The Call of Duty Endowment and Zip Recruiter recently released a study that found “underemployment affects more veteran job seekers than non-veteran job seekers. Nearly one-third of veteran job seekers are underemployed — a rate 15.6 percent higher than non-veteran job seekers.” Yet, when they polled employers, a majority of employers reported that veterans performed…
Unemployment fell to a 49-year low as the U.S. created 263,000 new jobs in April. Those increases in hiring were concentrated mainly at white-collar businesses, construction and health care. And while this is great news for those individuals and industries, America is becoming more at risk as military recruiters are competing against higher wages and…
This interview with country music legend Charlie Daniels was a true highlight in my career. I remember as a young boy watching “Hee Haw” and “The Barbara Mandrell Show,” and seeing Johnny Cash, Alabama and other country stars and groups on TV. But there was one band and one song that I just loved seeing…
In April 2011, U.S. Army General William Ward, the first Commander of AFRICOM, a unified combatant command focused on mitigating terrorist attacks and other security issues, was under a special Army investigation by the Office of the Inspector General for numerous allegations that he had spent several hundred thousand dollars allowing unauthorized people to fly…
Employment for military spouses is one battlefront that is often difficult to win. Because of the transient lifestyle, military spouses are often overlooked or underemployed, despite being more educated than those who don’t share this lifestyle. In addition, constraints of moving, cost of caregiving and flexibility required to balance family obligations when a service member…
Some people seem to have it easy – or do they? We all know people who appear to have the good life, that when they do something everything seems to go their way. They inspire others, they are community leaders, they are game changers, they are…you get the picture…the epitome of what we wish we…
“There is something good in everything.” I sat down with Glen Eberle, an Olympian, a former military-combat pilot, and founder and namesake of Boise-based Eberlestock, a company that designs, manufactures and sells a range of sporting gear and tactical gear for hunters, outdoor enthusiasts, and military tactical combat units. We we were discussing how his company…
My dad shared with me when I was a teen that there were two ways to wisdom: experience and mentorship. When I asked him which path was easier, he told me mentorship — and then as a teen I proceeded to take the hard road and embrace the philosophy, “I need to figure it out…
Fifty-one years ago, beginning in January 1968, the Tet Offensive changed the course of the Vietnam War. Until The War on Terror, aka The Global War on Terrorism, the Vietnam War — also known as the Second Indochina War and in Vietnam as the Resistance War Against America or simply the American War — had…
In this Military Wire podcast, you’ll hear from Army veteran Luis Bordonada and Hollywood actor Max Martini that “asking for help is not a show of weakness.” You’ll also get the “behind the scenes” on what makes the movie Sgt. Will Gardner, written and directed by Max Martini, a must-watch if you are working through issues related to…
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I made an assumption that truly did make an ass out of me. When Comcast reached out with an inquiry regarding interviewing retired Brigadier General Carol Eggert, I stated that I would gladly interview her for our digital print editions because her corporate experience would certainly add value to those who are transitioning, but her…
Viewing life through a sniper’s scope was a daily practice for Special Forces Green Beret Rod Rodriguez. Getting blown up was just a part of life. And when it came time to transition — not by choice, but through a medical board — suddenly his daily practice was truly foreign, and more traumatic than his…
The secret to success. Overcoming challenges and adversity. Global warming. And now, a new film that will challenge what we do and why we do it. It’s not every day one gets to interview one of America’s most accomplished soldiers and leaders and gain insight on why he does what he does and how others…
Our circumstances can sometimes be overwhelming. When Andrew lost his wife, he had a choice to make. What will you do when death hits you in the face? Andrew E. Coussens spent nearly eight years deployed as a contractor for a classified U.S. government program that is still active in numerous areas of the world…
“Eighty-five percent casualty rate. Lucky to make it back…” As I interviewed Sean Parnell, former commander of a 40-man elite infantry platoon, which became known as the Outlaws, those words struck me. All who serve our military know that the experience will be life changing. Most, if not all, who deploy into combat zones, know…
Thrill seekers: Tim Kennedy’s new series on Discovery Channel, Hard to Kill, is a must-see and kicks off on Tuesday, July 31 at 10 p.m. Some may have watched Tim trek across continents on History Channel’s Hunting Hitler. Now you can watch him take on some of the most risky and extreme jobs imaginable on…
A recent study by the Institute for Veterans and Military Families (IVMF) revealed that more than 80 percent of the 8,500 veterans, active duty, guard, reserve, and military-connected dependents sampled felt that their work ethic, discipline, teamwork, leadership and mental toughness were all strengthened by their military service and experience. What the study also revealed…
There was a time in America when one would pay cash or write a check for purchases, get up to change the TV channel, and flip through the White or Yellow Pages to look up a number. Today, we value convenience and ease: Google, Siri and Alexa can pay our bills, change the channel, and…
The GI Bill, beginning next year, will undergo some significant — and certainly welcomed — changes. One of the most significant changes is that the new legislation eliminates the current 15-year time limit on the use of the Post-9/11 GI Bill for those who were discharged on or after Jan. 1, 2013. The intent is…
Part 1 of 3 parts Society is filled with stories of overcoming. From modern music like Rise Up by Andra Day to ancient Greek stories like the Phoenix – the legendary bird that dies and rises up from its own ashes to experience a new life. These songs and stories often become a source of…
Dale and Dave, both Vietnam veterans, were “powder kegs waiting to go off.” Their experiences in Vietnam combined with a search to find purpose back in society, balance family and work life, and treat their emotional and physical ailments was almost too much to bear. But not uncommon. Not uncommon to those who served in…
In a continued effort to better serve veterans and their families, the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs’ Center for Innovation (VACI) joined forces in early April 2017 with Syracuse University and the Institute for Veterans and Military Families (IVMF) for a national pilot. The project is aimed at demonstrating the merits of a community-based health…
Gabe Martinez did what only 1 percent of today’s Americans do: actively served his country in uniform. His service resulted in the loss of both of his legs after stepping on an IED in Afghanistan. Despite three out of four veterans having some sort of service-connected disability, today’s veteran is resilient. Injury – whether emotional…
Disaster will strike. On Jan. 13, 2017, the movie Patriots Day by Peter Berg, the director of “Lone Survivor” and “Deepwater Horizon,” hits theaters — and this is one movie that should be required viewing for all. “Patriots Day” is the powerful story of the Boston Marathon bombing and a community’s courage to respond and…
Editor’s note: Columnist Michael Schindler will be speaking at the Edmonds American Legion/VFW Hall, 117 6th Ave. S., at 6 p.m. on Election Night, Nov. 8. The topic will be “America’s Greatest Asset – our military and veteran families.” The presentation is open to the public. Transitioning from active duty military back into the civilian…
