Finding and keeping employment when the road is long.

Sam Taylor's transition home has posed some challenges. Sam, 26, joined the United States Army eight days after his high school graduation and then spent time in training, graduating from the Army's Air Assault School. A member of Charlie Company, 1st Battalion, 502nd Infantry Regiment of the 101st Airborne Division, "we went on the initial assault" into Iraq, he says. He was 22 years old at the time. Sam's tour in Iraq was from March 2003 to February 2004. "I don't even remember before I was in," Sam says.

Starting as a private, Sam was promoted to sergeant and served as a squad leader, responsible for himself and seven other Soldiers. Now diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), Sam says, "I think that has to do not so much with what I've seen as the stress I was put under," with the responsibility of others' lives in his hands, at a very young age. Even now, "I worry about the guys 24/7," he says.

Returning to civilian life is like "being spit back out on Earth after it (the war) chews you up," he says. "When I first came back, I was having panic attacks," he said. While he has made progress in his recovery, there are still challenges. Sam had tried a lot of different jobs on his return. "It's pretty rough trying to work and trying to maintain some sort of level of awareness in my brain," he says. Sam describes feeling "fuzziness" in his head. "That's kind of what I feel like most days," he says. However, he received help in his job search through Veteran Community Initiatives, Inc. (VCI) and he is able to maintain a job at the Defense and Veterans Brain Injury Center in Johnstown, where he does a variety of jobs in his position of environmental engineer, including public relations, paperwork, and janitorial functions. He plans to eventually begin work as a rehabilitation technician there.

[ILLUSTRATION OMITTED]

A Timeless Resource

Jason Jeschonek served in the United States Navy from 1988 to 1993, and after finishing his stint in 1993, "I was having a hard time finding work," the 38-year-old recalls. He met Tom Caulfield of the then fledgling VCI in 1994. Tom made some recommendations, and Jason received a job where he worked for a number of years, until that particular company closed. Jason again sought VCI's services and next obtained a job at Atlantic Broadband, where he works today as an account executive. "I love my job," he says. Over the years, Jason made a point of keeping in touch with Tom. "I let him know how I was doing and what was going on," he says. Jason was deployed to Saudi Arabia for two months during Operation Desert Storm and counts himself fortunate not to experience any trauma from his time serving.

Julius Strozak, 60, a Vietnam-era veteran who served in the United States Army, had worked for the Pennsylvania Electric Company (Penelec) for over 22 years before his position was eliminated during downsizing in 1995. Referred to the Veterans Leadership Program/ Veteran Community Initiatives, Julius remembers Tom Caulfield recommending that he take civil service tests to increase his employment opportunities. He had previously taken a couple of the tests, but began to take more. He initially received a temporary eight-month position with the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT), and afterward he interviewed and received a job at Hiram G. Andrews Center in Johnstown, where he worked as a clerk/receptionist in the counseling office from 1997 to June of this year. He is taking a little bit of time off now, but indicates that when he is ready to begin work again, he will go back to Veteran Community Initiatives to see what help they can provide.

[ILLUSTRATION OMITTED]

There's No Place Like Home

On September 11, 2001, Kimberly Roberts was living with her husband in Gettysburg, Pennsylvania, and both were excitedly awaiting the birth of their first child. The phone call from her mother on that day of tragic events brought home to Kim how far away from home she felt under such circumstances and the realization that she wanted to be back home. Home amongst family. Home where she would have a ready-made support system. Home where she could share life's triumphs and tragedies with the people who mean the most to her.

So she and her husband returned to Johnstown, Pennsylvania, even with the knowledge that Johnstown, like many other Manufacturing Belt communities, had been facing economic challenges for decades. Jobs all too often were scarce, and many people had moved away to settle in more economically thriving communities. Yet the strong support system to which Kim, now 33, returned in 2002 included not only her family but some friends as well. They included Tom Caulfield, VCI's President and Director, and Marty Kuhar, VCI's Program Specialist, who were friends of her father, Randy Roberts. All three had served in Vietnam.

[ILLUSTRATION OMITTED]

"I definitely was unsure of that job search process," said Kim, who had majored in psychology in college and indicated that in that field of study, "your path's not clearly defined." While in Gettysburg, Kim had worked at a residential treatment facility, providing counseling for various mental health or behavioral problems to girls and young women 6 to 19 years of age. Social services was a field she enjoyed and in which she wanted to continue. "What was really helpful was that Marty sat down and went through the human services organizations here in Johnstown," she said. Hired in January 2004 as an employment counselor for Pennsylvania Association for Individuals with Disabilities (PAID), Kim was promoted to executive director in September 2005. Kim's organization works with VCI to help veterans and others find employment. "It was probably one of the best career moves I could have ever made," she says.

Veteran Community Initiatives--Making Employment a Reality for Veterans, Their Families

Veteran Community Initiatives, Inc. is an organization, founded in 1993 in Johnstown, Pennsylvania, that works closely with community organizations and companies to help veterans and veterans' family members obtain employment. VCI has served over 4,300 clients since 1993.

Veteran Community Initiatives--Resources

WHAT DO I NEED TO QUALIFY?

Veteran Community Initiatives (VCI) provides services to all veterans, including members of Reserve and Guard units. In addition, services are open to the immediate family members of veterans, as well as dislocated workers. In order to qualify for certain of VCI's services, an applicant must provide proof of their or their immediate family member's veteran status. VCI accepts DD Form 214 (Department of Defense Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty) and will assist clients with obtaining the form, if necessary.

PROGRAMS

ALL services are provided free of charge to clients.

Vocational Counseling: VCI assesses skills, abilities, experience, and interests through one-on-one counseling with the client then develops and directs each client through an informal, individual job search plan.

Outreach: VCI develops and maintains relationships with the general public, employers, and related service organizations in order to enhance networking opportunities for clients.

Resume Preparation: VCI designs professional, skills, and accomplishment-oriented resumes that are credible and attention gathering.

Assisted Job Placement/Networking: VCI assists clients in networking within the employment community to develop job leads and also works closely with area Job Centers, various agencies, and employers for client placements.

Workshops: VCI teaches interviewing techniques, job search and networking tactics, cover letters writing, and the basic do's and don'ts of job searching.

Informal Referrals: VCI provides informal referrals to other agencies for clients seeking help to overcome any difficulty (drug & alcohol, psychological, financial) which impedes the employment process.

Job Fairs: VCI holds job fairs on a regular basis. Job leads and local contact personnel are available to enhance networking opportunities for our clients.

Client Thumbnail Sketches: VCI provides employers with updated background skill sketches, enabling them to match employment needs with a client's skills and training.

Library: VCI has an updated job book of openings, as well as publications and Internet access for job search purposes. A computer/printer is available for clients to create cover letters.

Job Placement Follow-up: VCI recognizes the importance of post-placement follow-up. A follow-up discussion with the client can often eliminate potential problems and aid in employee retention at the job site.

Job Retraining Assistance: At times VCI has limited job training funding available. If clients meet the criteria, they may qualify for specific funding if it will result in obtaining a job, promotion, or fulltime employment from a part-time status.

Referral Assistance: For Veterans dealing with Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) and/or Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI), VCI is able to direct clients to specific professional and informal readjustment counseling programs.

RESOURCES ARE COURTESY OF VETERAN COMMUNITY INITIATIVES, INC. FOR MORE INFORMATION, CONTACT: VETERAN COMMUNITY INITIATIVES, INC., HIRAM G. ANDREWS CENTER, WING A, 727 GOUCHER STREET, JOHNSTOWN, PA 15905; (814) 2550355, FAX: [phone]; [e-mail], HTTP://WWW.VCIINC.ORG.