After 10 years as an Army infantryman Sgt. Anthony Weir had a difficult time finding a good job as he transitioned from service in Iraq to civilian life.
Although he remained in the National Guard Anthony worked as a jail guard security guard carpet cleaner and most recently a pizza delivery driver to support his wife and four children.
As reported by the Amarillo Globe-News Anthonys job as a pizza delivery driver landed him on the wrong side of a gun when a teenage customer held a semiautomatic pistol to his stomach. Fortunately the Army veteran of Iraq made his way out of that situation safely but not without further discouragement regarding his civilian career prospects.
Little did he know at the time the Amarillo Globe-News article appeared that his luck was about to change.
Roger Williams the CEO of Bell Helicopter (Bell) in Amarillo shared the article about the Army veterans plight with Norm Bearden who heads up our Texas Veterans Leadership Program (TVLP) in Amarillo. The TVLP is run by returning veterans and is designed to help those who served in Iraq and/or Afghanistan make a successful transition to civilian life with particular emphasis on getting good jobs upon their return home. Norm and Roger already had been working together as Bell had hired a number of returning veterans. To Rogers credit he wanted to give Anthony an opportunity to come and work for Bell. Norm already had Anthonys information in the TVLP database as he had been trying to help the soldier. It was an instant match.
Anthony is now working part-time for Bell and taking classes at Amarillo College to get the skills training that Bell requires.
This couldnt have happened to a better guy" Norm said. This is the kind of man that you might think would only be in here to see me. But he brought in other guys from his Guard unit to see how they also could be helped."
TVLP was modeled after a similar program I started in my days with the Reagan Administration called the Vietnam Veterans Leadership Program which helped our returning veterans from Vietnam who were unemployed underemployed or had lingering problems associated with their Vietnam experience.
Through our TVLP leaders stationed at Texas Workforce Commission facilities across the state weve helped about 8000 returning veterans start careers and access educational and health benefits.
Like Sgt. Anthony Weir these young men and women have answered our countrys call under very difficult circumstances. They deserve our full support in making a successful transition to the civilian world. Lets put their experience to work in the state of Texas.
To find out more about the Texas Veterans Leadership Program visit our website at vets.texasworkforce.org or call our toll-free number at 888-VET-TEX1.
Tom Pauken is Chairman of the Texas Workforce Commission and author of Bringing America Home.
After 10 years as an Army infantryman Sgt. Anthony Weir had a difficult time finding a good job as he transitioned from service in Iraq to civilian life.
Although he remained in the National Guard Anthony worked as a jail guard security guard carpet cleaner and most recently a pizza delivery driver to support his wife and four children.
As reported by the Amarillo Globe-News Anthonys job as a pizza delivery driver landed him on the wrong side of a gun when a teenage customer held a semiautomatic pistol to his stomach. Fortunately the Army veteran of Iraq made his way out of that situation safely but not without further discouragement regarding his civilian career prospects.
Little did he know at the time the Amarillo Globe-News article appeared that his luck was about to change.
Roger Williams the CEO of Bell Helicopter (Bell) in Amarillo shared the article about the Army veterans plight with Norm Bearden who heads up our Texas Veterans Leadership Program (TVLP) in Amarillo. The TVLP is run by returning veterans and is designed to help those who served in Iraq and/or Afghanistan make a successful transition to civilian life with particular emphasis on getting good jobs upon their return home. Norm and Roger already had been working together as Bell had hired a number of returning veterans. To Rogers credit he wanted to give Anthony an opportunity to come and work for Bell. Norm already had Anthonys information in the TVLP database as he had been trying to help the soldier. It was an instant match.
Anthony is now working part-time for Bell and taking classes at Amarillo College to get the skills training that Bell requires.
This couldnt have happened to a better guy" Norm said. This is the kind of man that you might think would only be in here to see me. But he brought in other guys from his Guard unit to see how they also could be helped."
TVLP was modeled after a similar program I started in my days with the Reagan Administration called the Vietnam Veterans Leadership Program which helped our returning veterans from Vietnam who were unemployed underemployed or had lingering problems associated with their Vietnam experience.
Through our TVLP leaders stationed at Texas Workforce Commission facilities across the state weve helped about 8000 returning veterans start careers and access educational and health benefits.
Like Sgt. Anthony Weir these young men and women have answered our countrys call under very difficult circumstances. They deserve our full support in making a successful transition to the civilian world. Lets put their experience to work in the state of Texas.
To find out more about the Texas Veterans Leadership Program visit our website at vets.texasworkforce.org or call our toll-free number at 888-VET-TEX1.
Tom Pauken is Chairman of the Texas Workforce Commission and author of Bringing America Home.
