Veterans Guide 2012

60
Veterans Employment
Resource Guide
New Mexico Vets at Work
www.dws.state.nm.us
3
Contents
5 What to do Shortly after Your Separation
New Mexico Workforce Connection Website
Your No.1 career and job search resource . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .6
Transition Services Provided by Military Services . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6
8 Connecting With Your Resources The VETS Program
New Mexico Workforce Connection Ofces and LVER & DVOP
Specialist Contact Information. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .10
12 The Job Search
Step 1: Choosing Your Career or Occupation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12
Step 2: Finding the Ideal Job. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14
Step 3: Preparing Your Resume . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14
Step 4: Writing Your Cover Letter . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15
Step 5: Contacting Your References . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16
Step 6: Preparing for the Interview and Interviewing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17
Step 7: Following Up with Employers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18
Step 8: Negotiating a Job Ofer. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18
20 Making Job Fairs Work for You
Get Prepared . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .20
Youre at the Job FairMaking Connections . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22
Following Up With Your Connections . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22
24 Transferring Your Skills
34 A Snapshot Businesses and Industries Actively Recruiting Vets
Federal, State or Local Employment Your Best Bet . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 34
What About the Private Sector?. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 36
38 Employment Programs & Services
Veterans Transition Assistance Program (TAP) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 38
VA Compensated Work Terapy (CWT) Program. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 39
Vocational Rehabilitation and Employment (VR&E) VetSuccess Program . . . . . . . . . 39
Veterans Preference Federal Hiring . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .40
Veterans Preference State of New Mexico Hiring . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .40
Programs for Veteran Business Owners. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 41
Programs for Businesses Hiring Veterans . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 42
44 Education Programs & Services
Te Post-9/11 and Montgomery GI Bills. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 44
Te Reserve Educational Assistance Program (REAP). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 45
Veterans Education Assistance Program (VEAP) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 45
Job Corps Demonstration Project . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 45
VA Work-Study Program . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 46
On-Te-Job (OJT) & Apprenticeship Training . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 46
Vietnam Veterans Scholarship . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 47
Vietnam Veterans Centers and Services at New Mexicos Higher Education Institutions. . . . 47
Contact Information: . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 48
Web Links for Educational & Employment Programs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 49
Employment Programs & Services . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 49
50 Homeless Veterans Programs & Services
Veteran Justice Outreach Initiative (VJO) and Veterans Treatment Court. . . . . . . . . .50
Stand Downs. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .50
VA Homeless Veterans Assistance . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .50
51 Veterans Employment Situation Report
54 Veterans Service Organizations & Other Resources
Veterans Organizations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 54
American Legion. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 54
American Veterans (Am-Vets) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .54
Disabled American Veterans (DAV) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 55
NM Veterans Integration Center (NMVIC) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 55
Paralyzed Veterans of America (PVA) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 55
Military Order of the Purple Heart (MOPH) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 55
Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 55
Veterans Home (Truth or Consequences) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 56
City of Albuquerque Veterans Advisory Board. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 56
57 Acronym Glossary
Garden of Honor Cannon Air Force Base
CREDITS:
Cover: Kirtland Air Force Base
Thank you to:
Kirtland Air Force Base
Cannon Air Force Base
Horses For Heroes /Cowboy Up!
Bill Armstrong,
Veterans Administration
New Mexico State Veterans Home
Photographs: iStock Photo, except
where credited.
Design, photography research and
production: franceswhitedesign.com
Published September 2012 by the
New Mexico Department of
Workforce Solutions
4 5
What to do Shortly after Your
Separation
S
hortly afer your separation from the service, you should do a few things that will
make your transition to civilian life easier. First and foremost, you should register
your DD Form 214 (Certifcate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty) with your
local court house. If you do this, you will always be able to obtain an ofcial copy
of your DD Form 214 when you need it. Your DD Form 214 is needed to access benefts
related to the job search as well as many other benefts available to you as a veteran. New
Mexico Statute 14-8-9.1 ensures that your DD Form 214 and all the information included
will be protected and kept private. Now is the time to also gather any documentation on
collateral appointments or promotions you received during your active duty service. Your
DD Form 214 does not always list collateral appointments, but having documentation helps
you promote skills gained from appointments above and beyond your standard military
occupation.
Te frst step to take to begin your job search is to attend a Transition Assistance Program
(TAP) seminar. TAP seminars are available to all military branches and ofer job-search
assistance, employment and training information, and related services to separating service
members within 180 days of separation or retirement. Te Employment and Education
Programs & Services section of this publication provides more detailed information on TAP
and how you can get connected to a TAP representative near you.
Among the most valuable resources during your transition, and specifcally your entry into the
civilian workforce, are your Local Veterans Employment Representatives (LVERs) and Disabled
Veterans Outreach Program (DVOP) specialists. LVERs and DVOP specialists are available to you
and located at your local NM Workforce Connection ofce. Tese representatives are experts in
helping you access the benefts you need and that are available to you as a veteran. Services ofered
by these representatives include help preparing a resume and cover letter and referral to workforce
TurboTAP Website www.turbotap.org
The TurboTAP website is one of the best resources for almost any information
related to your separation and job search. One of the many resources includes
Quick Reference Checklists that provides an overview of information related to
education, employment, health care, personal nance, relocation, and benets.
VA Seamless Transition Website www.oefoif.va.gov
The VA Seamless Transition Website is an excellent resource to get informed on the
benets available to you from VA. The website addresses a wide scope of the issues
faced by recently separated veterans. Topics include:
n Employment
n Finding Help
n Education 101
n Monetary Benets
n Housing
n Women Veterans
n Health
n Disabilities
Getting Started in Your Transition
to the Civilian Workforce
identifying resources and taking
steps in the right direction
6 7
n You can contact your nearest ACAP Center to schedule
an employment assistance event or individual counsel-
ing session.
n If you are unable to attend a TAP Workshop, you can
access the Job Assistance Training Application (JATA)
online.
ACAP On-Line also gives you access to the same job
search tools and resources used in the ACAP Center to write
resumes and cover letters, practice job interview skills, and
conduct online research. To access ACAP On-Line and to
view other services provided by ACAP, visit www.acap.army.
mil. ACAP Centers are located at Army bases. For New
Mexico veterans, the closest bases are located in Arizona,
Colorado, and Texas.
Fleet and Family Support Centers (FFSC)
FFSCs are located throughout the U.S. to provide transition
and employment assistance to Navy service members and
veterans. FFSCs conduct mandatory preparation counseling
and TAP workshops, and trained counselors ofer one-
on-one resume writing, interview skills, and employment
assistance. To fnd out more about the services provided
through FFSCs, visit www.cnic.navy.mil.
Marine Corps Community Services (MCCS)
MCCS manages the Transition Assistance Management
Program (TAMP). Transition services and resources, includ-
ing mandatory preseparation counseling, TAP workshops,
benefts briefngs, and the Disabled Transition Assistance
Program (DTAP), are provided in the Marine and Family
Services Branch at each major installation. Te closest
major Marine installation to New Mexico is located in Yuma,
Arizona. For more information on MCCS and the transition
services provided, visit www.usmc-mccs.org/tamp.
Airmen and Family Readiness Centers (AFRCs)
AFRCs are located throughout the U.S. to provide mandatory
preseparation counseling and other transition and employment
services to Air Force service members and veterans. AFRCs
are located at major installations, including Holloman,
Kirtland, and Cannon Air Force bases here in New Mexico.
Te Veterans Employment and Training Service (VETS)
is a program of the US Department of Labor (DOL) and,
in collaboration with each state, ofers employment and
training services to veterans. Te VETS program includes
services provided by LVERs and DVOP specialists. Te New
Mexico Department of Workforce Solutions (NMDWS) and
the New Mexico Workforce Connection (NM Workforce
Connection) manage and operate the VETS program.
NM DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS SERVICES
Bataan Memorial Building
407 Galisteo Street, Room 142
Santa Fe, NM 87504
866-433-8387
www.dvs.state.nm.us
US DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS
New Mexico Regional Veterans Benets Administration
Dennis Chavez Federal Building Intake Ofce
500 Gold Avenue SW Airman & Family
Albuquerque, NM 87102 Readiness Center
Support Building 20245,
Suite 126
Kirtland AFB, NM 87117
800-827-1000
benefts (job development, training, unemployment
compensation, veteran benefts, and community resources). Te
Connecting With Your ResourcesTe VETS Program section
of this publication provides additional information (including
contact information) on LVERs and DVOP specialists and
contact information for all of the NM Workforce Connection
ofces.
Tere are several other resources available to assist with
your transition. Te NM Department of Veterans Services
(NMDVS) and the US Department of Veterans Afairs (VA)
are both excellent resources for returning veterans. Repre-
sentatives at NMDVS and VA can assist you in all aspects of
your separation and transition. Tere are numerous benefts
available to veterans so contact a representative today.
New Mexico Workforce
Connection Website
Your No.1 career and
job search resource
Face-to-face and one-on-one interaction with your LVERs
and DVOP specialists is such an incredible beneft to New
Mexico veterans looking for work. Your veteran representatives
can help you in many ways, but one way in which they will
always assist you is by directing you to the NM Workforce
Connection website. Te NM Workforce Connection website
www.jobs.state.nm.usprovides a tremendous number of
services and information to persons looking for work in the
state. Whether you utilize your veteran representatives or
not, this is the frst site you should visit. Te website is your
one-stop online resource for information on how to identify
your career path and look for, apply for, and get a job. Te
resources and services on the site are provided at no cost,
and you can access this site on your own or visit your local
NM Workforce Connection ofce for assistance. You should
begin by creating an account. Te benefts of creating a free
account on the site include access to all of the information
and assistance available, the ability of the site to store your
resume and other important documents, as well as historical
information on your job search, applications, and contacts
with specifc employers. Te value of using this website
cannot be overstated. Visit www.jobs.state.nm.us today to
get started!
Transition Services
Provided by Military
Services
If you are a recently separated veteran, you should have
participated in preseparation counseling. Congress has
directed the military services to provide each transitioning
service member a preseparation counseling session no less
than 90 days before separation. Preseparation
counseling provides an overview of the
benefts, services, and programs that are
available to soon-to-be separated members
and refers service members to specifc
benefts providers for further information.
Te preseparation counseling is required,
and each service member should receive
a DD Form 2648 to show they completed
the counseling. Te following are the
organizations charged with ensuring service
members receive preseparation counseling
and other needed transition services.
Army Career and Alumni Program (ACAP):
ACAP provides mandatory preseparation
counseling and other transition and employment
assistance to Army service members and
veterans. ACAPs main tool for employment
assistance is ACAP On-Line. ACAP On-Line
provides three options for getting started:
n You can use ACAP On-Line to schedule
a TAP Employment Workshop, specialty
seminars or Employer Days as well as to
get help from an ACAP Counselor.
IDENTIFYING RESOURCES continued
Courtesy of Kirtland Air Force Base
9
Connecting With Your Resources
The VETS Program
Veterans Employment Representatives are Here For You
The Veterans Employment and Training Service (VETS) is a
program of the US Department of Labor (DOL) and, in col-
laboration with each state, ofers employment and training
services to veterans. Te VETS program includes services
provided by LVERs and DVOP specialists. Te New Mexico
Department of Workforce Solutions (NMDWS) and the New
Mexico Workforce Connection (NM Workforce Connection)
manage and operate the VETS program.
The mission of the New Mexico
VETS program
n To provide priority of service to veterans and eligible
spouses seeking employment and training benefts.
n To be a veterans resource for jobs information and
promote the hiring of veterans to public- and
private-sector employers as good business practice.
n Provide referrals to health and human service providers
in the community.
As mentioned throughout this publication, your LVERs and
DVOP specialists are invaluable resources to you during
your job search, whether you are recently separated or have
been out of military service for some time. Tese representa-
tives are trained to help you explore careers, identify training
options, prepare for your job search, and obtain employment
here in New Mexico. Representatives are also knowledgeable
about the various benefts available to veterans and are ready
to point you in the right direction on a variety of resources
provided by NM Workforce Connection, NMDVS, VA, and
The Gold Card
Have you printed your Gold Card yet? The Gold Card initiative is a joint effort of
DOL ETA and VETS. If you are an eligible veteran, you can present the Gold Card at
your local NM Workforce Connection ofce to receive enhanced intensive services,
including up to six months of follow-up. Enhanced services may include:
n Job readiness assessment, including interviews and testing;
n Development of an Individual Development Plan (IDP);
n Career guidance through group or individual counseling that helps veterans
make training and career decisions;
n Provision of labor market, occupational, and skills transferability information to
make informed educational, training, and occupational decisions;
n Referral to job banks, job portals, and job openings;
n Referral to employers and registered apprenticeship sponsors;
n Referral to training by WIA-funded or third-party service providers; and
n Monthly follow-up by an assigned case manager for up to six months.
To print your Gold Card, go to www.dol.gov/vets/goldcard/revisedgoldcard5.pdf.
8
10 11
many other organizations. Here is more information on the
goals and duties of your LVERs and DVOP specialists.
Local Veterans Employment
Representatives
LVERs are state employees located in local NM Work-
force Connection offices. The principal duty of LVERs
is to conduct outreach to employers in the area and to
assist veterans in gaining employment. This outreach
includes conducting seminars for employers; conduct-
ing job search workshops and establishing job search
groups (in conjunction with employers); and facilitating
employment, training, and placement services for veter-
ans. Employment, training, and placement services may
include:
n Resume and cover letter assistance;
n Counseling, testing, and identifying training and
employment opportunities;
n Monitoring job listings from federal contractors and
federal department and agency vacancies to ensure that
eligible veterans receive priority in referrals; and
n Promoting the participation of veterans in federally
funded employment and training programs.
Disabled Veterans Outreach Program
Specialists
DVOP specialists are also state employees that specialize in
developing job and training opportunities for veterans with
service-connected disabilities. Through the promotion
of community and employer support for employment
and training opportunities, DVOP specialists provide
outreach and offer assistance to disabled veterans by helping
them identify job opportunities that are appropriate
CONNECTING WITH YOUR RESOURCES continued
** Albuquerque | New Mexico
Dept. of Workforce Solutions
Tiwa Building,
401 Broadway Blvd. NE, 87102
Chris Zafra
LVER, StateVeterans Coordinator
Christian.zafra@state.nm.us
505-841-8517
505-235-8596 (c)
Carl Hoffman
Intensive Services Coordinator
carlhoffman@state.nm.us
505-841-9529
505-346-4834 (VAVRE Ofce)
**Albuquerque
501 Mountain Road NE, 87103
505-843-1900 505-843-1992 (f)
LVER, Veterans Supervisor
505-843-1923
LVERs
DVOP specialist
505-843-1924 505-843-1913
505-843-1914 505-265-1711
505-843-1923 x2564
(VA Facility)
Artesia
704 West Main, 88210
575-743-1308
575-746-3808 (f)
**Alamogordo
901 Alaska Ave., 88310
575-437-9210 575-434-2702 (f)
LVER 575-437-9210
DVOP Specialist 575-437-9210
**Carlsbad
323 South Halagueno, 88220
575-887-1174 575-885-4419 (f)
LVER 575-887-1174
**Clovis
111 North Main Street, 88101
575-762-4571 575-769-0086 (f)
LVER 575-762-4571
DVOP Specialist 575-762-4571
Deming
322 E. Oak Street, 88030
575-546-0192 575-544-3605 (f)
**Espaola
319 Paseo de Oate, 87553
505-753-2258 505-753-1180 (f)
1 LVER
**Farmington
600 West Arrington Street, 87401
505-327-6126 505-326-6006 (f)
1 LVER
**Gallup
2910 East Highway 66, 87301
505-863-2884 505-863-3493 (f)
NM Workforce Connection Ofces and LVER & DVOP Specialist Contact Information
Hobbs
2120 North Alto, Suite B, 88240
575-391-9466 575-397-4988 (f)
**Las Cruces
226 South Alameda Street, 88005
575-524-6250 1 DVOP specialist
**Las Vegas
883 Grand Avenue, 87701
505-454-5381 505-425-0073 (f)
LVER 505-425-6451
Los Lunas
428 South Los Lentas, 87031
505-861-2144 505-861-2824 (f)
Moriarty
777 Old US Route 66, 87035
505-832-6774 505-832-0220 (f)
**Rio Rancho
661 Quantum Road NE, 87124
505-896-1765 505-896-1766 (f)
LVER DVOP Specialist
505-896-1765 extension 233
extension 106
505-891-2028 (f) 505-891-2028 (f)
Roswell
2110 North Main, 88201
575-627-5815 575-627-5822 (f)
Ruidoso
707 Mechem Drive, 88345
575-257-9296 575-630-0416 (f)
**Santa Fe
301 West De Vargas, 87501
505-827-7427 505-827-7346 (f)
LVER
1 DVOP specialist 505-827-7412
Santa Rosa
200 Lake Drive, 88435
575-472-2555 575-472-2555 (f)
Silver City
410 West Broadway, 88061
575-538-3737 575-538-5072 (f)
1 LVER ext. 101
Socorro
109 Faulkner, 87801
575-835-0067 575-835-9557 (f)
Sunland Park
141 Quinella Rd. Suite 800, 88063
575-589-0377 575-874-9314 (f)
**Taos
1036 Salazar Road, 87571
575-758-4219 575-758-3941 (f)
1 LVER
Truth or Consequences
1301 North Pershing, 87901
575-984-1263 575-894-0970 (f)
Tucumcari
421 West Tucumcari Boulevard, 88401
575-461-2734 575-461-1157 (f)
for the their employment goals and assisting them in
developing a cover letter and resume. (DVOP specialists
often serve as case managers for veterans enrolled in
federally funded job training programs and veterans with
serious disadvantages in the job market. DVOP specialists
provide services at several different locations, including
local NM Workforce Connection offices, medical or
veterans outreach centers of VA, and military installations,
while DVOP specialists are stationed in local NM
Workforce Connection offices.)
Te chart below is a contact list of all the NM Workforce
Connection ofces and LVER and DVOP specialist contact
information if located within the ofce (ofces designated
with ** have at least one representative). If your local ofce
does not have a designated LVER or DVOP specialist, you
can contact NMDWS veterans representatives (listed below)
or the closest NM Workforce Connection Ofce with a LVER
or DVOP specialist.
Ofces designated with ** have at least one representative.
LVERs and DVOP conduct community
outreach programs to employers.
12 13
The Job Search
How to Begin Your Job Search & What to Expect
L
ooking for a job can be overwhelming, especially
if you are a recently separated veteran who is just
now entering a civilian job market that is slowly
recovering from a major recession. Searching for
employment requires patience, work, and motivation from
anyone. As a veteran, you must also identify how your pre-
vious military experience and skills translate to a civilian
occupation and how you can successfully sell that experi-
ence to a civilian employer who may or may not be familiar
with military occupations and organization. Tere are many
resources available to help you identify opportunities and
move forward on your individual path. Some resources are
useful to anyone looking for a job, while others are specifc to
the needs and issues facing recently separated veterans. Te
following outlines 8 steps to take in searching and applying
for jobs. Tese steps also discuss career exploration which
is ofen overlooked in the job search but is invaluable in
helping you fnd satisfying long-term employment with
continued career growth opportunities. A fow chart illus-
trating the common steps taken in career exploration and
job searching is also included at the end of this article. Te
steps and the specifc services they reference are provided on
the NM Workforce Connection website in detail. Login to
your account at www.jobs.state.nm.us for more information,
or visit your local NM Workforce Connection ofce and
LVER/DVOP specialist.
Step 1: Choosing Your
Career or Occupation
Te frst step to take in your job search is to choose your
career and/or occupation. You may think that this is an easy
step or one that most people have already taken. Choosing
a career/occupation is really identifying what it is you want
to do for a living. Tis step can be very difcult for people of
all ages and expertise, experience, and education levels. Tis
is probably the one step that requires you to delve deepest
into your interests and priorities and think about what youre
looking for from your career in the long term.
Before you start exploring career options, consider what
types of jobs match with the work you were doing during
active duty. Dont worry; you dont have to fgure this out
on your own. Tere are several websites that have built-in
occupation matching and skills matching services. Tese
services match your military occupation and the knowledge,
skills, and abilities (KSAs) you gained through active duty
service with civilian occupations that have similar tasks, work
duties, and KSA requirements. Te civilian occupations these
services identify should best match your previous work and
should require the least amount of additional education and
training in order to gain employment within the occupation.
Tese services are some of the most useful tools available for
your career exploration.
New Mexicos Department of Workforce Solutions provides
an occupation and skills matching service through its NM
Workforce Connection websitewww.jobs.state.nm.us.
Heres what you need to know to
use this service on your own:
Step 1: Create an individual account.
Step 2: Select Career Services under the Service for
Individuals on the lef-hand navigation pane.
Step 3: Select Career Explorer.
Step 4: Select Match Your Occupation.
Step 5: Select the Occupations by Military Specialty link.
Step 6: Enter your Military Occupation Specialty (MOS)
Code, Keyword, or Branch of Service to begin searching for
your occupation.
Step 7: A listing of civilian occupations that best ft your
previous military occupation will be listed. You can click on
an occupation and related occupations to get detailed infor-
mation on training and education requirements, necessary
skills, projected job openings, and wages.
People are ofen surprised at the civilian occupations in which
they may be able to work. Transferring Your Skills: How to
Use Your Military Experience to Identify Opportunities in
the Civilian Labor Force, presented later in this publication,
provides several examples of common military occupations
and related civilian occupations with similar knowledge,
skill, and ability requirements. Tis is a tool you should use
even if you are looking to enter a career that is completely
diferent from your work in the military.
So now that youve looked at some of the civilian jobs that
most closely match your military experience, are any of those
jobs something youre interested in? If you are interested
in one or more of the occupations, you can start evaluating
whether you have all of the necessary KSAs and begin iden-
tifying options to gain more education and training. Tere
are several tools available through the NM Workforce Con-
nection website to help you plan an education and training
route as well as specifc services available to veterans (for
example, the GI Bill) that are detailed later in this publica-
tion. As always, you can contact a Veterans Representative
at your local NM Workforce Connection ofce to help you.
If you feel you have the necessary qualifcations for one or
more of the occupations, you can begin searching for a job.
Steps 2 through 8 of the job search outline the process.
But, what if youve identified comparable civilian
occupations and are not interested in those occupations?
What if you would like to enter a career that is completely
different from what you did during active duty service and
are unsure what to do? The NM Workforce Connection
website has several other tools beyond occupation and
skills matching to help with career exploration. Two key
career exploration tools on the sitethe Interest Profiler
and Work Importance Locator assessmentshelp you
identify your interests and work values and translate
those into career choices.
Interest Proler
Te Interest Profler asks you to answer questions that
represent six interest areas. Knowing your work interests can
What if Im Thinking about
Working Outside of New Mexico?
If youre looking for a job in New Mexico, your key
resource is www.jobs.state.nm.us.
If youthink you might be looking for work outside of the
state, a great national resource is www.careeronestop.org.
CareerOneStop offers most of the services provided by
New Mexicos Workforce
Connection website but also allows you to search for
jobs in other states.
CareerOneStop also has information and tools specic
to veterans through the Veterans
Reemployment section of the website.
Just like New Mexicos website, CareerOneStop has
resume and cover letter tools and other resources to
help you in your job search.
CareerOneStops career exploration tool is called
MyNextMove and works like the tools on the Workforce
Connection website.
14 15
help you decide what kinds of jobs and careers you want to
explore.
Work Importance Locator
Te Work Importance Locator asks you to rank diferent
aspects of work that represent six important work values.
Tis assessment helps you learn more about your work val-
ues and determine what is important to you in a job.
Tese are just two of many tools available to assist in your
career exploration as you enter the civilian workforce. Te
NM Workforce Connection website has career tips, other
options for researching your skills and matching them to
civilian occupations, and many options to research the labor
market and specifc jobs. To navigate to these two tools in
the NM Workforce Connection website, frst sign into the
website. Select the Career Services tab under the lef-hand
navigation menu. Select the Career Explorer link and then
select the Match Your Interests and Work Values link to be
directed to both tools.
Step 2:
Finding the Ideal Job
Once you have a better idea of the occupations you are
interested in and that match your experience and train-
ing, its time to start looking for job openings. Tere is a
wide variety of online resources for job postings. NMDWS
has a job search engine that eliminates the need for you to
visit every job hunting website out there. Trough the NM
Workforce Connection website, you can search for jobs
in New Mexico. What may be the best part about the NM
Workforce Connection job search engine is that it spiders to
almost every other search engine website, including Monster,
Indeed, USAJobs, and CareerBuilder. Tere are many
options to set parameters for your job search from location
to wage to experience level. What this means is that you can
fnd job openings from all of these sites in one location. And,
because you already have created your free account through
the system, it makes it even easier to track the job openings
youre interested in and those for which youve applied. Plus,
all of the other tools mentioned in this article are located on
the site for you to utilize through your job search process.
Log in to www.jobs.state.nm.us to begin your job search now.
Step 3:
Preparing Your Resume
One-on-one personal interaction with a potential employer
is the best bet to making a good impression and receiving a
job ofer. In todays technology-based world, where it seems
like everything is done electronically, one-on-one networking
is not as common and is not an open avenue for many job
seekers. Your frst opportunity to sell your abilities, experience,
and potential is typically through your resume. Tis is a
tool that you should always have prepared for a potential
opportunity. Te key goal of your resume is to motivate
Your goal is to identify and isolate all of your skills, as they relate to your current career goals, and
then present them in a manner (e.g., format, wording, style) that a civilian employer can under-
stand. Ofen, when all of your skills, qualifcations and experience are embedded within your
military career, it becomes difcult for an employer to appreciate them. Your challenge, therefore,
is to prominently display those skills without focusing on your record of military service.
www.military.com
WorkKeys: An Assessment of
Workforce Readiness
WorkKeys is a job skills assessment system that the NM
Workforce Connection utilizes to help employers select,
hire, train, develop, and retain a high-performance
workforce. For the job seeker, WorkKeys is an important
rst step to prepare for your career. By taking the
WorkKeys assessments, you can compare your skills
to the skills jobs require. Test questions are based on
situations in the everyday work world. Good WorkKeys
scores can be a marketing tool when you apply for jobs
as you show employers you have the skills they are
looking for. Some employers even use the assessment as
part of their hiring process.
an employer to invite you to an
interview and, if interviewed, serves
as a primary reference point as you
discuss, examine, and evaluate your
qualifcations and skills.
While it may be fairly simple
to list your previous employment,
education, and primary skills, it is
not always so easy to phrase and
compile this information into a
resume that is organized, complete,
clear, and accurate and that high-
lights your greatest strengths and
qualifcations in a straightforward
and precise way. As a veteran, you
face the challenge of highlighting
your greatest strengths and quali-
fcations and how they can be used
in the position for which you are
applying, all while avoiding strict
and direct focus on your military experience. What this
means is that you should emphasize your skills, with refer-
ence to your military career, and avoid simply listing your
job titles. Overemphasizing your military career as opposed
to your general skills and abilities can even be a detriment
because civilian employers do not always understand the
types of duties under military occupations or military orga-
nizational structure. For example, you may have been a
Hospital Corpsman, but you also had additional collateral
appointments that expanded your skill set and responsibili-
ties. Make sure you mention collateral appointments, what
they entailed, and how they serve as an example of your pro-
gression in your military career. Another example might be
a Gunners Mate. It is possible the employer has little idea of
the tasks and skills required for such a position so drawing
attention to skills and abilities is particularly important.
5 Key Tips to a Successful Resume:
Tip 1: Tailor your resume to the position for which you are
applying. Include skills and activities that are most relevant,
how you can contribute to the position, and even use key
words from the job posting. Some employers actually use
sofware that grades your resume on how it uses keywords
and phrases from the job posting.
Tip 2: Limit your resume to no longer than 2 pages.
Tip 3: Avoid misrepresentation of your abilities.
Tip 4: Provide examples of challenges you faced and prob-
lems you solved. Emphasize the positive and quantify your
achievements.
Tip 5: Make your resume easy to
read and make sure you proofread
your resume several times and
have others review it.
Te NM Workforce Connection
website provides a Resume Builder
tool that can assist you in preparing
your resume so that it is focused and
structured. LVER/DVOP special-
ists in your local NM Workforce
Connection ofce can assist in
building your resume. It is use-
ful to also utilize veteran resources
such as TAP workshops, NMDVS
and USVA resources, transition
services provided by military
branches, and websites such as
www.CareerOneStop.com and www.
military.com (among others) that
provide examples of veteran resumes and a wide variety of
information on the job search and application process.
Step 4: Writing Your
Cover Letter
A cover letter should always accompany your resume when
applying for a job (unless otherwise specifed). In general, a
cover letter is your introduction and should be drafed to draw
the employer into looking at your resume. Cover letters vary
in style awnd content more than resumes, but there are certain
guidelines you should follow in developing your cover letter.
5 Key Tips to a Successful Cover
Letter:
Tip 1: Your cover letter should be typed, addressed to a
specifc individual or department, and closed with your sig-
nature.
Tip 2: While your resume sticks to information on your skills
and experience, your cover letter can convey some of your
personality.
Tip 3: Keep your cover letter concise, interesting, informa-
tive, professional, and courteous. Your cover letter should
not repeat details provided in your resume, but outline high-
level abilities and skills in context with your personality and
work ethic.
Tip 4: Much like your resume, your cover letter should be
tailored to the specifc position and employer.
THE JOB SEARCH continued
16 17
Tip 5: Keep you cover letter brief. Your letter should be less
than one page, and dont forget to proofread!
TeNMWorkforceConnectionwebsiteprovidesaLetterBuilder
tool similar to the Resume Builder. Te site also provides
numerous sample cover letters for you to better understand
appropriate tone and content. Finally, the site can help you
develop a list of action words that you can use to draw atten-
tion to your cover letter. And, as always, your local Veterans
Representative can assist you in preparing your job applica-
tion materials.
Step 5: Contacting Your
References
Nearly every job you apply for will require references at
some point in the hiring process. It is very important that
you contact your references prior to providing their infor-
mation to a potential employer and that these references are
fully capable of portraying you and your capabilities. You
should not provide personal references unless required to
do so. References are typically contacted via phone, but let-
ters of recommendation can also be provided. Also, make
sure that you avoid placing your reference information on
your resume or cover letter. You should provide references by
request through separate communication with your poten-
tial employer.
As a veteran, it is important to remember that some of
your key references may not be easily accessible if they are
still on active duty. You may frst want to contact active duty
references and identify alternative contact information. You
should also identify references that can be used in case oth-
ers are not available. You may need additional time to contact
references, so contacting them at the beginning of your job
search to let them know you may be using them as a refer-
ence is a good idea.
Step 6: Preparing
for the Interview and
Interviewing
While the purpose of your resume is to get an interview, the
purpose of the interview is to get a job ofer. Preparing for
an interview is incredibly important because if you take the
time to thoroughly prepare the employer will notice. Te
interview is a key opportunity for you to present yourself
as organized, punctual, and professional. You want to be
able to discuss your qualifcations in more detail and with
specifc examples based on the information you provided
in your cover letter and resume. Te interview is also an
opportunity for you to ask specifc questions about the
position and employer to ensure that the opportunity is the
right ft for you. o
5 Steps to Prepare for your
Interview:re
Step 1: Gather work samples, whether they be writing
samples, a portfolio of design or construction work, or let-
ters from former employers and news articles highlighting
your work. Not all jobs require samples, but this can be an
excellent way to show your preparation and quantify your
accomplishments.
Step 2: Tink about questions you will probably be asked
and prepare answers prior to the interview as best you can.
Talk to friends and family about their interview experiences
and the questions they were asked. Te interviewer may
request that you Tell me about yourself or ask, Why do
you think you are the best candidate for this position? Have
your responses prepared and ready to be tailored once actual
questions are asked in the interview.
Step 3: Learn as much as you can about the employer,
including an understanding of their website and employment
structure.
Step 4: Prepare a list of detailed questions you would like to
ask to show your interest and get additional information on
the position and employer. Avoid questions regarding com-
pensation until the employer mentions the topic.
Step 5: Make sure you have an accurate set of directions to
the interview location, and if you require special access in
any way, ask about access and mobility factors. Make sure
you always have a telephone contact. Arrive at the interview
location early (no more than 20 minutes but no less than
5) dressed appropriately, with copies of your resume, work
samples, and references.
Now that youre prepared for the interview, you will
hopefully be feeling more comfortable and less anxious
about presenting yourself, your qualifcations, and your
abilities in a way that will make you stand out amongst other
interviewees. Even with preparation, however, the interview
can still induce some anxiety. Its important to enter the
interview with active confdence. What this means is
that you are not acting too confdent, or being passive by
only responding to the employers questions, but that you
are contributing to the conversation of the interview. Te
interview is a two-way street where you ask questions and
broach topics along with the employer. Its a conversation where
both players are asking questions and actively listening.
5 Key Interview Tips:
Step 1: Identify and discuss ways in which your military
experience relates to the position. Mention unique
strengths you gained through your military experience that
other candidates may not possess.
Step 2: Ask questions youve previously prepared
throughout the interview and adjust those questions based
on the fow of the conversation. Take a notebook and write
down interviewer names and answers to your questions.
Step 3: Display your best external qualitiesfor example
maintain eye contact, maintain active posture, and use the
names of interviewers when appropriate to show you are
engaged.
Step 4: Make sure to show some of your best internal qualities
when discussing your qualifcationsfor example, positive
experiences working in teams, leading groups, adapting to a
changing environment, and motivation.
Step 5: Use your common sense to determine the best times
to ask questions or make comments about your qualifcations,
the position, or the employer.
Reaching out to Fellow Veterans
Once you begin working at your new job, think about
the successes and failures you faced throughout your job
search. Could other veterans benet and learn from your
experiences? What resources did you use that were most
benecial? If you come in contact with other veterans
looking for work, share your experiences and lessons
learned. No one should face the job search alone, and the
assistance and advice you can provide could be the best
resource to other vets!
The Career Exploration and Job Search:
The Process and Steps to Take as You Look Towards the Future of Your Career
18 19
Dont forget that the interview is an excellent opportunity
to elaborate on success stories, additional skills and abilities
gained through collateral appointments, the progression of
previous positions to include additional responsibilities, and,
maybe most important of all, leadership skills developed
through your active duty service.
Step 7: Following Up
with Employers
Not following up with an employer afer an interview is a
mistake many people make. It is imperative that you follow
up with an employer quickly afer an interview, regardless
of how you feel the interview went. You should send the
employer a follow-up letter and make sure to include any
ideas or remarks that you may have forgotten to discuss,
provide information the employer requested during the
interview, briefy remind the employer of the high points
of the interview, thank the employer for his/her time and
consideration, and invite him/her to contact you with
additional questions or to schedule another meeting. Te
NM Workforce Connection website provides a Letter Builder
tool that helps you construct a good follow-up letter. Sample
follow-up letters and a list of action words are available.
Step 8: Negotiating a
Job Offer
Success! You have a job ofer. Your work, however, is not done.
You should carefully consider the ofer that is made and really
evaluate whether the position meets your own criteria of what
youre looking to get out of the job. Tink about your response
before you receive the ofer. And even if you feel confdent
that the position is right for you, remember that both you
and the employer have needs and that there is almost always
room for negotiation. Both you and the employer should be
willing to search together for mutual agreement on the terms
and conditions of your working relationship.
Te best possible situation is that the employer ofers terms,
conditions, and salary that you are happy with. If you some-
what disagree with the ofer, dont just accept it because you
want to take what you can get. Again, negotiating is ofen
expected by the employer. Tey want to reach an agreement
where both parties are happy and both see they are making a
positive investmentthe employer is investing in you and you
are investing in the employer. While it may feel like negotiat-
ing is risky, it is an important process for which to prepare.
When Should I Disclose a
Disability?
If you have a service- or non-service-related disability, you
may be wondering when it is best to disclose this disability
to a potential employer. It is recommended that you never
disclose a disability in a resume or cover letter. The only
exception is if the position is specically geared towards
someone with a disability. If you have an employment gap
(typically of more than two years) due to a disability, try to
ll that gap with other activities such as volunteer work or
education.
When it comes to the interview, you might consider
disclosing your disability to an employer prior to the
interview only if the disability is visible, such as noticeable
impairments to speech, hearing, sight, or mobility, to avoid
any surprise or shock. Otherwise, use your judgment as to
the need to discuss any disabilities in the interview. Once
you discuss your disability, you may want to mention the
Work Opportunity Tax Credit (WOTC) opportunities
available to the employer when hiring a veteran with a
disability (for more information on WOTC, see the
Employment and Education Services section of this publi-
cation).
Title I of the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 (ADA)
makes it unlawful for an employer to discriminate against
a qualied applicant or employee with a disability. The
ADA applies to private employers with 15 or more employ-
ees and to state and local government employers. The
US Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC)
enforces the employment provisions of the ADA. In
general, an applicant with a disability is responsible for let-
ting the employer know that an accommodation is needed.
You do not have to request an accommodation in writing,
but it is strongly recommended in order to keep records.
One of the best resources for understanding your rights
under the ADA and to nd information on applying for jobs
with a disability is the Job Accommodation Network (JAN).
JAN is a service of DOL Ofce of Disability Employment
Policy (ODEP) and provides expert and condential
guidance on workplace accommodations and disability
employment issues. You can nd detailed information on
the ADA, EEOC, requesting accommodations, and much
more at http://www.askjan.org.
Four Key Websites for Your Job Search
NM Workforce
Connection Website
CareerOneStop & Veterans
Reemployment
Military.Com
Web Address www.jobs.state.nm.us www.careeronestop.com www.military.com
Job Postings YES But does have a link to the NM
Workforce Connection Website
YES
Job Application YES
You can apply for jobs through
the Workforce Connection
NO YES
Through Monster.com
Career Exploration! Skills matching tools for
veteransOccupation data
(wages, job openings, education
requirements)
Assessments Interest Proler
& Work Importance Locater
YES
Skills matching tools
for veteransOccupation
data (wages, job openings,
education requirements)
Assessments MyNextMove
Resume and Cover Letter
Tips & Tools
YES YES YES
Interview and Other Job Search
Tips & Tools
YES YES YES
Information on Education &
Training Resources
YES YES YES
Spiders jobs from other job
posting websites such as
Monster.com and Indeed.
com so that you only need
to search through one online
website for your next job.
Includes the Veterans
Reemployment site, specially
designed to assist veterans
Service Locator Find your
nearest local NM Workforce
Connection ofce
Federal Jobs
www.usajobs.gov
CAREER EXPLORATION ASSESSMENTS
Applying through the NM
Workforce Connection Website
MyNextMove NM Workforce Connection Create an account and apply for
jobs through the website. Your
resume and other documents
and application history is saved
along with contact information
of employers.
As a veteran, you receive
preference in applying for
federal jobs. Your LVER/DVOP
can assist you to make sure
you receive preference when
applying.
Find occupations you're
interested in based on job title
or industry.
The Interest Proler, similar to
that at MyNextMove, identies
your interests to help you
decide which jobs and careers
want to explore.
The Work Importance Locator
has you rank different aspects
of work to identify your
work values and what youre
looking for from your job
overall (wages, exibility,
recognition)
21
Making Job Fairs Work for You
How to get the most out of networking and job search
J
ob fairs are an excellent way to develop your
professional network and seek job opportunities
because you have the chance to meet and network
with so many employers under one roof at one
time. The large number of employers and brief conver-
sations that are part of the nature of job fairs can make
some people uneasy. Its almost like having an inter-
view before you apply for a job. But, job fairs are also
a unique opportunity to highlight and sell your skills,
experience, and overall professional self face-to-face
instead of having to develop interest solely through a
resume and cover letter. There are several tips on how
to prepare for and present yourself that will help make
the task of discussing yourself and your qualifications in
person not just less unnerving, but the best opportunity
you have in your job search.
Before you start preparing for job fairs, you must first
find out where and when job fairs will be held in your
area. A simple search through an Internet search engine
will produce information on upcoming job fairs. Many
job fairs are organized by business associations, education
institutions, and government entities (cities, counties, and
states). Also keep in mind that many organizations and
institutions host recurring job fairs, oftentimes annually.
Get Prepared
Te best way to make job fairs work for you is to be as pre-
pared as possible. Tere are several steps you should take
to be ready to network and sell your skills and abilities the
moment you walk in the door. If you follow these tips, youll
be in a much better position to walk out the door with solid
job prospects.
Tip 1: Gather information on the job fair and register to
attend in advance.
Many job fairs have websites that post logistical informa-
tion and a listing of the employers that will be in attendance.
Once youve identifed a job fair you would like to attend,
visit the job fair website and make sure you are clear on
the specifcs of the job fair location and operating hours. If
the job fair does not have a website, make sure you gather
logistical information from fiers or other sources prior to
the event. If at all possible,
register before attending the
event. Tis enables you to
hit the ground running once
you arrive.
Tip 2: Identify employers
that will be in attendance,
research those employers, and list how you might contribute
to their business.
Its usually possible to obtain a list of employers that will
be participating in the job fair ahead of time. Gathering
information on employers and assessing how you might
contribute to their business is one of the most important
steps to prepare for a job fair and is a step that will likely
pay of. Spend time researching each business, including
their main business operations, their organization
and diferent departments, open job opportunities
posted on their website or other job sites, and how you
might contribute to their business. Focus on collect
ing information on the business similar to the information
you would collect for a job interview. You will not have
a lot of time to make an impression on employers, so if
you can eliminate time learning about their company
you will not only impress the business representatives,
but you will also gain additional time to discuss why you
would be a ft for their company. Also, keep an open mind.
Researching employers that you arent familiar with can
be just as rewarding and can broaden your perspective
on opportunities that are available to you. Demonstrating
you took the time to prepare and familiarize yourself with
various aspects of the business will highlight your interest
and your ability to be organized and professional. If there
is an opening you want to apply for, APPLY! Keep notes
on the positions for which you submitted an application so
that you can refer to openings when you meet the employer
at the job fair.
Tip 3: Prepare several versions of your resume and have hard
and electronic copies ready to take with you.
Once youve researched the employers participating in
the job fair you can begin to tailor your resume based on the
types of employers that you are interested in speaking with.
Use your general resume, but also prepare a few diferent
versions that highlight diferent skills, abilities, or objectives
based on the employer. Te resumes you prepare should be
brief and no more than one page. While two-page resumes
are acceptable in general, it is important to keep a shorter,
easy to read resume for job fairs. Employers receive many
resumes so keeping it brief and to the point will be appreciated.
Print copies of each resume to distribute as appropriate at
the job fair. Te number of
copies will depend on the
size of the event. You may
also want to have a copy of
your resume on a portable
drive (thumb/fash drive).
Some job fairs have com-
puters available if youd
like to customize and print your resume on site. Still, the best
method is to have various hard copies ready prior to the fair.
You can also prepare copies of your cover letter to accom-
pany your resume. While this is ofen a beneft, cover letters
are not necessary. Your employer research should help you
determine how to customize your cover letter.
Tip 4: Prepare a very brief summary of yourself and your
strengths to pitch to employers.
Youve put in the time to research the job fairs participat-
ing employers and have customized your resume, so dont get
stuck just handing out resumes. Tis is your opportunity to
make a lasting impression, and the ball is in your court. When
you hand your resume to an employer, be ready to expand
upon the major points your resume outlines. Share some
basic history on your skills and experience and discuss your
Job Fairs in NM
To nd job fairs in New Mexico, visit the Job Fairs link at
ww.dws.state.nm.us
The link will also list job fairs speccally
for veterans.
Job Hunting Business Cards
A great way to market yourself ad display
professionalism is to create a job hunting
business card with your name, contact infor-
mation and 3 to 5 of your main skills. Tere are
several afordable options for print it yourself
or online printing sevices. Tis may be
the right tool to help that employer
remember you!
20
22 23
career interests. Your pitch should be very brief (1 to 2 min-
utes). Providing this information will engage the employer,
enabling you to learn more about job opportunities and what
the employer is looking for while identifying and elaborating
on how you might contribute to their business/organization.
Youre at the Job Fair
Making Connections
How you present yourself and your ability to make connections
with employers are keys to your success at a job fair. Make
sure that you are dressed at least business casual and that
youre ready to be forward and to interact with employers.
Introducing yourself and asking questions of employers can
be intimidating. While doing your homework and being
prepared should help you shake any nerves, its important
that you stay positive, be forward in introducing and talking
about yourself, and keep your energy up. Remember to show
confdence and a genuine interest in the person with whom
youre speaking. If you are attending the job fair with others,
make sure you interact with employers on your own so that
you can make an individual impression. Youll also want to
attend the job fair in its earlier hours. Some employers leave
early due to travel.
You will be meeting a lot of employer representatives at the
job fair. Always ask for the business card of the representative
you are speaking with so that you can follow up once you
leave. Carry a notepad with you to take down any contact
information if employers do not have business cards and to
make notes from your conversations. Tis will be useful in
following up with key employers afer the job fair.
Following Up With Your
Connections
Hopefully, by the time youve lef the job fair, you have at
least a few promising contacts and potential opportunities.
Job fairs by nature do not allow for extensive interaction.
Tis is why its so important to follow up with the connec-
tions you make. It is recommended that you email or mail a
follow-up note within 24 hours of the job fair, much like you
would afer an interview. Also, if you come away with infor-
mation on specifc positions available, alter your resume to
better ft the position and send the updated and customized
version to the business representative.
One key thing to remember
throughout the job fair process is
that even if an employer does not
have an immediate job opening that
you qualify for or are interested in,
that doesnt mean a position will
not be open in the future. Making
connections, even without a specifc
job opening available, strengthens
your overall network and can greatly
improve your chances in fnding a
position with that employer or other
related employers in the future. If
a specifc position is not available,
stay in contact with the employer
representative you spoke with. Email
once a month to demonstrate your
continued interest and to see if new
positions are available.
What is a Virtual Career Fair?
Virtual career fairs are job fairs that are held online as
opposed to in person. From your computer, you are able
communicate and engage with employers in a virtual
environment. As long as you have Internet access you are
able to participate.
When searching for job fairs, keep virtual fairs in mind.
With the same preparation as traditional fairs, Atten-
dance at one of these fairs can really pay off!
MAKING JOB FAIRS WORK FOR YOU continued
For more information, contact your
Local NM Workforce Connection Office
BUILD confidence in your skills
DETERMINE training needs
IMPROVE career opportunities
certifyyourskills
WorkKeys assesses the skills employers define as critical to job success.
These skills are valuable for any occupation - skilled or professional - and at any
level of education. WorkKeys is ACT's workplace assessment tool and is the
gold standard in skills testing.
Thousands of companies worldwide use WorkKeys. WorkKeys uses the same
scale to score tests and measure job skills, so you can make quick comparisons
between a person's skill levels and their job requirements.
The abilities to learn, listen, communicate, work in teams, and solve problems
are important assets for any worker, regardless of career choice. WorkKeys
assessments measure these abilities in three key areas:
Communication
Business Writing, Listening, Reading for nformation, Writing
ProbIem SoIving
Applied Mathematics, Applied Technology, Locating nformation,
Observation
PersonaI SkiIIs
Teamwork
Each individual WorkKeys assessment can be completed in less
than an hour. To receive New Mexico's "Certified for Success
Career Readiness Certificate assess your skills in Reading for
nformation, Locating nformation, and Applied Mathematics. These
assessments can be taken at your local New Mexico Workforce
Connection Center.
What is WorkKeys?
24 25
Transferring Your Skills
How to use your military experience to identify
opportunities in the civilian labor force
I
f youve been reading this publication from the begin-
ning, you probably know by now that one of the frst
things you need to do before you begin your job search
is to identify how your military occupation and related
skills transfer to diferent civilian occupations. Tis is actu-
ally a task that every job seeker should undertake. First, there
is not always an obvious match between military and civil-
ian occupations. You may be aware of a few occupations for
which you are qualifed, but its likely there are a few that you
havent even thought of in beginning your civilian career. In
addition, you may not want to pursue a career in a civilian
occupation that is similar to what you did in the military. If
youre looking to start something new and diferent, looking
at how your military occupation transfers to civilian occupa-
tions is a frst step in identifying similar, and not so similar,
civilian occupations.
Te best tool available that will match your previous
occupation with civilian occupations that have corresponding
duties and KSAs is the Match Your Occupation tool through
the NM Workforce Connection website. Similar tools are
CONTRACTING MANAGER / Air Force
g

Purchasing Agent
available through www.CareerOneStop.com
and www.military.com. Te following charts
provide examples of the information you
can gain from using the Match Your
Occupation tool. Tey also give examples
of a handful of common military
occupations and potentially transferable
civilian occupations. You can visit
www.jobs.state.nm.us and www.
CareerOneStop.com to use
other matching tools as
well (such as the Match
Your Skills tool).
Purchasing Agent is the best occupation
match if you were a contracing agent in
the military.
Civilian
Occupations
Occupation Denition Education
Requirements**
Experience Requirements** Average Wage
8 BEST MATCH!
Purchasing Agent
Except Wholesale,
Retail and Farm
Purchase machinery, equipment, tools, parts, supplies, or services
necessary for the operation of an establishment. Purchase raw or
semi-nished materials for manufacturing.
Bachelors degree 1 or 2 years of training w/ OJT experience &
informal training w/ experienced workers.
$60,634
8 Insurance Adjuster,
Examiner or Investigator
Investigate, analyze, and determine the extent of insurance companys
liability concerning personal, casualty, or property loss or damages,
and attempt to effect settlement with claimants. Correspond with
or interview medical specialists, agents, witnesses, or claimants to
compile information. Calculate benet payments and approve payment
of claims within a certain monetary limit.
Long-term OJT 1 or 2 years of training w/ OJT experience
&informal training w/ experienced
workers.
$53,309
Insurance Appraiser,
Auto Damage
Appraise automobile or other vehicle damage to determine cost
of repair for insurance claim settlement and seek agreement with
automotive repair shop on cost of repair. Prepare insurance forms to
indicate repair cost or cost estimates and recommendations.
Work experience, related
occupation
1 or 2 years of training w/ OJT experience
workers.
$53,309
8 Cost Estimator
Prepare cost estimates for product manufacturing, construction
projects, or services to aid management in bidding on or determining
price of product or service. May specialize according to particular
service performed or type of product manufactured.
Bachelors degree Several years work-related experience,
OJT, and/or vocational training.
$58,182
8 Credit Analyst
Analyze current credit data and nancial statements of individuals or
rms to determine the degree of risk involved in extending credit or
lending money. Prepare reports with this credit information for use in
decision-making.
$53,679
Procurement Clerk Compile information and records to draw up purchase orders for
procurement of materials and services.
Short-term OJT 1 or 2 years of training w/ OJT experience
workers.
$34,984
8 Customer Service
Representative
Interact with customers to provide information in response to inquiries
about products and services and to handle and resolve complaints.
Moderate-term
OJT
Afew months to 1 year working with
experienced employee
$28,999
Source: New Mexico Workforce Connection Website. www.jobs.state.nm.us as of March 30, 2012
** Represents usual minimum requirements but requirements can change by employer and position.
8Represents jobs that have a bright outlook nationally in regards to job growth.
26 26
DAMAGE CONTROLMAN / Navy
g
Municipal Fireghter
Municipal reghter is the best
occupation match if you were in
damage control in the military.
27
Civilian
Occupations
Requirements**
Experience Requirements** Average
Wage
8 BEST MATCH!
Municipal
Fireghter
Control and extinguish municipal res, protect life and property
and conduct rescue efforts.
Long-term OJT Several years work-related experience,
OJT, and/or vocational training
$35,405
8 Municipal Fire
Fighting & Prevention
Supervisors
Supervise re ghters who control and extinguish municipal
res, protect life and prroperty, and conduct rescue efforts.
Work experience,
related occupation
1 or 2 years of training with OJT
experience & informal training with
experienced workers.
$53,917
8 Forest Fire Fighting &
Prevention Supervisors
Supervise re ghters who control and suppress res in forests
or vacant public land
Work experience,
related occupation
$53,917
8 Forest Fire Fighters
Control and suppress res in forests or
vacant public land
Long-term OJT A few months to 1 year working with
experienced employees.
$35,405
Fire Inspectors Inspect buildings and equipment to detect re hazards and
enforce state and local regulations
Work experience,
related occupation
$53,847
Forest Fire Inspectors
& Prevention Specialists
Enforce re regulations and inspect for forest re hazards.
Report forest res and weather conditions
Work experience,
related occupation
Not Available
Fish & Game Wardens Patrol assigned area to prevent sh and game law violations.
Investigate reports of damage to crops or property by wildlife.
Compile biological data.
Long-term OJT Several years work-related experience,
Not Available
Transit & Railroad Police Protect and police railroad and transit property, employees,
or passengers.
Long-term OJT 1 or 2 years of training with OJT
Not Available
8 Security Guards
Patrol assigned area to prevent sh and game law violations.
Compile biological data
Long-term OJT A few months to 1 year working with
$26,927
8 Lifeguards, Ski Patrol &
Other Recreational
Protective Service
Monitor recreational areas, such as pools, beaches, or ski s
lopes to provide assistance and protection to participants.
Not Available A few days to a few months of training
with an experienced worker could show
you how to do the job.
$19,901
8 Truck Drivers, Heavy
and Tractor-Trailer
Drive a tractor-trailer combinatin or truck with capacity of at
least 26,000 GVW, to transport and deliver goods, livestock, or
materials in liquid, loose, or packaged form. May be required to
unload truck. May require use of automated lifting equipment.
Requires commercial drivers license.
Moderate-term OJT A few months to 1 year working with
$37,095
**Represents usual minimum requirements. But requirements can change by employer and position.
28
COMBAT ENGINEER / Navy
g

Civil Engineer
Civil Engineer is the best occupation
match if you were a combat engineer in
the military. The Big-I in Albuquerque is
an example of a civil engineering project.
29
Civilian
Occupation
Requirements**
Experience
Requirements**
Average
Wage
8 BEST MATCH!
Civil Engineer
Control and extinguish municipal res, protect life and property
and conduct rescue efforts.
$88,420
Landscape Architect Supervise re ghters who control and extinguish municipal
res, protect life and prroperty, and conduct rescue efforts.
Not
Available
8 Aerospace Engineer Supervise re ghters who control and suppress res in forests
or vacant public land
$104,208
Industrial Safety &
Health Engineer
Control and suppress res in forests or
vacant public land
$92,926
Marine Architect Inspect buildings and equipment to detect re hazards and
enforce state and local regulations
OJT, nd/or vocational training.
Not
Available
Materials Engineer Enforce re regulations and inspect for forest re hazards.
Report forest res and weather conditions
$88,000
Mining & Geological
Engineer, Including Mining
Safety
Patrol assigned area to prevent sh and game law violations.
Compile biological data.
$78,480
Petroleum Engineer Protect and police railroad and transit property, employees,
or passengers.
Bachelor's degree Several years work-related experience,
$106,398
8 Electrical Drafter Develop specications and instructions for installation of
voltage transformers, overhead or underground cables, and
related electrical equipment used to conduct electrical energy
from transmission lines or high-voltage distribution lines to
consumers.
Post-secondary
vocational training
& informal training w/ experienced
workers.
$50,636
8 Mechanical Drafter Prepare detailed working diagrams of machinery and mechanical
devices,including dimensions, fastening methods, and other
engineering information.
Post-secondary
vocational training
workers.
$53,035
8 Civil Engineering
Technician
Apply theory and principles of civil engineerin in planning,
designing, and overseeing construction and maintenance of
structures and facilities under the direction of engineering
staff or physical scientists.
Associate degree 1 or 2 years of training w/ OJT experience
workers.
$41,401
** Represents usual minimum requirements. But requirements can change by employer and position.
8 Represents jobs that have a bright outlook nationally in regards to job growth.
MISSILE & SPACE SYSTEMS MAINTENANCE JOURNEYMAN/ Marine Corps
g

Electrical & Electronics Repairer,
Commercial & Industrial Equipment
Electrical/electronics repairer, of commerical and
industrial equipment is the best ocupation match if
you were a missle and space systemes maintenance
journeyman in the military.
Civilian
Occupations
Requirements**
Wage
8 BEST MATCH!
Electrical & Electronics
Repairer, Commercial &
Industrial Equipment
Repair, test, adjust, or install electronic equipment, such as
industrial controls, transmitters, and antennas.
Post-secondary
vocational training
workers.
$55,928
8 Computer Support
Specialist
Provide technical assistance to computer system users. Answer ques-
tions or resolve computer problems for clients in person, via telephone
or from remote location. May provide assistance concerning the use of
computer hardware and software, including printing, installation, word
processing, electronic mail, and operating systems.
workers.
$48,657
8 Network Systems & Data
Communications Analyst
Analyze, design, test, and evaluate network systems, such
as local area networks (LAN), wide area networks (WAN),
Internet, intranet, and other data communications systems.
Perform network modeling, analysis, and planning. Research
and recommend network and data communications hardware
and software. Includes telecommunications specialists who
deal with the interfacing of computer and communications
equipment. May supervise computer programmers.
Bachelor's degree 1 or 2 years of training w/ OJT experience
workers.
$72,082
8 Electronics Engineering
Technician
Lay out, build, test, troubleshoot, repair, and modify
developmental and production electronic components, parts,
equipment, and systems, such as computer equipment, missile
control instrumentation, electron tubes, test equipment,
and machine tool numerical controls, applying principles
and theories of electronics, electrical circuitry, engineering
mathematics, electronic and electrical testing, and physics.
Usually work under direction of engineering staff.
workers.
$57,814
8 Computer, Automated
Teller & Ofce Machine
Repairer
Repair, maintain, or install computers, word processing systems,
automated teller machines, and electronic ofce machines, such
as duplicating and fax machines
Post-secondary
vocational training
workers.
$34,647
Telecommunications
Equipment Installer &
Repairer, Except Line
Installer
Set-up, rearrange, or remove switching and dialing equipment
used in central ofces. Service or repair telephones and other
communication equipment on customers' property. May install
equipment in new locations or install wiring and telephone jacks
in buildings under construction.
Post-secondary
vocational training
workers.
$47,243
Electrical & Electronics
Repairer, Powerhouse,
Substation & Relayer
Inspect, test, repair, or maintain electrical equipment in
generating stations, substations, and in-service relays.
Post-secondary
vocational training
workers.
$51,126
Electronic Home
Entertainment Equipment
Installer & Repairer
Repair, adjust, or install audio or television receivers, stereo
systems, camcorders, video systems, or other electronic home
entertainment equipment.
Post-secondary
vocational
training
workers.
$25,491
31 30
Civilian
Occupations
Requirements**
Wage
8 BEST MATCH!
Computer Progammer
Convert project specications and statements of problems
and procedures to detailed logical ow charts for coding into
computer language. Develop and write computer programs
to store, locate, and retrieve specic documents, data, and
information. May program web sites.
$79,512
8 Computer & Information
Systems Manager
Plan, direct, or coordinate activities in such elds as electronic
data processing, information systems, systems analysis, and
computer programming.
$103,371
8 Computer Support
Specialist
Provide technical assistance to computer system users. Answer
questions or resolve computer problems for clients in person,
via telephone or from remote location. May provide assistance
concerning the use of computer hardware and software,
including printing, installation, word processing, electronic mail,
and operating systems.
Long-term OJT 1 or 2 years of training w/ OJT
$48,657
8 Computer
Systems Analyst
Analyze science, engineering, business, and all other data
processing problems for application to electronic data
processing systems. Analyze user requirements, procedures,
and problems to automate or improve existing systems and
review computer system capabilities, workow, and scheduling
limitations. May analyze or recommend commercially available
software. May supervise computer programmers.
Work experience,
related occupation
1 or 2 years of training w/ OJT
$79,713
8 Operations Research
Analyst
Formulate and apply mathematical modeling and other
optimizing methods using a computer to develop and interpret
information that assists management with decision making,
policy formulation, or other managerial functions. May develop
related software, service, or products. Frequently concentrates
on collecting and analyzing data and developing decision
support software. May develop and supply optimal time,
cost, or logistics networks for program evaluation, review, or
implementation.
Masters degree Some OJT but assumed person will
already have the required skills,
knowledge, work-related experience,
and/or training.
$78,175
Computer Science Teacher,
Postsecondary
Teach courses in computer science. May specialize in a eld of
computer science, such as the design and function of computers
or operations and research analysis.
Doctorate degree Some OJT but assumed person will
already have the required skills,
knowledge, work-related experience,
and/or training.
$62,701
Computer Operator Monitor and control electronic computer and peripheral
electronic data processing equipment to process business,
scientic, engineering, and other data according to operating
instructions. May enter commands at a computer terminal
and set controls on computer and peripheral devices. Monitor
and respond to operating and error messages.
Moderate-term
OJT
workers.
$35,324
8 Computer, Automated
Teller & Ofce Machine
Repairer
Repair, maintain, or install computers, word processing systems,
automated teller machines, and electronic ofce machines, such
as duplicating and fax machines.
Short-term OJT 1 or 2 years of training w/ OJT experience
workers.
$34,674
Numerical Tool & Process
Control Programmer
Develop programs to control machining or processing of parts by
automatic machine tools, equipment, or systems.
Long-term OJT 1 or 2 years of training w/ OJT experience
workers.
$57, 988
33
SMALL COMPUTER SYSTEMS OPERATOR/PROGRAMMER / Marine Corps
g

Computer Progammer
32
Computer programmer is the best match for your skills if
you were a small computer systems operator/programmer
in the military.
34 35
A Snapshot
Businesses and Industries
Actively Recruiting Vets
Identifying some of the best employment
opportunities
T
here are several national programs that work to encourage businesses to hire veter-
ans. Just one example is Hire Heroes USAa non-proft organization that provides
personalized employment training to veterans and their spouses and engages busi-
nesses and corporations in the hiring process. One of the best resources to use in
fnding businesses that actively recruit veterans is your local NM Workforce Connection
Ofce. LVER and DVOP specialists work with businesses in their local communities to
encourage the hiring of veterans and to match individual veterans to known job openings.
Tere are also federal benefts provided to employers to incentivize hiring veterans. WOTC,
discussed in more detail in the Employment & Education Program & Services article of this
publication, provides a federal tax credit to private-sector businesses that hire veterans.
National and local programs and incentives are invaluable and undertake the mission
of assisting veterans in fnding civilian work. Tere are, however, many businesses that
actively recruit vets simply because they recognize the value veterans bring to the job and the
workplace. Maybe the business owner is a veteran or is close with someone who is. It could
be that they have employed veterans previously and have experienced frsthand the benefts
of such employees. Or it may be that they simply are aware of the sacrifce of military service
members and would like to personally recognize that sacrifce by ofering employment
opportunities. Whatever the reason, these businesses are creating opportunities, and it is
important to be aware of what they ofer.
So what types of businesses are actively recruiting or hiring veterans? Tere are many types
of businesses and industries, and they vary by city and state. Here are some better known indus-
tries and businesses that traditionally provide opportunities to veterans both in New Mexico
and nationally.
Federal, State and Local
Employment Your Best Bet
Public-sector employment with federal, state, and local governments and businesses
that contract with these entities is one of your best opportunities as a veteran. First, as a
veteran, you are entitled to preference in hiring for competitive positions within the federal
Government over other applicants. As discussed in detail in the Employment & Education
Program & Services article of this publication (and at www.fedshirevets.gov), while veterans
preference does not guarantee a job, it positions eligible veterans to better compete. Tis is
one reason so many veterans are employed with the federal government and its contractors.
Te US Forest Service and US Border Patrol are just two examples of federal departments
that actively recruit veterans. For example, the US Forest Service, in partnership with the
US Department of the Interior/Bureau of Land Management and Veterans Green Jobs have
created a Veterans Fire Corps. Te program provides training opportunities and on-the-
36 37
job experience for veterans interested in entering careers in
natural resource management and wildland frefghting.
New Mexico also has many federal contractors. Los Alamos
National Laboratory and Sandia National Laboratories bring
in a signifcant number of federal contracts. Other businesses
with a signifcant amount in contracts include
Applied Research Associates, Honeywell
International, USF Holding Corp., SAIC,
Inc., and the University of New Mexico.
Many veterans also work in state and
local government. Te State of New Mexico,
like the federal government, also provides
hiring preference to veterans. State hiring
preference is discussed in further detail and
web links are provided in the Employment
& Education Program & Services section of
this publication. Some local jurisdictions
may also provide hiring preference, and
you should visit city or county websites to
identify individual preference programs.
Police and fre departments are just two
entities at the local level that actively recruit
veterans based on comparable training and
skills gained from active duty service.
What About the
Private Sector?
Public entities are a great place to start when
looking for job opportunities. But what
about the private sector? Here is a list of the
35 most valuable employers for military
from www.military.com. Tis list was com-
piled by Civilian Job News. Companies that
operate in New Mexico are designated with ** (20 out of 35).
Amazon: Retailers of books, media, electronics and other
goods.
The Exchange: Te Army & Air Force Exchange Service.
**BNSF Railway: Operates more than 1,000 trains a day
on one of the largest freight rail transportation networks in
North America.
CACI International Inc: Provides professional services and
IT solutions needed to prevail in the areas of defense, intel-
ligence, homeland security, and IT
modernization and government
transformation.
Capstone Corporation: Custom-
izes the delivery of services and
solutions for military and civil
operations, enterprise technical
requirements, and organization and
mission support services.
CenterPoint Energy: Operates in
electric transmission and distribu-
tion, natural gas distribution, in-
terstate natural gas pipelines, feld
services, and competitive natural
gas sales and services.
**Chesapeake Energy
Corporation: Focuses on discov-
ering, acquiring, and developing
conventional and unconventional
natural gas and oil felds onshore in
the U.S.
**Cintas: Designs, manufactures
and implements corporate identity,
uniform programs, and also
provides promotional and frst-
aid-safety materials to more than
800,000 businesses.
Concurrent Technologies Corporation (CTC): Independent,
nonprofit, applied scientific re search and development
professional services organization provides innovative
management and technology-based solutions.
EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES FOR VETS continued
Veterans Green Corps
Veterans Green Corps is a collaborative initiative of Veterans
Green Jobs and conservation corps organizations throughout
the U.S. The program assists with the transition to civilian
life of recently returning veterans by leveraging their leader-
ship experience, strong work ethic, and team approach to
meet conservation needs on public lands. Veterans Green
Corps supplies the gear and the training, while vets supply
the human power and dedication needed to protect and
preserve the nations public lands. Veterans Green Corps is a
program of Veterans Green Jobs. For more information, visit
http://veteransgreenjobs.org/veteransgreencorps
CSX Transportation: Operates transportation network of
about 21,000 route miles of track in 23 states, the District of
Columbia and the Canadian provinces of Ontario and
Quebec.
**DaVita, Inc.: Delivers dialysis services in more than
1,500 outpatient clinics.
**Dollar General: Te nations largest
small-box discount retailer, with 9,200
stores in 35 states and nine distribution
centers, representing 87,904 employees.
Fluor Corporation: Fortune 500 com-
pany delivers engineering, procurement,
construction, maintenance, and project
management to governments and clients
in diverse industries around the world.
**G4S Secure Solutions (USA):
Leading international security solutions
group has more than 50,000 employees
across the United States and Canada.
**General Electric: Employs more than
10,000 U.S. veterans, and one in 14 GE
employees is a veteran.
Halfaker and Associates, LLC:
Specializes in information technology,
organization and strategy, intelligence
and operations, and supply and logistics.
ManTech International Corporation:
Provides technologies and solutions for
mission-critical national security
programs.
**Navy Federal Credit Union: Armed
forces bank serves the Navy, Army,
Marine Corps, Air Force, Veterans, and
DoD.
**Northrop Grumman: Global security
company provides innovative systems, products, and solu-
tions in aerospace, electronics, information systems, and
technical services to government and commercial custom-
ers worldwide.
**Paychex, Inc.: Provides outsourcing services payroll
processing, retirement services, insurance, and human
resources.
**Progressive Insurance Company: Auto insurance
provider.
Puget Sound Energy: A regulated utility providing electric
and natural gas service to the Puget Sound region.
SAYtr: For ofcers or senior NCOs who have a back-
ground/interest in civil engineering, facilities management,
Base Realignment and Closure, Force Realignment and
Beddown, and similar transitional leadership type work.
**Schlumberger: Oilfeld services company
supplying technology, information solutions,
and integrated project management that
optimize reservoir performance for customers
working in the oil and gas industry.
Schneider National, Inc.: Specializes in
truck driving jobs, and maintenance, ware-
house, and ofce careers.
**Sears Holdings Corporation: Te
merger of Kmart and and Sears has
resulted in this company, which manages
both stores.
Southern Company: Electricity providers
service both regulated and competitive mar-
kets across the southeastern United States.
**Sprint: High-profle wireline and wireless
service provider.
Transocean: Handles ofshore drilling, from
world water-depth and well-depth drilling
records to facilitating revolutionary subsea
completions.
**United Rentals, Inc.: Equipment rental
company has an integrated network of more
than 550 rental locations in 48 states and 10
Canadian provinces.
**University of Phoenix: Provides local and
long-distance education options.
**URS, Federal Services: Engineering, con-
struction and technical services
organization.
**USAA: Provider of insurance, investments, and banking
products to members of the U.S. military and their families.
**Verizon Communications Inc.: Wireless communica-
tions, IP networks, and information and entertainment
provider.
**Waste Management, Inc.: Partners with customers and
communities to manage and reduce waste from collection
to disposal while recovering valuable resources and creating
clean, renewable energy.
38 39
W
hile all job seekers look to answer these
questions and many resources are available,
resources exist that are targeted solely
towards veterans and the unique challenges
and opportunities they face. Whether its a program that
helps you look for work, educational opportunities through
the GI Bill, or services geared towards homeless vets, there
is a program out there that can assist you in your transition
into civilian life and the civilian workforce.
Veterans Transition Assistance
Program (TAP)
Te TAP ofers job-search assistance, employment and training
information, and related services to separating service members
within 180 days of separation or retirement. Te TAP program
aims to address barriers to success and alleviate employment
related difculties that veterans face afer separation.
TAP consists of comprehensive three-day workshops at
selected military installations nationwide. Professionally
trained workshop facilitators from the State Employment
Services, military family support services, DOL contractors,
or VETS staf present the workshops. Workshop attend-
ees learn about job searches, career decision-making, cur-
rent occupational and labor market conditions, resumeand
cover letter preparation, and interviewing techniques. Par-
ticipants are also provided with an evaluation of their em-
ployability relative to the job market and receive information
on the most current veterans benefts.
Tere is also the (DTAP) program for veterans with
service-connected disabilities. DTAP includes the normal
three-day TAP workshop plus additional hours of individual
instruction to help determine job readiness and address the
special needs of disabled veterans.
How
do I get
additional
training?
How do I
identify all of the
steps I need to
take to prepare
for entering the
workforce?
What are
some tips to
help market
myself to
employers?
What are the
challenges you
may face as
a veteran
transitioning
into the civilian
workforce?
An independent evaluation of the Veterans TAP Program estimated
that service members who had participated in TAP, on average, found their rst post-military job
three weeks sooner than those who did not participate in TAP!
Employment Programs & Services
Resources to help you look for work, market
yourself, and successfully apply for jobs.
Cannon AFB Holloman AFB Kirtland AFB
Transition Assistance Program
200 W. Terminal Avenue
Cannon AFB NM 88103
575.784.4228
575.784.6765 (f)
www.cannon.af.mil
749 New Mexico Avenue
Bldg. 788
Holloman AFB, NM 88330
575.572.7754
575.572.7757 (f)
1451 4th Street, Bldg. 20245
Kirtland AFB, NM 87117
505.846.0741 or 505.846.0751
505.846.9889 (f)
Fax (DSN) 312.246.9889
www.kirtlandforcesupport.com
What
recources
are available
to help
me look for
work?
Te services ofered by TAP are provided through a
partnership between the Departments of Defense, Veterans
Afairs, Transportation and the VETS. Te TAP website
www.turbotap.orgis an excellent resource to fnd infor-
mation on TAP services and to register for workshops near
you. For more information about TAP or to apply for this
program, visit the TAP website, contact your local LVER/
DVOP Specialist, or contact any of the following TAP ofces:
VA Compensated Work Therapy
(CWT) Program
Te Compensated Work Terapy (CWT) is a rehabilitation
program through the VA that endeavors to match and
support work-ready veterans in competitive jobs and to
consult with business and industry regarding their specifc
employment needs. CWT programs develop an individual
rehabilitation plan for each veteran. New Mexicos CWT
program is located at the Raymond G. Murphy VA Medical
Center in Albuquerque. Te program provides:
nVocational rehabilitation services
nJob matching and employment support
nVocational case management
nWork site and job analysis
n Consultation regarding assistive technology
n Reasonable accommodation
n Guidance in addressing ADA regulations compliance
Specifc programs within CWT include pre-employment
programs that match veterans with employment opportuni-
ties, programs that provide competitive employment with
therapeutic supports integrated into the treatment, and a resi-
dential rehabilitation treatment program. Te CWT program
also assists employers through work site and job assessment,
staf training and consultation services, employee assessment
and screening, and job matching and follow-up services.
For more information, visit www.cwt.va.gov or contact
the CWT Program Coordinator at Raymond G. Murphy
VA Medical Center.
Vocational Rehabilitation and
Employment (VR&E) VetSuccess
Program
Te Vocational Rehabilitation and Employment (VR&E)
VetSuccess Program, ofen referred to as the Chapter 31
program, assists veterans with service-connected disabilities
to prepare for, fnd, and keep suitable jobs. For veterans with
service-connected disabilities so severe that they cannot
immediately consider work, VetSuccess ofers services to
improve their ability to live as independently as possible.
VetSuccess ofers many services including:
New Mexico VA Health Care System
Raymond G. Murphy
VA Medical Center
CWT Program
1501 San Pedro SE
Albuquerque, NM 87108
505-265-1711 ext. 2356
505-991-4673
Bill Armstrong
40 41
n Comprehensive rehabilitation evaluations;
n Vocational counseling and rehabilitation planning
n Employment services such as job-training, jobs-seeking
skills, and resume development;
n Assistance fnding and keep a job including the use of
special employer incentives;
n On-the-job training, apprenticeships, and non-paid work
experiences;
n Post-secondary training;
n Supportive rehabilitation services including case
management, counseling, and medical referrals; and
n Independent living services for veterans unable to work
due to their disabilities.
An assessment of the Veterans interests, aptitudes, and
abilities is completed along with an assessment of service
connected disabilities and establishment of vocational
exploration and goal development once eligibility is
established.
For more information on the VetSuccess Program visit
www.vba.va.gov/bln/vre.
Veterans Preference
Federal Hiring
Did you know that as a veteran, you are entitled to preference
over others in hiring for competitive positions within the fed-
eral government? Veterans who are disabled or who served
on active duty in the Armed Forces during certain specifed
time periods or in military campaigns are entitled to prefer-
ence over others in hiring from competitive lists of eligible
applicants and also in retention during reductions in force.
Preference applies in hiring for virtually all jobs, whether in
the competitive or excepted service. However, the veterans
preference laws do not guarantee veterans a job, nor do they
give veterans preference in internal agency actions such as
promotion, transfer, reassignment, and reinstatement.
Tere are many requirements for eligibility for preference.
For more specifc information on veterans preference, you
can review the VetGuide at www.fedshirevets.gov. Tis guide
explains how the federal employment system works and how
veterans preference and the special appointing authorities
for veterans operate within the system. First and foremost,
to claim preference on a federal job application, you must
complete Standard Form 15, Application for 10-Point
Veteran Preference, and submit the requested documenta-
tion. Standard Form 15 form can be found at www.opm.gov/
forms.
Veterans Preference
State of New Mexico Hiring
Veterans of the United States Armed Forces or applicants
currently serving in the National Guard are given some
degree of preference in applications to New Mexico State
Government jobs. Preference recognizes the economic loss
sufered by citizens who have served their country in uni-
form, restores veterans to a favorable competitive position for
government employment, and acknowledges the larger obli-
gation owed to disabled veterans and current members of the
National Guard. To be entitled to preference, a United States
veteran must meet the eligibility requirements in accordance
with the provisions of Section 10-1-13.2 and Section 20-4-9,
NMSA 1978. Tis means that the veteran had:
You can nd a listing of federal jobs at
www.usajobs.gov
OR
at New Mexicos own job portal:
www.jobs.state.nm.us
Helmets to Hardhats and Troops to
Teachers (TTT) Programs
Helmets to Hardhats and Troops to Teachers (TTT) are
two programs offered by the federal government to assist
veterans in entering the construction and education elds.
Helmets to Hardhats is an effort of the Center for Military
Recruitment, Assessment and Veterans Employment
(CMRAVE, a nonprot organization) that helps you build
your professional prole, search and apply for jobs, and
connect with other veterans in construction. TTT is a
program under the Department of Defense (DoD) Defense
Activity for Non-Traditional Education Support (DANTES).
TTT assists eligible military personal to transition to a new
career as a public school teacher in targeted schools. A
network of state TTT ofces has been established to pro-
vide participants with counseling and assistance regarding
certication requirements, routes to state certication,
and employment leads. Financial assistance may be
provided to individuals to help pay for teacher certica-
tion costs and bonuses to teach in schools serving a higher
percentage of low-income family students.
For more information on Helmets to Hardhats, visit
http://helmetstohardhats.org.
F or more information on Troops to Teachers, visit
http://dantes.doded.mil/Sub%20Pages/TTT/TTT_Main.html
EMPLOYMENT PROGRAMS & SERVICES continued
n An honorable or general discharge from the United
States Armed Forces;
n An honorable discharge with a service-connected dis-
ability from the United States Armed Forces; or
n Is currently serving in the National Guard.
When applying for New Mexico State government jobs,
eligible veterans and/or National Guard members should
claim preference on their resumes. Applicants claiming
preference must submit appropriate documentation with their
application. For more information on eligibility requirements
and how to apply for hiring preference, visit www.spo.state.
nm.us/Veterans_and_NG_Eligibility_Guide.aspx.
For more information on Troops to Teachers, visit www.
dantes.doded.mil/Sub%20Pages/TTT/TTT_Main.
Programs for Veteran Business
Owners
VA Center for Veterans Enterprise (CVE)
VA has created the Center for Veterans Enterprise (CVE),
which is solely dedicated to assisting veterans in starting and
building businesses. Te CVE is part of the VAs Ofce of Small
Disadvantaged Business Utilization (OSDBU). Tey maintain
a website that serves as the federal government portal for
veteran-owned businesses known as VETBIZ.GOV. CVEs
website provides many links to sites providing assistance
to veteran entrepreneurs. Te principal purposes of this
site are to provide information about the VIP verifcation
process, to assist veteran business owners in registering their
business in the secretarys database of veteran-owned small
businesses (VOSBs), and to enable VA contracting ofcers
to easily identify service-disabled veteran-owned small
businesses (SDVOSBs) and VOSBs eligible for procurement
opportunities. Te website also provides information on the
US Small Business Administrations (SBA) Ofce of Veterans
Business Development and its Veterans Business Outreach
Centers (VBOCs) nationwide. For more information, visit
www.va.gov/osdbu/veteran.
US Small Business Administration (SBA)
Ofce of Veterans Business Development
Te Veterans Business Outreach Program (VBOP) is
designed to provide entrepreneurial development services
such as business training, counseling and mentoring, and
referrals for eligible veterans owning or considering starting
a small business. Te ofce is also responsible for liaison
with the veteran business community; for policy analysis
and reporting; for acting as an Ombudsman for veterans in
SBA programs; for providing business training, counseling,
One of the many programs available to returning veterans is Helmets to Hardhats.
There are a myriad of business development and loan
assistance available to veteran business owners. To get
more information on whats available to you, contact:
NM Veterans Business Outreach Center & NM Veterans
Enterprise Training Program
300 San Mateo Blvd. NE, Suite 106
505-841-4783
http://nmvboc.org
42 43
and assistance; and for overseeing the federal procurement
programs for VOSBs and SDVOSBs. Te SBA has 16
organizations participating in this cooperative agreement
and serving as VBOCs.
These centers provide:
n Pre-business plan workshops
n Concept assessments
n Business plan preparations
n Comprehensive feasibility analysis
n Entrepreneurial training and counseling
n Mentorship
n Other business development related services (Internet
marketing, accounting, intl trade)
For more information, visit http://archive.sba.gov/aboutsba/
sbaprograms/ovbd.
Programs for Businesses Hiring
Veterans
Work Opportunity Tax Credit (WOTC)
WOTC is a federal tax credit incentive that Congress provides
to private-sector businesses for hiring individuals from
eleven target groups who have consistently faced signifcant
barriers to employment. One of these groups is veterans.
While the WOTC does not provide direct support to veterans
looking for work, it does provide an incentive and is one of
many selling points for businesses to hire veterans. Businesses
are compensated by having their federal income tax liability
reduced. For more information on the WOTC, visit www.
doleta.gov/business/incentives/opptax or the NMDWS website:
www.dws.state.nm.us/dws-TaxCreditOp.html.
US Department of Labor Americas Heroes
at WorkHiring Veterans Toolkit
If you own a business and are interested in developing or
enhancing a veterans hiring initiative for your company, but
dont know where to begin, a new toolkit is available to help.
Te Hiring Veterans Toolkit through Americas Heroes at
Work is designed to assist and educate employers who have
made the proactive decision to include transitioning service
members, veterans, and wounded warriors in their recruit-
ment and hiring initiatives. Te Toolkit was developed to
simplify the process and pinpoint helpful tools and outline
some important steps to take when designing a veterans hir-
ing initiative that works for your particular business. Visit
www.afcommunity.af.mil for more information.
Te guide allows you to select from promising practices
and other resources that employers are using to successfully
welcome talented and skilled veterans into their companies.
For more information on the Toolkit, visit www.americash-
eroesatwork.gov/forEmployers/HiringToolkit.
Employer Support of the Guard and
Reserve (ESGR)
Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve (ESGR) is a DoD
organization that promotes cooperation and understanding
between Reserve component members and their civilian
employers and assists in the resolution of conficts arising
from an employees military commitment. ESGR provides
services to employers and Reserve service members. ESGR
provides service members with samples of military leave
absence forms, sample letters, service policies, and tips to
help avoid employment changes. ESGR also educates service
members and their civilian employers regarding their
rights and responsibilities under the Uniformed Services
Employment and Reemployent Rights Act (USERRA).
For more information, you can visit www.esgr.mil for
national information, www.nmesgr.mil for the New Mexico
ESGR ofce, or contact one of the following New Mexico
ESGR staf.
Ernest Rodriguez
Admin Support Technician
505-271-7118
ernest.d.rodriguez2@us.army.mil
William Shuert
Program Support Specialist
505-271-7122
Bill.shuert@us.army.mil
Gary Kaiser
Program Support Manager
505-271-7117
gary.kaiser@us.army.mil
New Mexico ESGR
600 Wyoming Boulevard NE
Suite 100
505-271-7117
Uniformed Services Employment and
Reemployment Rights Act (USERRA)
Te USERRA clarifes and strengthens the Veterans
Reemployment Rights (VRR) Statute and, through many
directives, essentially protects civilian job rights and benefts
for veterans and members of Reserve components. While the
USERRA is not necessarily a program for businesses hiring vets,
it is an invaluable resource for businesses seeking to understand
and comply with the rights of veterans and Reserve members
on their staf. Te VETS program provides assistance to all
persons having claims under USERRA and assists employers in
understanding the provisions of the act. Te main functions of
USERRA include:
n Protecting civilian job rights and benefts for veterans
and members of Reserve components.
n Making major improvements in protecting service
member rights and benefts by clarifying the law,
improving enforcement mechanisms, and adding federal
government employees to those employees already
eligible to receive Department of Labor assistance in
processing claims.
n Establishing the cumulative length of time that an
individual may be absent from work for military
duty and retain reemployment rights to five years
(there are some exception) and clearly establishing
that reemployment protection does not depend on
the timing, frequency, duration, or nature of an
individuals service as long as the basic eligibility
criteria are met.
n Providing protection for disabled veterans, requiring
employers to make reasonable eforts to accommodate
the disability.
n Providing that returning service members are
reemployed in the job that they would have attained
had they not been absent for military service, with the
same seniority, status and pay, as well as other rights and
benefts determined by seniority.
n Requiring that reasonable eforts (such as training or
retraining) be made to enable returning service members
to refresh or upgrade their skills to help them qualify for
reemployment.
n Providing health and pension plan coverage for service
members.
n Requiring that service members provide advance written
or verbal notice to their employers for all military duty
unless giving notice is impossible, unreasonable, or
precluded by military necessity.
For more information on the USERRA, visit
www.dol.gov/vets/programs/userra or contact a New
Mexico Workforce Connection ofce and LVER/DVOP
specialist.
The National Resource Directory
Your Source for Comprehensive Information on All Veterans
Benets & Resources
The National Resource Directory (www.nationalresourcedi-
rectory.gov) is one of the best overall resources for veterans.
While the NM Workforce Connection website is an essential
tool in your job search and entry into the civilian labor
force (for those veterans recently separated), the National
Resource Directly provides information on all of the benets
available to veterans from employment to education to
housing, health, and homeless assistance. Information is
organized into the following subjects:
n Benets and Compensation n Homeless Assistance
n Education & Training n Housing
n Employment n Transportation & Travel
n Family & Caregiver Support n Volunteer Opportunities
n Health n Other Services &
Resources
EMPLOYMENT PROGRAMS & SERVICES continued
44 45
Education Programs & Services
Resources to help you get the education & training
you need to follow your civilian career path
The Post-9/11 and Montgomery
GI Bills
Te GI Bill is arguably one of the most benefcial education
programs provided to veterans with honorable discharge.
Tere are two GI Billsthe Montgomery GI Bill and the
Post-9/11 GI Bill. Te New Mexico Department of Higher
Education (NM HED) Veteran Education & Training (VET)
Division contracts with VA to approve schools and facilities
in New Mexico for providing educational benefts through
the GI Bills. Visit www.hed.state.nm.us/VetEdTrain.aspx for
more information on the VET Division and what they do.
The Post-9/11 GI Bill provides fnancial support for edu-
cation and housing to individuals with at least 90 days of
aggregate service afer September 10, 2001, or individuals
discharged with a service-connected disability afer 30 days.
Te Bill pays full tuition and fees for all public school in-state
students for up to 36 months. Te Bill also pays tuition and
fees at private or foreign schools (fees are capped). Te Bill
also provides a monthly housing allowance and an annual
books and supplies stipend. Associates, bachelors, or
graduate degree programs along with on-the-job training,
apprenticeship, fight training, other professional training,
and non-college degree training are all covered under the
Post-9/11 GI Bill. For certain service members, Post-9/11 GI
Bill benefts can also be transferred to dependents.
The Montgomery GI Bill (MGIB) includes the
Montgomery GI BillActive Duty (Chapter 30) and the
Montgomery GI BillSelected Reserve (Chapter 1606).
Chapter 30 provides up to 36 months of education benefts
for degree and certifcate programs, fight training, appren-
ticeship/on-the-job training, correspondence courses,
entrepreneurship training, and certain entrance examina-
tions. Remedial, defciency, and refresher courses may be
approved under certain circumstances. Generally, benefts
are payable for 10 years following your release from active
duty. Under Chapter 30, active duty members enroll and
pay $100 per month for 12 months and are then entitled
to receive a monthly education beneft once they have
completed a minimum service obligation. Some service
members may contribute up to an additional $600 to the GI
Bill to receive increased monthly benefts. Tere are several
eligibility requirements. For more information, visit www.
gibill.va.gov/benefts/montgomery_gibill/index.html.
Chapter 1606 is available to members of the Selected
Reserve (Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps, and Coast
Guard Reserves and the Army and Air National Guards).
Chapter 1606 provides 36 months of education benefts
for degree programs, certifcate or correspondence courses,
cooperative training, independent study programs, appren-
ticeship/on-the-job training, and vocational fight training
programs. Remedial, refresher, and defciency training are
available under certain circumstances. To be eligible you
must be a reservist who is actively drilling and has a 6-year
obligation in the Selected Reserve, signed afer June 20,
1985. You also must have completed your initial active duty
for training (IADT) and have received your high school
diploma or equivalent prior to that completion. Finally, you
must have remained in good standing while serving in an
active Selected Reserve unit. Your eligibility ends on the day
you leave the Selected Reserve (unless you were mobilized,
in which case your eligibility may be extended).
The Reserve Educational
Assistance Program (REAP)
REAP is a beneft providing educational assistance to
members of the reserve componentsSelected Reserve and
Individual Ready Reserve (IRR)who are called or ordered
to active service in response to a war or national emergency,
as declared by the President or Congress. Te reserve
components consist of Army Reserve, Naval Reserve, Air
Force Reserve, Marine Corps Reserve, Coast Guard Reserve,
and the Army National Guard, Air National Guard, Army
IRR, Air Force IRR, Navy IRR, and Marine Corps IRR.
Active Service is service on active duty or full-time National
Guard duty. REAP education benefts are provided for up
to 36 months and include receipt of a percentage of the
Montgomery GI Bill-Active Duty payment rate based on the
number of continuous days served on active duty. Eligible
reserve component members include those who served on
active duty on or afer September 11, 2011, for at least 90
consecutive days under a contingency operation (current
Iraq or Afghanistan operations). National Guard members
are eligible if their active service extended for 90 consecutive
days or more and their service was authorized under
Section 502(f), title 32, U.S.C, authorized by the President
or Secretary of Defense for a national emergency, and are
supported by federal funds. For more information, visit
www.gibill.va.gov/benefts/other_programs/reap.html.
Veterans Education Assistance
Program (VEAP)
VEAP is an educational assistance program available to
service members who elected to make contributions from
their military pay to participate in the program. Under VEAP,
a service members contributions to the program are matched
on a two-to-one basis by the government. Education benefts
are available for up to 36 months and can be used for degree,
certifcate, correspondence, apprenticeship/on-the-job, and
vocational fight training programs. In certain circumstances,
remedial, defciency, and refresher training may also be
available. To be eligible, you must have:
n Entered service between January 1, 1977, and
June 30, 1985;
n Opened an account prior to April 1, 1987;
n Contributed $25 to $2,700;
n Completed your frst period of service, and
n Been discharged under conditions other than
dishonorable.
Job Corps Demonstration Project
Te VETS and DOLs Employment and Training Administration
(ETA) Job Corps are partnering in a demonstration project
that will provide Job Corps comprehensive array of career
development services to eligible veterans 20 to 24 years
old to prepare them for successful careers. Tis is a fully- Courtesy of Cannon Air Force Base
46 47
funded, all-expense-paid demonstration project that is free
for veterans. Te program includes transportation to and
from the Job Corps center, housing, meals, basic medical
services, academic and career technical training, bi-weekly
living allowance, and job placement and post-graduation
support. Job Corp and ETA have created an accelerated,
customized program developed specifcally for veterans.
Veterans accepted into the demonstration project will be
living among non-veterans and other veterans who are
also transitioning from the military to civilian life. One of
the Job Corps programs key benefts is its post-graduate
support. When veterans are ready to begin transitioning into
their career, Job Corps staf will assist them in job searching,
resume drafing, and job interviewing skills.
Te enrollment will be open and continuous until a center
enrolls 100 veterans. It is expected that veteran participants
will be enrolling and graduating at various rates. Although
Job Corps has set aside 300 slots for the demonstration
project, actual participation during the year may exceed
that number due to continuous enrollment. For more
information and to sign-up for the demonstration program,
visit www.recruiting.jobcorps.gov/en/vets.aspx. You can fnd
New Mexico Job Corp Centers listed at:
Albuquerque Roswell
1500 Indian School Rd NW P.O. Box 5970
Albuquerque, NM 87104 57 G Street
505-222-4243 575-347-5414
505-346-2769 (f) 575-347-2243 (f)
http://albuquerque.jobcorps.gov http://Roswell.jobcorps.gov
VA Work-Study Program
Did you know that if you participate in the Post-9/11 or
Montgomery GI Bill, REAP, VEAP, the VR&E Program, or
the National Call to Service program (incentives to serve), you
have the opportunity to participate in the Work-Study Program
under the VA? Te VA work-study allowance is available to
persons training on a full-time or three-quarter-time basis under
any of these programs or for those who are eligible dependents.
Te student may work at his/her school veterans ofce, VA
medical facilities, the VA regional ofce, a DoD Facility, or at
approved State employment ofces. Work-study students are
paid either the State or federal minimum wage, whichever is
greater, and work 25 hours a week. Within the Work-Study
Program, veterans with service-connected disabilities of at least
30 percent may be given priority consideration. To learn more
about the VA Work-Study Program and download a copy of
the application form, visit the following link or contact your
local LVER/DVOP specialist. http://gibill.va.gov/resources/
education_resources/programs/work_study_program
On-The-Job (OJT)
& Apprenticeship Training
On the Job (OJT) and Apprenticeship training ar both
opportunities for veterans to learn silled occupations while
performing performing job functions in a work environment
under skilled worker supervision. For both OJT and
Apprenticeship training, employers apply for approval with
NM HED to create positions and must meet minimum
requirements. For example, to create an OJT position, an
employer must meet minimum requirements related to wages,
level of skill developed, and reasonable certainty that a job
will exist for the veteran once OJT is complete. Virtually any
job can receive approval for veterans benefts. OJT consists of
at least 6 months of training, but no more than 24 months.
Upon completion of OJT, the participant receives a certifcate
of completion. Apprenticeship programs normally run two
to four years. An occupation eligible for apprenticeship
instruction requires a minimum of 2,000 hours of on-the-
job training to learn the necessary manual, mechanical, or
technical skills, in addition to a recommended 144 hours per
year instruction to supplement the on-the-job training. For
more information on OJT and Apprenticeship opportunities
and a listing of approved programs, visit www.hed.state.nm.us/
OntheJob or contact your local Veterans Representative.
Vietnam Veterans Scholarship
Te Vietnam Veterans Scholarship Program was created
to provide aid for Vietnam veterans who are undergradu-
ate and graduate students attending public post-secondary
institutions or select private colleges in New Mexico (pri-
vate colleges include St. Johns College and College of the
Southwest). Te scholarship can be used to pay for tuition,
required fees, and required books. Te scholarship is renew-
able if the student maintains satisfactory progress. To be
eligible, the veteran must be an undergraduate or graduate
student who was honorably discharged, be a resident at the
original time of entry into the armed forces or have lived in
New Mexico for ten years or more, and have been awarded
a Vietnam combat medal for services during the Vietnam
confict. For more information on the scholarship and
instructions to apply, visit www.hed.state.nm.us/vet.aspx.
Vietnam Veterans Centers
and Services at New Mexicos
Higher Education Institutions
Te following is a listing of veterans resources at three of
New Mexicos higher education institutions. To fnd veterans
resources at an institution that is not on this list, please visit
the institution website. Web addresses for all New Mexicos
higher education institutions can be found at www.jobs.state.
nm.us under Training Providers and Schools, under the
Education Services link.
Veterans Resource Center (VRC) at the
University of New Mexico
Te Veterans Resource Center (VRC) department at UNM
is run by veterans for veterans. Te UNM VRC is a central-
ized resource hub, easily accessible and widely available to all
veterans and their families. VRC staf will help you navigate
through the challenges of transitioning from the military to
a civilian/academic environment. One of the key aspects of
the VRC is that it is not just a resource for UNM veterans
but a resource for veterans at all higher education learning
institutions in New Mexico.
VRC services are available to all veteransactive duty,
reserve, guard, separated, and retiredand their dependents
who would like to explore the possibility of attending UNM
and/or any other New Mexico accredited higher education
institution. Te VRC provides education, administrative
services, and job advisement to student veterans and their
families, as well as outreach to military communities at large.
Te goals of the VRC are:
n To make UNM known as the premier veteran-friendly
institution in a veteran-friendly state.
n To increase the admission, retention, and graduation
rates of veterans.
What Do I Need to Do to Apply for
Chapter 30, Chapter 1606, REAP, or
VEAP Educational Benets?
For all benets, you need to complete the VA Form
22-1990, Application for Education Benets, and send it to
the VA regional ofce with jurisdiction over the state where
you will train. Make sure to include a copy of your DD Form
214. If you have already begun your education/training,
you will need to take the complete 22-1990 to your school
or employer and have them complete a VA Form 22-1999.
You will then send both forms to the VA regional ofce that
oversees the area in which your school/work is located.
Chapter 30: No additional requirements
Chapter 1606: Get your DD 2384-1, Notice of Basic
Eligibility, from your unit and include it in your submittal to
the VA regional ofce (if in education/training, provide it to
your school or employer for completion of your 22-1999).
REAP: Make sure you print Chapter 1606 at the top of
your 22-1990.
VEAP: No additional requirements
For more information and to apply electronically, visit
www.gibill.va.gov/benets/other_programs/veap.html OR
contact your LVER/DVOP.
Vietnam-era MC-130E Combat Talon I taxies onto the ightline
during an aircraft retirement ceremony at Cannon Air Force Base
June 22, 2012 .
48 49
n To make the VRC an accessible resource to all of New
Mexicos veterans.
n To ensure that the VRC is efectively and efciently
meeting the needs of New Mexicos veterans and their
dependents.
n To increase access to higher education for New Mexicos
veterans and their families.
n To remove social, physical, and psychological barriers
through a strong and vibrant network with New Mexicos
vast veteran services, other higher education institutions,
and internal UNM organizations.
Contact Information:
Student Union Building, Suite 2002
505-277-3181 | 505-274-7775 (f)
vrc@unm.edu | http://vrc.unm.edu
Mailing Address:
MSC03 2215
1 University of New Mexico
Marilyn Melendez Dykman, MA
Director
Lionel St. Pierre, MA
Certifying Ofcial
New Mexico State University (NMSU)
Ofce of Veterans Programs
Te function of the NMSU Ofce of Veterans Programs is
to serve as the liaison between NMSU students and the VA.
Duties of the ofce include:
n Certifying students for required courses which apply to a
Bachelors, Masters or Doctoral degree program (courses
meeting requirements for minors are not certifable);
n Working with students to ensure that overpayments are
not created; and
n Reporting adjustments of students credit hours.
NMSU Ofce of Veterans Programs
Garcia Annex, Room 144 (Map)
MSC 4740
P.O. Box 30001
Las Cruces, NM 88003-8001
575-646-4524 | 575-646-1113 (f)
va@nmsu.edu | www.nmsu.edu/~va
Northern New Mexico College (NNMC) Student Veterans Ofce
At the NNMC Student Veterans Ofce, veterans can register
for classes and get certifed to use the GI Bill, including
the Post-9/11 GI Bill. Students can also fnd out about all
veterans services ofered at NNMC.
http://site.nnmc.edu/page/student-veterans-ofce
Pamela Montrose
VA Certifying Ofcial
Student Veterans Ofce, Advisement Center
921 N. Paseo de Oate
Espaola, NM 87532
Pam@nnmc.edu | http://nnmc.edu/
505-747-2151
EDUCATION PROGRAMS & SERVICES continued
Weblinks for Educational & Employment Programs
Employment Programs & Services
Veterans Transition Assistance Program (TAP) . . . . . . . . . . www.turbotap.org
VA Compensated Work Terapy Program (CWT) . . . . . . . . www.cwt.va.gov
VocationalRehabilitation and Employment (VR&E)
Vet Success Program . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . www.vba.va.gov/bln/vre
Recovery & Employment Assistance Lifelines . . . . . . . . . . . www.dol.gov/vets/programs/Real-life
(REALifelines)
Veterans PreferenceFederal Hiring . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . www.fedshirevets.gov and www.opm.gov/forms (for SF 15)
Veterans PreferenceState Hiring . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . www.spo.state.nm.us/Veterans_and_NG_Eligibility_Guide.aspx
Helmets to Hardhats Program . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . http://helmetstohardhats.org
Troops to Teachers (TTT) Program . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . http://www.dantes.doded.mil/Sub%20Pages/TTT/TTT_Main.html
Programs for Veteran Business Owners
VA Center for Veterans Enterprise (CVE) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . www.va.gov/osdbu/veteran
US Small Business Administration (SBA) . . . . . . . . . . . . . http://archive.sba.gov/aboutsba/sbaprograms/ovbd
Ofce of Veterans Business Development (VBOP)
Programs for Businesses Hiring Veterans
Work Opportunity Tax Credit (WOTC) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . www.doleta.gov/business/incentives/opptax
US DOL Hiring Veterans Toolkit . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . www.americasheroesatwork.gov/forEmployers/HiringToolkit
Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve (ESGR) . . . . . www.esgr.mil
Uniformed Service Employment and
Reemployment Rights Act (USERRA) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . www.dol.gov/vets/programs/userra
Education Programs & Services
Post-9/11 GI Bill . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . www.gibill.va.gov
Montgomery GI Bill . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . www.gibill.va.gov/benets/montgomery_gibill/index.html
Reserve Educational Assistance Program (REAP) . . . . . . . . www.gibill.va.gov/benets/other_programs/reap.html
Veterans Education Assistance Program (VEAP) . . . . . . . . . www.gibill.va.gov/benets/other_programs/veap.html
Job Corps Demonstration Project . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . www.recruiting.jobcorps.gov/en/vets.aspx
VA Work-Study Program . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . http://gibill.va.gov/resources/education_resources/programs/
work_study_program.html
On-Te-Job & Apprenticeship Training . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . www.hed.state.nm.us/OntheJob.aspx
Vietnam Veterans Scholarship . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . www.hed.state.nm.us/vet.aspx
Veterans Retraining Assistance Program (VRAP). . . . . . . . . http://www.gibill.va.gov/benets/other_programs/vrap.html
UNM Veterans Resource Center . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . http://vrc.unm.edu
NMSU Ofce of Veterans Afairs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . www.nmsu.edu/~va/
NNMC Student Veterans Ofce . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . http://site.nnmc.edu/page/student-veterans-ofce
Other
Te National Resource Directory . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . www.nationalresourcedirectory.gov
Veterans Retraining Assistance
Program (VRAP)
The Veterans Retraining Assistance Program (VRAP) is a
joint program between DOL and VA. The main goal of VRAP
is to provide retraining for veterans hardest hit by current
economic conditions. The program offers 12 months of
training assistance to unemployed veterans at the full-time
payment rate under the Montgomery GI BillActive Duty
program. Participation in the program is limited to 45,000
participants during scal year 2012, and then to 54,000
participants from October 1, 2012, through March 31, 2014.
VRAP will be ready for implementation by July 1, 2012.
In order to qualify for this program, a veteran must meet
the following criteria:
n Be between the ages of 35 and 60
n Be unemployed, with special consideration given to
Veterans who have been unemployed for more than 26
weeks
n Have an other than dishonorable discharge
n Not be eligible for any other VA education benet
program
n Not be in receipt of compensation due to
unemployability
n Not be enrolled in a federal or state job training
program
Participants must be enrolled in a VA-approved program
of education offered by a community college or technical
school. The program must lead to an Associate Degree, a
Non-College Degree, or a Certication, and train the
Veteran for a high-demand occupation. If youd like to
nd the most current information about VRAP, visit
www.gibill.va.gov/benets/other_programs/vrap.html.
50
Homeless Veterans Programs & Services
Sometimes your rst step is just getting your feet on
the ground
Veteran Justice Outreach
Initiative (VJO) and Veterans
Treatment Court
T
he Veteran Justice Outreach Initiative (VJO) is a
VA initiative that works to avoid the unnecessary
criminalization of mental illness and extended
incarceration among veterans by ensuring that
eligible justice-involved veterans have timely access to
Veterans Health Administration (VHA) mental health and
substance abuse services when clinically indicated, and other
VA services and benefts as appropriate. Each VA Medical
Center has a justice outreach specialist. VJO specialists
serve as a link between veterans, the VA, and the local
justice system, and provide services to veterans who are
in jail or prison, as well as justice-involved veterans who
have not been imprisoned. VJO staf also work with the
courts to help eligible justice-involved veterans get mental
health services. Tese may include assessment, treatment
planning, and referrals to VA services. Specialists inform
ofcers of the court about whether a veteran is complying
with VA treatment programs. Tey may also assist in
training law enforcement ofcers about PTSD or traumatic
brain injury. New Mexicos VJO specialists are located at:
New Mexico VA Health Care System
Raymond G. Murphy VA Medical Center
1501 San Pedro SE
505-265-1711 or 800-465-8262
http://www.albuquerque.va.gov
An additional service to veterans involved in the justice system
is the Veterans Treatment Court. Each Veterans Treatment
Court is part of a communitys justice system. Veterans
charged with non-violent crimes and who are in need of
mental health or substance abuse treatment may go to treat-
ment court, which allows for treatment of mental health issues
without incarceration. Veterans who choose treatment court
are assessed by a mental health care provider who identifes
the veterans treatment needs. Most veterans receive treatment
through the VA network, and they are allowed to remain in
the community. A judge regularly checks on progress while
the veteran is in treatment. Veterans are also provided with
mentors who are other veteran volunteers who provide fur-
ther support for those in the program.
Stand Downs
Stand Downs are one part of VAs eforts to provide services to
homeless veterans. Stand Downs are typically one to three day
events providing services to homeless veterans such as food,
shelter, clothing, health screenings, VA and Social Security
benefts counseling, and referrals to a variety of other necessary
services, such as housing, employment and substance abuse
treatment. Stand Downs are collaborative events, coordinated
between local VAs, other government agencies (including
the Department of Workforce Solutions), and community
agencies who serve the homeless.
VA Homeless Veterans Assistance
Te VA provides a variety of assistance to the nations homeless
veterans. Assistance is provided through programs
such as housing support services, medical and
dental treatment, employment and job training
through the CWT, and beneft assistance. For
more information on assistance provided
through the VA, visit www.va.gov/
HOMELESS or contact your LVER/
DVOP specialist.
NewMexicos Veterans Treatment Court is part
of the 2
nd
Judicial District Court in Albuquerque.
For more information, contact the 2
nd
Judicial
Court at 505-841-5463.
51
Veterans Employment Situation Report
Quick facts on veteran employment and
unemployment in the U.S. and New Mexico
Tese are questions that are ofen asked when assessing the employment outlook for New
Mexicos veterans. Tere is not much detailed information on veterans and employment for
various reasons. Information is more readily available at the national level. Information on
statewide employment does exist and provides a high-level outlook on veteran employment.
(continued on next page)
Do veterans have highter
unemployment than
nonveterans?
How have veterans been
impacted by the recession?
How many veterans are
in the labor force?
52 53
Veteran
Employment
in the U.S.
T
he most recent data on
veteran employment
in the U.S. shows that
there were approxi-
mately 21.6 million veterans in
the U.S. in 2011 (9.4 percent of
the population 18 and older).
Just over half of those veterans
were considered part of the labor
force, compared to 67 percent of
the nonveteran population. Te
percentage of veterans that were unemployed8.3 percent
was slightly less than that of the general population.
Te 2011 Employment Situation of Veterans report
provides more detail on veteran employment status, including
employment status by age, sex, period of service, ethnicity,
occupation, disability, and location of service. Te following
summarize some of the highlights of the 2011 report. Te full
report and data can be found at www.bls.gov.
n Te unemployment rate of veterans in 2011 (8.3 percent)
was not statistically diferent from the rate in 2010 (8.7
percent). Te rate for Gulf War-era II veterans (those who
have served on active duty since September 2001) also was
little diferent from a year earlier.
nYoung male veterans (those ages 18 to 24) who served
during Gulf War era II had an unemployment rate of 29.1
percent in 2011, higher than that of young male nonveter-
ans (17.6 percent).
nAmong all veterans, those with a service-connected
disability had an unemployment rate of 8.5 percent in
August 2011, about the same as the rate for veterans with
no disability (7.9 percent).
nOne in three employed veterans with a service-connected
disability worked in the public sector in August 2011,
compared with about 1 in 5 veterans with no disability.
nGulf War-era II veterans who were current or past
members of the Reserve or National Guard had an
unemployment rate of 9.1 percent in August 2011, little
diferent than the rate for those veterans who had not
been members (11.0 percent).
nGulf War-era II veterans who served in Iraq, Afghanistan,
or both had an unemployment rate of 11.6 percent in
August 2011.
Veteran Employment in
New Mexico
Using Census Bureau data for 2010, there were approximately
79,360 veterans in the labor force in New Mexico. Tis
represents about 8.8 percent of the total labor force between
the ages of 16 and 64. Nearly half of these veterans were
between the ages of 35 and 54 (16 percent were between
18 and 34 and 35 percent were
between 55 and 64). Labor force
participation of veterans was
close to that of the nonveteran
population, but the percentage
of unemployment was much
less7.7 percent compared to
9.6 percent.
Historically, veterans in New
Mexico have fared better than
the general population with
respect to fnding employment.
Veteran unemployment was
as low as 3.3 percent in 2007,
prior to the recession. Just like
the general population, veteran
employment spiked in 2009.
Unemployment accelerated
much more quickly for veterans,
increasing from 4.0 percent to 8.3 percent. Te spike, how-
ever, was followed by quicker declines.
Te unemployment rate does not always tell the whole
story when it comes to how veterans, or any labor force
group, have been impacted by the recession. Labor force
participation is another indicator of how employment has
changed for a specifc group within the labor force. Labor force
participation of veterans dropped signifcantly between 2008

and 2009, mirroring the spike in unemployment. Between
2009 and 2010, however, veteran labor force participation
increased slightly, while participation in the general
population continued to decline. And while veterans have
seen improvement in employment afer 2009, unemployment
is still high and labor fos important to continue to focus on job
creation for and hiring of New Mexico veterans in the public
and private sectors.
VETERAN EMPLOYMENT IN THE U.S., 2011
Labor Force Statstics for Persons 18 and Older
Non-Veterans Veterans
(numbers in thousands)
Total Population 209,278 21,613
Labor Force 140,424 11,320
Labor Force Participation 67.1% 52.4%
Employed 128,140 10,375
Unemployed 12,284 945
Unemployment Rate 8.7% 8.3%
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Table A: Employment status of
the civilian noninstitutional population 18 years and over by veteran status,
period of service, and sex, 2010-2011 annual averages.
VETERAN EMPLOYMENT IN NEW MEXICO, 2007 - 2010
Labor Force Statistics for Persons between 18 and 64
TOTAL 1,263,989 906,873 71.7% 821,403 85,470 9.4%
Nonveteran 1,153,584 827,517 71.7% 748,143 79,374 9.6%
Veteran 110,405 79,356 71.9% 73,260 6,096 7.7%
Total 1,220,024 902,085 73.9% 822,891 79,194 8.8%
Nonveteran 1,119,764 830,595 74.2% 757,318 73,277 8.8%
Veteran 100,260 71,490 71.3% 65,573 5,917 8.3%
Total 1,211,893 905,690 74.7% 852,565 53,125 5.9%
Nonveteran 1,107,395 827,027 74.7% 777,046 49,981 6.0%
Veteran 104,498 78,663 75.3% 75,519 3,144 4.0%
Total 1,212,766 884,663 72.9% 836,764 47,899 5.4%
Nonveteran 1,100,993 801,976 72.8% 756,826 45,150 5.6%
Veteran 111,773 82,687 74.0% 79,938 2,749 3.3%
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, American Fact Finder Survey 1-Year estimates, B21005: Age by Veteran Status by Employment Status for the Civilian Population
18 to 64.
LABOR FORCE
Population Number Participation Employed Unemployed Unemployment
Rate
VETERAN EMPLOYMENT IN THE U.S. continued
2
0
0
7
2
0
0
8
2
0
0
9
2
0
1
0
54 55
Veterans Service Organizations &
Other Resources
Veterans Organizations
American Legion
Te American Legion is a nonpartisan not-for-proft organiza-
tion that was chartered and incorporated by Congress in 1919
as a patriotic veterans organization devoted to mutual helpfulness.
It is the nations largest veterans service organization, commit-
ted to mentoring youth and sponsoring wholesome programs
in communities, advocating patriotism and honor, promoting
strong national security, and fostering continued devotion to fellow
service members and veterans.
American Veterans (Am-Vets)
AM-VETS has a history of assisting veterans and sponsoring
numerous programs that serve the country and its citizens.
Te bulk of the organizations work is focused on legisla-
tion, programs, and services. AM-VETS also has posts and
departments organized by state.
Disabled American Veterans (DAV)
Since its founding more than 80 years ago, DAV has been
dedicated to building better lives for Americas disabled vet-
erans and their families. Whether disabled veterans have
needed a voice on Capitol Hill, a nationwide service pro-
gram, a transportation network, or unique rehabilitation
opportunities, DAV has focused its attention and resources
to meet those needs.
NM Veterans Integration Center
(NMVIC)
Te mission of the NM Veterans Integration Center is to
respond to the needs of veterans, with focus on those who
are homeless or experiencing a housing crisis, through
the provision of quality employment training, housing,
and supportive services based on a Continuum of Care. Te
NMVIC is a 501(c)(3) organization, and all donations are tax
deductible.
Paralyzed Veterans of America (PVA)
PVA was founded by a band of service members who came
home from World War II with a spinal cord injury. PVA is
dedicated to veterans service, medical research and civil rights
for people with disabilities. PVA has nation ofcers and 34
chapters that represent thousands of veterans in all 50 states,
the District of Columbia, and Puerto Rico. With donations
and support, PVA provides services free of charge for all vet-
erans with disabilities and their families. Te Zia Chapter of
PVA provides aid and assistance to veterans in New Mexico.
Military Order of the Purple Heart
(MOPH)
Te MOPH is a community of combat wounded veterans.
Te MOPH mission is to promote patriotism, service to all
veterans, and service to communities through programs
and support from dedicated members. Members of MOPH
have sustained a wound inficted by an enemy in combat.
MOPH National Service Program, comprised of National
Service Ofcers and support staf, can provide veterans with
counseling on benefts from a variety of government sources,
assistance in fling claims for disability, and assistance in
entering the VA health care system.
Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW)
Te VFW is a membership organization for veterans that
have received a campaign medal for overseas service, have
served 30 consecutive or 60 non-consecutive days in Korea,
or have ever received hostile fre or imminent danger pay.
Te VFW and its Auxiliary have over 2.1 million members
nationally. Te mission of the VFW is to foster camaraderie
Partnered with The Military Order of the Purple Heart,
Cowboy Up! is a unique wellness program based in Santa Fe,
NM free to veterans and active military who have sustained
physical injuries or combat trauma during their time
serving our country. www.horsesforheroes.org
Courtesy of Cowboy Up! Horses for Heroes
56 57
located in Truth or Consequences on 12 acres. Te New
Mexico State Veterans Home strives to provide integrated
services in an atmosphere that promotes the physical, so-
cial, and emotional well-being of every resident. Eforts are
made to continuously improve care while safely assisting
residents to live as independently as possible and as they
choose, thereby assuring dignity and respect at all times.
For more information on New Mexicos Veterans Home,
visit http://www.nmstateveteranshome.org/.
City of Albuquerque Veterans
Advisory Board
Te Veterans and Military Afairs Advisory
Board is made up of 12 veterans residing in
the County of Bernalillo and serves in an
advisory capacity. Members identify issues
concerning veterans and their dependents
and assist in developing programs to resolve
problems, alleviate conditions, and improve
the quality of life for our veterans to the extent
possible. Te Board also serves as a network
for the exchange of information relative to
veterans activities. For more information
on the Citys Veterans Advisory Board, visit
www.cabq.gov/mayors-
ofce-of-veterans-afairs/
veterans-military-afairs-advisory-board.
Acronym Glossary
ACAP Army Career and Alumni Program
Program that provides mandatory preseparation counseling
and other transition and employment assistance to Army
service members and veterans.
ADA Americans with Disabilities Act
Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990
AFRC Airmen and Family Readiness Centers
Centers at Air Force bases throughout the country that
provide mandatory preseparation counseling and other
transition and employment assistance to Air Force service
members and veterans.
AM-VETS American Veterans
A membership organization of veterans that focus on
legislation, programs, and services for Americas veterans.
Chapter 30 Montgomery GI BillActive Duty
Bill that provides education benefts to veterans.
Chapter 1606
Montgomery GI BillSelected Reserve Bill that provides
education benefts to members of the Selected Reserve.
CMRAVE Center for Military Recruitment,
Assessment and Veterans Employment
A nonproft organization that is in charge of the Helmets to
Hardhats program.
CTC Concurrent Technologies Corporation
Independent, nonproft, applied scientifc research and
development professional services organization listed as one
of the 35 top veteran employers.
CVE VA Center for Veterans Enterprise
Part of the VA OSDBU that assists veterans in starting and
building businesses and maintains the federal government
portal for veteran-owned businesses known as VETBIZ.GOV.
CWT VA Compensated Work Therapy Program
A rehabilitation program through VA that matches and
supports work ready veterans in competitive jobs, and
consults with business and industry regarding specifc
employment needs.
DANTES Defense Activity for Non-Traditional
Education Support
Provides support for of-duty voluntary education programs
of the DoD and conducts special projects and developmental
activities in support of education-related DoD functions.
DAV Disabled American Veterans
Membership organization that provides services and
promotes policies to better the lives of disabled veterans and
their families.
DTAP Disabled Transition Assistance Program
Program that includes the normal three-day TAP workshop
plus additional hours of individual instruction to help
determine job readiness and address the special needs of
disabled veterans.
DVOP Disabled Veterans Outreach Program (and
Representatives)
As part of the VETS program, DVOPs are state employees
that specialize in developing job and training opportunities
for veterans with service-connected disabilities.
EEOC United States Equal Employment
Opportunity Commission
Commission that enforces the employment provisions of the
ADA.
ESGR Employer Support for the Guard and
Reserve
A DoD organization that promotes cooperation and
understanding between Reserve component members and
their civilian employers and assists in the resolution of
conficts arising from an employees military commitment.
ETA DOL Employment & Training Administration
As part of DOL, administers federal government job training
and worker dislocation programs, federal grants to states for
public employment service programs, and unemployment
insurance benefts. Services are primarily provided through
state and local workforce development systems.
FFSC Fleet and Family Support Centers
Centers at Navy bases that provide mandatory preseparation
counseling and other transition and employment assistance
to Navy service members and veterans.
IADT Initial Active Duty for Training
Authorized training performed by a member of a Reserve
Component not on active duty or active duty for training and
consisting of regularly scheduled unit training assemblies,
additional training assemblies, periods of appropriate duty, or
equivalent training.
IDP Individual Development Plan
Enhanced service provided under the Gold Card initiative.
IRR Individual Ready Reserve
A category of the Ready Reserve of the Reserve Component
of the Armed Forces of the United States composed of former
active duty or reserve military personnel.
among U.S. veterans of overseas conficts; serve veterans,
the military, and communities; and advocate on behalf of
all veterans. Te VFW helped establish the VA, create a GI
bill for the 20th century, develop the national cemetery sys-
tem, and fght for compensation for Vietnam vets exposed
to Agent Orange and for veterans diagnosed with Gulf War
Syndrome.
Veterans Home (Truth or Consequences)
Te New Mexico State Veterans Home is New Mexicos
only nursing facility for veterans. Te home is centrally
American Legion Department of
New Mexico
1215 Mountain Road
505-247-0400 | 505-247-0478 (f)
http://nmlegion.org
AM-VETS, New Mexico
500 Gold Avenue SW, #3520
505-346-3980
DAV Department of New Mexico
2511 Utah Street NE
505-294-6193 | 505-296-8043 (f)
nmmail@davfrat.org
www.davmembersportal.org/nm
NMVIC
13032 Central Ave SE
505-265-0512 | 505-266-2609 (f)
info@nmvic.org
PVA Zia Chapter
833 Gibson Boulevard SE
505-247-4381 | 800-597-5580
PVA National Service Ofce
New Mexico National Service Ofce
1501 San Pablo SE
505-265-1711, ext. 5046
505-246-4883 (f)
www.pva.org | www.nmvic.org
MOPH
Department of new Mexico
info@nmpurpleheart.org
www.nmpurpleheart.org
Veterans of Foreign Wars of the United
States Department Of New Mexico
P.O. Box 1084
Ruidoso Downs, New Mexico 88346
575-653-4378 | 575-973-4965
575-653-4207 (f)
vfwnm@hughes.net
http://nmvfw.org/
Mayors Ofce of Veterans Affairs
400 Marquette NW
505-768-3000
mayorberry@cabq.gov
Mailing Address:
P.O. Box 1293
VETERANS SERIVCE ORGANIZATIONS continued
Left: Veterans Home inTruth or Consequences, NM
58 59
SDVOSB Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned Small
Businesses
Small businesses owned by service-disabled veterans and
who can receive services at VBOCs.
TAMP Transition Assistance Management
Program
Program that provides transition services and resources to
Marine Corp service members and is provided at Marine and
Family Services branches at major Marine Corps installations
TAP Transition Assistance Program
Program that provides job-search assistance, employment
and training information, and related services to separating
service members within 180 days of separation or retirement
TTT Troops to Teachers
A program under the U.S. DoD DANTES that assists eligible
military personal to transition to a new career as a public
school teacher in targeted schools.
USERRA Uniformed Services Employment and
Reemployment Rights Act
Act that clarifes and strengthens the Veterans
Reemployment Rights Statute and, through many directives,
essentially protects civilian job rights and benefts for
veterans and members of Reserve components.
VBOC Veterans Business Outreach Center
Centers run by SBA to provide business training, counseling
and assistance, and oversight of Federal procurement
programs for VOSBs and SDVOSBs.
VBOP Veterans Business Outreach Program
Program that provides business development and operation
services to VOSBs and SDVOSBs through VBOCs.
VEAP Veterans Education Assistance Program
An educational assistance program available to service
members who elected to make contributions from their
military pay to participate in the program.
VETS Veterans Employment and Training
Services
A program of the U.S. DOL that, in collaboration with each
state, ofers employment and training services to veterans.
Te two main programs under VETS are the LVER and
DVOP programs.
VFW Veterans of Foreign Wars
Membership organization for veterans that have received
a campaign medal for overseas service, have served 30
consecutive or 60 non-consecutive days in Korea, or have
ever received hostile fre or imminent danger pay.
VHA Veterans Health Administration
VHA is the integrated health care system for veterans
provided through VA.
VJO Veteran Justice Outreach Initiative
VA initiative that works to avoid the unnecessary
criminalization of mental illness and extended incarceration
among veterans by ensuring eligible justice-involved veterans
have access to VHA services when clinically indicated, and
other VA services and benefts as appropriate.
VOSB Veteran-Owned Small Businesses
Small businesses owned by veterans and who can receive
services at VBOCs.
VR&E Vocational Rehabilitation and Employment
A program for veterans with service-connected disabilities
so severe that they cannot immediately consider work.
Te program ofers services to prepare for, fnd, and keep
suitable jobs.
VRAP Veterans Retraining Assistance Program
A joint program between U.S. DOL and VA to provide
retraining for veterans hardest hit by current economic
conditions.
VRC Veterans Resource Center at the
Center at UNM that provides education, administrative
services, and job advisement to student veterans and their
families, as well as outreach to military communities at
large, for all veterans whether enrolled at UNM or another
educational institution.
WOTC Work Opportunity Tax Credit
A Federal tax credit incentive that Congress provides to
private-sector businesses for hiring individuals from nine
target groups who have consistently faced signifcant barriers
to employment, including veterans.
Government Departments/
Educational Institutions
BLS Bureau of Labor Statistics
DOD United States Department of Defense
DOL United States Department of Labor
NM HED New Mexico Higher Education Department
NMDVS New Mexico Department of Veterans Services
NMDWS New Mexico Department of Workforce Solutions
NMSU New Mexico State University
NNMC Northern New Mexico College
UNM University of New Mexico
VA United States Department of Veterans Afairs
JAN Job Accommodation Network
A service provided by the U.S. DOL Ofce of Disability
Employment Policy (ODEP) that provides expert and
confdential guidance on workplace accommodations and
disability employment issues.
JATA Job Assistance Training Application
Online application that provides job assistance training and can
be used as a comprehensive review of TAP Workshop concepts
and basic job search skills. Provided through ACAP On-line.
JTPA Job Training and Placement Assistance
Job Training Partnership Act of 1982, enacted to establish
federal assistance programs to prepare youth and unskilled
adults for entry into the labor force and to provide job
training to economically disadvantaged and other individuals
facing serious barriers to employment.
KSA Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities
Refers to any knowledge, skills, and abilities that one has
gained through education, training, or work experience.
LVER Local Veterans Employment
Representative
As part of the VETS program, LVERs are state employees
that provide employment assistance to veterans in local NM
Workforce Connection ofces.
MCCS Marine Corps Community Services
Trough Marine and Family Services Branches at each major
installation, provides mandatory preseparation counseling
and other transition and employment assistance, through
TAMP to Marine Corps service members and veterans.
MGIB Montgomery GI Bill
Bill that provides educational benefts to veterans. Includes
Chapter 30 and Chapter 1606.
MOPH Military Order of the Purple Heart
Membership organization of combat wounded veterans
that promotes patriotism, service to veterans, and service to
communities.
MOS Military Occupational Specialty
Refers to a specifc military occupation. Each branch of
service has MOS codes used to refer to those occupations.
NM HED VET New Mexico Higher Education
Department Veterans Employment & Training
Division of NM HED that contracts with VA to approve
schools and facilities in New Mexico for providing
educational benefts through the GI Bills.
NMVIC New Mexico Veterans Integration
Center
A nonproft organization that responds to the needs
of veterans, with focus on those who are homeless or
experiencing a housing crisis, through the provision of
quality employment training, housing and supportive
services.
ODEP Ofce of Disability Employment Policy
Ofce within U.S. DOL that develops and infuences
disability employment-related policies and practices
afecting an increase in the employment of people with
disabilities. Provides services through JAN.
OJT On-the-Job Training
Training that occurs while a person is working at a business
or workplace.
OSDBU Ofce of Small and Disadvantaged
Business Utilization
VA ofce that provides extensive services to veteran business
owners including VOSBs and DVOSBs.
PVA Paralyzed Veterans of America
Membership organization that seeks to provide services for
and supports medical research and civil rights of veterans
with disabilities and their families.
REALifelines Recovery and Employment Assistance
Lifelines
A joint project of U.S. DOL, the Bethesda Naval Medical
Center and the former Walter Reed Army Medical Center
to ensure that seriously wounded and injured service
members who cannot return to active duty are trained for
rewarding new careers in the private sector.
REAP Reserve Educational Assistance
Program
Education benefts providing educational assistance to
members of the reserve components - Selected Reserve
and IRR - who are called or ordered to active service in
response to a war or national emergency, as declared by the
President or Congress.
SBA United States Small Business Administration
Federal administration that provides assistance to small
businesses through access to capital, entrepreneurial
development, government contracting, and advocacy. Runs
the Ofce of Veterans Business Development & VBOCs.

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