Wong to Congress: Address vet employment

By Steve B. Brooks - September 21, 2011
Posted in National Commander

National Commander Fang A. Wong addresses a joint session of Senate and House Veterans' Affairs Committees. Photo by Craig Roberts

As the federal government deals with a trillion dollar budget deficit, many difficult spending and reduction decisions will need to be made. And while The American Legion completely understands this predicament, it doesn't want those decisions to strip away or pare down benefits that America's veterans truly have earned.

National Commander Fang A. Wong presented that message during a Wednesday hearing in front of a joint session of the House and Senate Veterans' Affairs Committees. Wong presented the Legion's legislative priorities during the hearing, focusing on veterans employment, the Department of Veterans Affairs' claims backlog, and the treatment of post-traumatic stress and traumatic brain injuries.

But before he finished, Wong made it clear the Legion's stance on dealing with the budget crisis.

"The American Legion understands the financial challenges our nation now faces," he said. "The Legion understands that tough spending decisions are coming. That is why the Legion greatly appreciates the assurances our veterans have been given - from members of Congress, (VA Secretary Eric Shinseki) and the president himself at our national convention - that benefits earned by those who've served our country in uniform won't be sacrificed to achieve budget goals. Our veterans have sacrificed enough. They have paid in full their debt to society. However, the debt society owes them is quite another matter, and it's a matter that The American Legion strongly believes this committee is willing to address."

Wong said Congress needs to pass the Military Construction and VA Appropriations measure by Oct. 1 to assure a seamless transmission of benefits to veterans. "Don't condemn VA to another round of uncertainty through a series of continuing resolutions," Wong said. "You are so close to the finish line. Help start this fiscal year off on the right foot for veterans."

Wong spoke at length about the job crisis facing the country's veterans - a figure of more than 1 million veterans without employment, including 632,000, ages 35-60. Congress can pass legislation creating incentives to promote the hiring of veterans to help reduce those figures. "Civilian licensing agencies must recognize military training, education and experience when a veteran transitions to the civilian workforce," Wong said. "A soldier who drives a truck in a convoy through hazardous routes in Iraq can drive a truck to get eggs to market on time in the American Midwest. A Navy corpsman who saved Marines on the battlefields of Afghanistan has the skills to render emergency aid as an EMT back home. Yet the education, training and experience garnered from military service is not recognized by civilian licensing and certification agencies.

"The American Legion urges Congress to work with DoD, the Department of Labor and VA to find a way to translate these skills and put these veterans to work where they can make an impact. They have already proven they know how to do these things. Give them a chance to use these valuable capabilities in the workplace."

Wong said a key to turning around the unemployment crisis is a stronger effort by the federal government to hire veterans. "Eighty percent of veterans employed by the federal government are employed by one of three departments - Defense, Homeland Security and Veterans Affairs," he said. "Surely there are other areas where veterans can be key contributors. Like the civilian workplace, federal employers need to realize the military prepares people to be team players, top-notch planners and winners. We need to stop asking why the Departments of Education, the Interior, or Energy would hire a veteran and start asking ‘why not?' If we're going to show America's private employers that a veteran has the job skills to succeed in any environment, the government needs to set the example."

But, Wong said, the private sector must also be involved. He praised Sen. Patty Murray, D-Wash., chairwoman of the Senate Veterans Affairs' Committee, as well as her House counterpart, Rep. Jeff Miller, R-Fla., for legislation they've advanced that provide incentives for hiring veterans.

"The American Legion hopes you will collaborate and bring your parties together to get a jobs bill for America's veterans passed," Wong said. "It is our obligation as a nation to ensure that every single member of the military who chooses to leave the military can effectively transfer his or her education, training and experience into a civilian career field."

Wong also addressed a VA claims backlog of more than 1 million that leaves many veterans footing the bill for their medication or treatment. "Some are forced to choose between medication and food on the table," he said. "Some go into massive debt while waiting for VA to rule; even a retroactive settlement can't repair a credit history or return a home lost through a mortgage default."

Accuracy, Wong said, is the only way to shrink the backlog. "Unfortunately, VA still is using speed as the primary measurement of success," he said. "But as we all know, when we rush, we make errors. Who pays the price when errors are made in this instance? I'll tell you who: the veteran, who may see a claims process go from nine months to five years because of one error.

"VA needs to develop a better mechanism for tracking errors, and it needs to use the knowledge of those errors to make a better training system. Everyone makes mistakes; the key is the ability to learn from those mistakes and avoid them in the future. VA and others will complain that training time takes away from time spent working on claims, but do you want somebody working on those claims if they don't know how to do it right?"

A key to reducing the backlog, Wong said, is VA and DoD getting back on track with the Virtual Lifetime Electronic Record. "The GAO report last February that highlighted severe problems with implementation is troubling to The American Legion, which has been promised more seamless transitions for years," he said. "The VLER needs to be a coordinated effort, with frequent and clear lines of communication, to be effective. "

Wong also briefed the committee on the Legion's ad-hoc committee on PTS and TBI, which has met several times and heard from national experts on mental health, and military, VA and private-sector specialists to consider new strategies to meet the needs of veterans suffering from either condition.

"If this American Legion committee has learned one thing, it's that there is no magic bullet for curing post-traumatic stress and traumatic brain injury, and if the treatment works, regardless of what the treatment is, it should be used to help the suffering veteran," Wong said. "Prescriptions are not always the only answer, and sometimes, drugs only make the condition worse, especially if they are drugs issued under a ‘fail first' philosophy when medical science is absolutely sure of the efficiency of other drugs.

"Other options need to be explored. And the cost of researching and implementing those options shouldn't be an issue. The toll of war does not end at discharge. For those who are disabled, physically or mentally, it is a lifelong engagement."

For video highlights of the hearing, click here.

For a transcript of the hearing, as well as the Legion's written testimony, click here.

 

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mstyron

September 22, 2011 - 1:16am

It is good that we want military training to be recognized. That will only fix part of the problem but we need to transition the Veteran's like we did when they went to Boot Camp. They go through several weeks to learn how to act in the military but we don't spend anytime preparing them to get out of the military.

r sweney

September 22, 2011 - 3:51pm

Congratultions Commander Wong.I think you are doing an excellent job as our new Commander. Keep up the good work!

llarzelere

September 22, 2011 - 4:29pm

However, there are still veterans from previous wars not fully transitioned or employed in this economy.

There are some 14 million unemployed Americans, countless under-employed as well. This bill helps maybe 1 million unemployed, fixing maybe 7% of the problem.

The truth of the matter is that neither congress, nor the president ... nor for that matter the judiciary! ... has the ability to "fix" the unemployment problem.

The fix lies entirely with the private sector, civilian business community, who will need to muster the moral courage to dip into the mountain of cash that it has accumulated during the Great Recession, and hire 14 million Americans at middle-class wages for worthwhile employment.

The next problem is that, in so doing, they tacitly give their support to a President and Congress that are inherently anti-business. Since the government cannot tap into their reserves for them, you can pretty much assume this cannot and will not happen.

Tony Bencivenga

September 22, 2011 - 5:42pm

Wong is what we need.

Keep up the good work. Semper FI

Bob95490

September 22, 2011 - 6:59pm

Thank you Comrade Commander for so succinctly elaborating the American Legion’s Legislative Agenda; your eloquence on behalf of unemployed veterans and the need for veteran education and work experiences to be recognized by the civilian and government employment sectors

Finally, thank you for demanding the VA and DoD clean up their act as it pertains to veterans health records as well as VA personnel being trained to do their jobs properly. This was something that needed to be said and the ones you were addressing were the ones that needed to hear you.

Robert Ireland (PUFL) Post 174 Willits, CA

malfryer

September 22, 2011 - 7:49pm

As long as current federal employees, and their offspring, and families, have preference on any and all jobs with any federal agency they will prevent veterans from getting anything but the scraps. Then the other 'qualifications' of sex, race, handicap, etc. all put the veterans' preference at the bottom of the heap. This federal employee union benefit makes a folly of the veterans' preference in federal jobs.

None of them would have these high paying jobs if it weren't for the veterans, yet the veterans who were under paid and under benefitted, kept these coddled fed employees' 40 hour weeks and their 4 week vacations all safe and sound.

It ticks me off that the VA can't seem to find qualified people to work for them while at the same time taking 18 months to 'train' the people they do hire.

Hire a veteran, he/she is far more motivated than most others.

Dave Gorak

September 22, 2011 - 9:08pm

It would have been better had Commander Fong asked why the federal government continues to allow 7 million illegal aliens to keep their jobs in non-farm industries, including transportation, while 22 million Americans are unable to find full-time jobs.

His question would have reflected the Legion's concerns about the impact of mass immigration on the U.S. workforce stated in its 2007 "Policy on Illegal Immigration: A Strategy to Address Illegal Immigration in the United States."

It's way past time that Legion districts around the country stop pussyfooting around this issue and paying not much more than lip service to the need to put vets back to work. "Job fairs" alone will not cut the mustard.

John La Rochelle

September 22, 2011 - 9:40pm

Perhaps the Ameican Legion could develope a program to assist jobless veterans one on one in filling out the forms that Government Human Resources (Personnel) uses to rate veteran skills and abilities. I know from my past that the wording and the way it is written has a lot to do on how experience is rated. Talking about it will get little results.

barden_r

September 23, 2011 - 9:00am

I have read the comments here and agree with just about everything said. However to state that this Government is Anti-Business...really!!! If anything it is ANTI WORKER. Congress must address the Illegal immigration issue, and the shipping of jobs overseas. Part of the problem with this economy is that the multi millionaires/billionaires want to have the work done and not pay the workers or taxes. The President has made the statement that WE should all pay our fair share yet thinks corporate need only pay on investment but did not address income.
Middle class workers are being asked to give 100+% and not ask for anything while corporate can have their cake and eat it too.
Unemployment will never reach 0% but it is time that congress and ALL state legislations start working for the people they represent, and NOT just corporate.
A Transition from Military to civilian is a good idea but before it can work, an agenda as to what it looks like is needed.

sgtal

September 23, 2011 - 3:51pm

I applaud the Commander for pushing Employment for Veterans. Having faced problems finding work when I came hpme from work I understand the need to help our newest veterans. But we still have hundreds of thousands of "older" veterans who are still productive and in need of work. Lets get work for all veterans not just the FNGs.

Colmountain

September 24, 2011 - 1:07pm

If there is a skill in the military such as EMT's,Firefighters,Military Police, etc. They should be equivalent to standards in the private sector and as such should be transferable to the private sector as licensed , if required. Also Veterans that get a job should entitle the employer for 1/2 pay for the training period. This would encourage to give our veterans a chance in the marketplace for a job. This is a small cost to pay for our freedom that the veteran fought for all of us. Fair is fair. Also if 2 people have same qualifications except one is a veteran they should have a higher standing then the non veteran. We have many issues in the country but all veterans have given more and deserve the respect for serving.If someone does not like it, join one of the services and serve!

FedHRXpert

September 25, 2011 - 7:26am

Part IV Federal Employment of Veterans

Better, more effective and efficient federal hiring of veterans and severely disabled veterans is readily available which can be implemented overnight nationally, by state by county, by metro area, etc. and worldwide. This national initiative would not require a Presidential Executive Order or a congressional act. Most national &and multinational corporations have used this approach for years. So why can't the nation's largest employer - the federal govt us it? Have the American Legion contact me if they want to see better results overnight. I am a Vietnam Vet, SDVOSB registered,certified and a federal employment expert. As my website reflects, I am available 24/7 to brief, advise, train & coach service providers, VSO, TAP, DTAP, DVOP & LVERS couselors including voc-rehab specialists on all aspects of federal employment worldwide including conducting technical reviews of federal hiring practices whic resulted in these findings. Semper fi.

FedHRXpert

September 25, 2011 - 7:35am

Part I Federal Employment of Veterans

The bad news is that OPM's report on federal employment of vets for FY2010 indicates less than 10% of ALL NEW 30%+ disabled vets hired in 2009 and 2010 were hired NONCOMPETITIVELY despite being eligible for noncompetitive appointments. This finding does not support the widely held but negative perception that disabled veterans are being hired noncompetitively. That’s why it is important to share this data in support of transparency and fact which would otherwise never be made known to the public by HR to disquiet the current backlash against veterans and veteran preference eligibles.

Adjusted for merit promotion selections, OPM’s hiring data for vets indicates more than 90% or 13,892 of the new 15,435 30%+ disabled vet-hires in 2010 & 90% or 12,156 of 13,507 30%+ disabled hires in 2009 were actually hired COMPETITIVELY! The good news is that disabled vets are competing successfully for federal jobs.

FedHRXpert

September 25, 2011 - 7:50am

Part II Federal Employment of Veterans
OPM’s hiring data on vets indicates severely disabled vet-hires, despite being highly qualified & noncompetitive appointment eligible, are being required to compete for jobs they could easily & simply be appointed to noncompetitively! This is because HR offices opt to use traditional time & labor consuming competitive procedures to fill federal jobs despite expressed interests by mgmt officials to fill jobs faster. Agency Chief Human Capital Officers (CHCOs) & HR offices blame staffing delays and other HR issues on the existing federal personnel system which they say is too rigid, inflexible & outdated. Yet the hiring data reflects agency HR offices themselves under the oversight of CHCOs are opting to use old traditional time & labor consuming competitive procedures instead of using available streamlined noncompetitive hiring authorities such as those for disabled vets. Traditional hiring procedures create work for HR & scores of applicant

FedHRXpert

September 25, 2011 - 8:18am

Part III Federal Employment of Veterans

Aside from the time, effort and resources expended by HR offics when they opt to use competitive hiring procedures is the time, effort and resources expended by ALL applicant obtaining data, writing, editing their resumes, experience statements, KSAs, responding to questionnaires, copy work, etc. to meet the closing date of the vacancy announcement. Notably, most applicants have yet to hear back from HR ofcs on the status and outcome of their applications. Combined, these staffing practices of using competitive hiring procedures instead of noncompetitive hiring highly qualified eligibles such as disabled vets has resulted in a public relations problems for agencies and a negative backlash against veterans & veterans preference. The absence of analytics & greater detail in OPM's report on veteran hires left much to the interpretation & imagination of untrained readers. Which warranted further technical review of the data. Much more to report.

daveniles

January 18, 2012 - 5:54pm

I believe that the veterans hiring preferance is a joke. I have applied to many jobs to which I am fully quilified on USAJobs and heard squate back except to say that I did not meet the cut. Retired First Sergeant, Military Police Officer and Intelligence anaylst with real world experience. Now I am a Correctional Sergeant with the State of Washington and I still don't make the cut for a federal job. Give me a break.

Thomsbr

February 26, 2012 - 12:15am

Regarding your article "Ill Winds of change", I must point out that accused traitor Bradley Manning helped motivate the democratic Arab Spring movements.

MAJ Dave

February 1, 2013 - 1:40pm

I miss National Commander Wong. He had a very clearly-stated and well-articulated Legislative Agenda that focused on the Military and Veterans Issues. He spoke for all of us, and he commanded the respect of both parties in Congress, thus furthering our cause. The Current National Commander, Jimmie Foster, has taken all of this great work and thrown it in the dirt. Foster's legislative agenda has nothing to do with Veterans. His priority seems to be on immigration and so-called amnesty, rather than on Veterans and our Families. He speaks out of turn, he divides the membership, he fails to represent us, and he has tossed aside our Veterans and their issues in order to focus on his own personal far-right-wing agenda. He has also alienated more than half of those Congressmen and Senators whose support we need for Veterans Causes by instead focusing on divisive and comples immigration issues; they will now not listen to a word he says, but rather write him (and therefore us!) off as a quack. Perhaps National Commander Wong would be willing to come back and serve the remainder of National Commander Foster's term and focusing on getting us back on a good solid legislative agenda and on furthering the cause of Veterans?

leupold74

March 15, 2013 - 10:16am

What is the American Legion's position on "Gun Control" at the Federal level? And, NYS Safe Act?

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