Family Matters Blog: Sailor Transitions to Sonar After Navy

By Lisa Daniel

American Forces Press Service

WASHINGTON – When First Lady Michelle Obama and her "Joining Forces’" partners talk about service members needing transitioning into commercial work, they’re talking about people like Paul Michael Andrews.

Andrews joined the military young and without a college degree. The Navy sent him to school to be a sonar technician, and he spent most of his six-year military career operating the world’s most sophisticated equipment to detect and track foreign submarines from the USS Roosevelt guided missile destroyer.

Andrews had two deployments: one to Somalia, and another to eastern Afghanistan to serve nine months working intelligence for a provincial reconstruction team.

The former petty officer knew he’d had “some awesome experiences” in the Navy, but when he decided to separate, he said, the thought of a civilian job search was filled with anxiety. Like many of his shipmates, he had never written a resume and didn’t know where to begin.

“We don’t spend time tweaking our resumes and building our professional networks,” he said. “Our network consists of the men and women we serve next to.

“I knew that I had the skills to be successful,” Andrews added. “But I also knew that I couldn’t say that my strengths were finding foreign submarines in the ocean or tracking down the Taliban in Afghanistan. I didn’t think American businesses were looking for those skills, and I couldn’t imagine a job outside the military that would require those skills.”

That’s where Joining Forces and one of its partners, Orion International, came in. Andrews attended a job fair sponsored by the two and quickly garnered Orion’s help for making the transition.

“They clearly got it,” he said of the company’s ability to translate his military experience into a civilian resume. “What they helped me understand is that American businesses do value those skills.”

After some coaching, Orion helped Andrews gain an interview with Sonardyne International. Pretty soon, the Texas native was on his way to Houston for his new job working with sonar.

“I didn’t have to go a single day unemployed,” he said. “So, Joining Forces is real; it has an impact.”

Yesterday, Andrews introduced the first lady to a crowd at Naval Station Mayport in Jacksonville, Fla., where she announced that Joining Forces’ had exceeded its goal of helping private industry hire or train 100,000 veterans and military spouses by the end of 2013. To date, she said, the program has partnered with 2,000 companies that have hired or trained 125,000 veterans and military spouses.

'Joining Forces' Exceeds Hiring Goals for Vets, Spouses

By Lisa Daniel, American Forces Press Service

WASHINGTON (NNS) -- The White House initiative to hire veterans and military spouses has surpassed its goals, having led to the hiring or training of more than 125,000 veterans and spouses in the past year, First Lady Michelle Obama announced Aug 22.

Speaking to sailors and their families at Naval Station Mayport in Jacksonville, Fla., the first lady said 2,000 companies have hired 125,000 employees through their pledges to the "Joining Forces" campaign, and, of those, 140 employers have hired 28,000 military spouses.

"That's 125,000 people who are providing for their families, contributing to our economy and serving the country they love," Obama said.

The first lady said she has a clear message to troops, spouses and veterans: "When you finish your service to your nation, you've got 2,000 great companies waiting to bring you on board. These companies are not just making these commitments because it's the right thing to do, which it is, but because it's the right thing for their bottom line."

Obama said she had heard "a thousand times over" from heads of companies who say veterans and military spouses are their best employees.

Unemployment still is too high for veterans and military spouses, but Joining Forces has helped to push the national veteran unemployment rate down nearly 20 percent from a year ago, Obama said. The veteran unemployment rate in July was 6.9 percent, compared to 8.6 percent in July 2011, Joining Forces officials said during a call with reporters Aug. 21.

Though the initiative has exceeded its goals, Obama said, the participating companies have pledged to hire another 250,000 veterans and spouses, with at least 50,000 of that total being spouses. "It would be understandable if these companies just stopped now and patted themselves on the back and called it a day," the first lady said. "But these companies are doing just the opposite."

The first lady and Dr. Jill Biden, wife of Vice President Joe Biden, started Joining Forces in April 2011 to rally Americans to actively support service members and their families in areas of employment, education and wellness. A year ago, President Barack Obama asked Joining Forces to challenge the private sector to hire or train 100,000 veterans and military spouses by the end of 2013.

"I thought this challenge was pretty ambitious," the first lady, said, noting that the effort was launched with just two partner companies. "Before long, companies all over this country had started stepping up." By April, they had hired 60,000 veterans and spouses, and by May, the number was 80,000. The federal government has made the same commitment, and veterans and spouses made up 28 percent of all federal hiring last year, a White House official told reporters.

Also at the event, Vice Adm. Scott Van Buskirk, chief of naval personnel, said he supports Joining Forces because it has had "a huge impact" on Sailors, their spouses and veterans. "They've shined a spotlight on the unique needs and strengths of military families and veterans," he said.

The Joining Forces initiative to make professional licenses portable from state to state for military spouses is "near and dear to my heart," Van Buskirk said. His wife is a speech pathologist who has had to recertify multiple times, he explained.

"With constant transfers, our spouses face challenges that can be daunting," he added.

Joining Forces Grants Military Free Access to National Treasures

By Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class (SW/AW) Desiree D. Green, Navy Public Affairs Support Element East

YORKTOWN, Va. (NNS) -- The U.S. Secretary of Interior visited the Yorktown Victory Monument to speak at a "Joining Forces" initiative ceremony in Yorktown, Va., May 15.

During the ceremony, Ken Salazar announced to more than 300 service members that an annual pass would grant free access to more than 2,000 national parks, wildlife refuges, national forests, and other public lands around the nation to active duty service members and their dependents.

The Joining Forces initiative was established in April 2011, by First Lady Michelle Obama and second lady Dr. Jill Biden, in an effort to mobilize all sectors of society to better provide support to service members and their families.

"As we celebrate military appreciation week, it is important that we honor our military service men and women," said Salazar. "Joining Forces has traveled the world over to let the world know what you do. Less than one percent of Americans serve in the military, so it is our mission to get one hundred percent of America to support our military. I want to say thank you because without your efforts and sacrifices, we would not be here today."

Members of the Department of Interior, National Parks Services and Army Corps of Engineers partnered with the Joining Forces national initiative to expand the opportunities for service members, veterans and their dependants, outlined in the initiative.

"This program and our partnership will bring a lot of visibility to our nations' natural treasures, but most importantly get the kids outside," said Jo-Ellen Darcy, the honorable assistant secretary of the Army for Civil Works.

Boatswain's Mate 1st Class (SW/AW) Heather Havunen, from Port Operations Department, Naval Weapons Station Yorktown, was one of the first recipients to receive a national park access pass.

"I feel extremely special," said Havunen. "I am very humbled and honored to have been the first to receive it."

As the ceremony concluded, John Jarvis, director of National Park Services encouraged the use of the passes in hopes it would strengthen families and communities.

"Today is very special because we have the opportunity to give our military men and woman, and their families access to more than 397 parks and recreation areas," said Jarvis. "It's a small token to express our appreciation to you and your families. This pass provides access to what makes us America. It's opportunity to vacation, learn, have fun and be inspired. Once you have it, I want you to wear it out and then come back and we'll give you another one."

‘Joining Forces’ Mother’s Day Card Honors Military Spouses

American Forces Press Service

WASHINGTON, May 13, 2012 – The ‘Joining Forces’ campaign today issued a special Mother’s Day card that thanks the nation’s military spouses.

The card, which is available for view on the White House’s Web site, notes that 1.2 million military spouses “are out there making sacrifices for their families -- and the country.”

First Lady Michelle Obama and Dr. Jill Biden, wife of Vice President Joe Biden, launched the ‘Joining Forces’ campaign a year ago to support and honor America’s service members and their families.

President Barack Obama issued a May 11 proclamation declaring that day Military Spouse Appreciation Day.

And Secretary of Defense Leon E. Panetta and Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Army Gen. Martin E. Dempsey both issued messages thanking military spouses for their contributions and service to the nation.

“America’s military spouses are a key part of what makes our armed services the strongest in the world,” Panetta said in a May 11 message. “All Americans should be grateful for the support they offer to our heroes in uniform."

"The love and encouragement our service members get from their spouses helps our military to fulfill its mission of protecting this country,” the secretary added.

Panetta also expressed his gratitude “to all mothers and grandmothers in our military family.”

Mother’s Day, the secretary added, is “a day to celebrate the extraordinary importance of mothers in our lives and the lives of this nation.”

Face of Defense: Guard Band Entertains at White House

By Bill Phelan

Missouri National Guard

WASHINGTON  – Sidewinder, the rock band element of the St. Louis-based 571st Missouri Air National Guard Band made famous by a YouTube video, performed at the White House April 11.

The 10-member ensemble was invited to perform as First Lady Michelle Obama and Dr. Jill Biden, wife of Vice President Joseph Biden, marked the one-year anniversary of the Joining Forces initiative, a military family support program.

"We are thrilled," said Air Force Maj. John Arata, Sidewinder band leader and commanding officer of the 571st. "This is a unique opportunity for us to represent the Air National Guard on a national stage and share what military bands do to support troop morale and build international relationships."

Band members learned the week before that they would be making the trip to Washington after the first lady and Biden saw videos of the group’s performances.

"The first lady's Joining Forces initiative builds troop support in the American public, particularly through the use of social and shared media," Arata said. "Our YouTube video is a perfect example of how modern, shared media can build troop support."

That video of Sidewinder performing the Adele hit "Rolling in the Deep" while deployed to the Middle East last summer went viral and was watched more than 2 million times. Its popularity led to the band appearing on various national television programs. Band vocalist Air Force Staff Sgt. Angie Johnson also appeared on the hit NBC show "The Voice."

But all of that pales in comparison to playing at the White House, the band commander said.

"Performing at the White House is the opportunity of a lifetime, especially for a regional band," he said. "We're very motivated to present a high quality, professional product, and we look forward to thanking the first lady and Mrs. Biden for the opportunity to be a part of this significant event."

Sidewinder performed three songs at the White House, including "Rolling in the Deep."

In addition to Arata and Johnson, Sidewinder band members include Air Force Staff Sgt. Sean Navarro, Staff Sgt. Ransom Miller, Staff Sgt. Devin LaRue, Staff Sgt. Brian Owens, Tech. Sgt. John Cavanaugh, Staff Sgt. Toby Callaway, Tech. Sgt. Kevin Maret and Tech. Sgt. Joey Castilleja.

The 571st Air National Guard Band is a subordinate unit of the 131st Bomb Wing at Whiteman Air Force Base, Mo.