California chosen to test new Army plan to find jobs for unemployed vets

The following is an announcement from Andrew Wiktorowicz, Chairman of the California Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve (ESGR), headquartered at 4522 Saratoga Ave., Building 15-145, at Los Alamitos Joint Forces Training Base.

Employment Assistance Representatives:

As we all know the Active Duty Military will be downsizing in the future and many of these Professionals will be coming back to California to start a new life in the civilian sector. Also many will join the Guard and Reserve and continue to serve our Great Nation.

Our national ESGR (Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve) leadership have been working with the Active Army in developing a “proof of concept” to address the unemployment situation as it relates to transitioned Army personnel especially focused on those receiving unemployment compensation (UCX). The Army plan is to run a several-month — 4 months at this point — pilot program, and take the lessons learned and possibly expand at some point to other states.

The current thinking of the Army is to use the H2H.jobs platform and to develop State specific approaches, because the environment is different in each state. California has been chosen to be one of seven test states based on the high population of Army UCX recipients.

On 7 and 8 February the Army lead, Col. Ed Mason and leadership from National ESGR HQ will be coming to California and would like to meet with key individuals who deal in the employment area and explain their concept and to gather our input in this pilot program.

On the 7^th of February 2012, the meeting will be held from 1300-1700 at Mather Field in Mather, California: 100^th TC (Mather Annex), 10620 Mather Blvd., Mather, California. The room is located immediately to the right once you walk through the main front doors.

On the 8^th of February 2012, the meeting will be held from 0800-1200 at the Courtyard Marriott, 5865 Katella Ave., Cypress, California. Proceed to the lobby and follow the signs.

I encourage you to attend one of these meetings if possible. If you are able to attend please contact our point of contact: Mr. Patrick Kuykendall, patrickk@cableone.net 562-572-3466. Please let him know which meeting you will be able to attend.

I appreciate all that you do in assisting our Veterans and Citizen Warriors in employment assistance. These meetings will provide additional information and your input will be very important as we continue to assist our Warriors. Thanks for all you do and I look forward to seeing you on the 7^th or 8^th.