Skabewis

War Hero Work Connections

by Rob Capriccioso
News From Indian Country

American Indians volunteer to serve in the armed forces at a rate higher than any racial or ethnic group in the United States, according to U.S. government research. As the Iraq war rages on, it’s estimated that there are more than 12,000 Native Americans currently serving in the U.S. military.

Just like a majority of war veterans, many Natives, after performing service to their country oftentimes under the harshest of circumstances, have found it difficult to achieve employment when they return as private citizens. And there is an overwhelming need for work. At the turn of the century, before the current Middle East entanglement began, there were already nearly 190,000 living American military veterans. And a majority of these returning veterans, military experts say, has had a very difficult time initially making connections in the private sector to help them achieve gainful employment.

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