President Obama Announces Program To Hire Veterans As First Responders

By Army Sgt. 1st Class Tyrone C. Marshall Jr.
American Forces Press Service

ARLINGTON, Va., Feb. 3, 2012 – President Barack Obama today continued his commitment to improving employment among veterans by introducing an initiative to hire them as the country’s first responders.

“In my State of the Union address, I proposed a new initiative called the Veterans Jobs Corps to put veterans back to work protecting and rebuilding America,” he said. “And today, we’re laying out the details of this proposal.”

Speaking at a fire station here to veterans, firefighters, police officers and national park employees, Obama shared the venue’s significance before his remarks.

“This is a fire station that holds some special significance for our country,” he explained. “On September 11th, the firefighters of this house were among the first to respond to the attack on the Pentagon.

“You guys answered this nation’s call during its hour of need,” Obama added. “And in the years that followed, as Americans went to war, some of you answered that call, as well.”

The president encouraged the hiring of veterans to replenish the ranks of the nation’s first responders.

“First, we want to help communities hire more veterans as cops and firefighters,” he said. “Over the past few years, tight budgets have forced a lot of states, a lot of local communities, to lay off a lot of first responders.”

The country already has made progress in veterans’ employment, Obama said. *****CONTINUE READING*****