experience, score on the licensing exam, and basic qualifications such as citizenship and residency.

Maryland lawmakers, in 2007, passed some of the first legislation requiring state licensing agencies to work together to identify barriers veterans face in using their military health care training and experience to qualify for state licenses. Since then, most state legislatures have considered how best to ease the red tape for veterans in their states.

The most common policy change, made so far in 34 states, has been to allow military training, education and experience to count when considering an occupational license. Another nine states are still considering the issue.

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"Americans in military service receive world-class training, education and experience during their time in uniform, assets...