MARINE CORPS BASE CAMP PENDLETON, Calif., (July 13, 2011) -- Wounded, ill and injured Marines lined the halls of the South Mesa Club aboard Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton, Calif., for the Hiring Heroes Career Fair today. The career fair is a part of the Department of Defense’s Civilian Personnel Management Service, Recruitment Assistance Division’s outreach program that provides specialized transition assistance to wounded, ill and injured service members whose careers have been cut short.
“This event gives our transitioning service members and their families hope,” said Carin M. Otero director of recruitment assistance division for the Civilian Personnel Management Service. “Whether our service members are transitioning tomorrow, in six months or a year, this program gives them hope that there is something to look forward to.”
The fair provided wounded, ill, and injured Marines and their families an opportunity to network, collect information and talk one-on-one with DoD agencies, other Federal agencies and private sector corporations. The Wounded Warrior Regiment and Wounded Warrior Battalion West were two of the over 70 organizations in attendance to provide transition resources and also job opportunities for wounded, ill and injured Marines. On the top of their list, are future employees for the Warrior Hope and Care Center. The Warrior Hope and Care Center will serve as one-stop-shop for wounded, ill and injured Marines recovery, rehabilitative and reintegration process. The battalion’s medical case manager, Recovery Care Coordinator, call center, family support and Warrior Athlete Reconditioning program staff will all operate from the new facility. The facility will house a weight room, functional workout area, climbing wall, lap pool, therapy pool, exercise assessment/human performance center, family lounge and more.
“The Regiment’s transition cell focus is to ensure that service members have a successful transition [from active duty],” said Mr. Gary Simpson the Department of Labor liaison employment coordinator. “There are a lot of organizations that want to hire Marines but they have to be open to change. The Regiment’s participation in events like these will continue to aid Marines in a successful transition back to civilian life.”
Searching for a meaningful career can be a daunting task for anyone. However, transitioning wounded, ill and injured Marines have numerous resources and support at their fingertips. The Regiment’s transition cell is one tool that connects wounded, ill and injured Marines with government and private employers, identify education and job training resources, and obtain resume and job application tips.
“This event has been a huge success for the Regiment and our Marines,” said Simpson. “Many of our Marines have had an opportunity to interview on the spot with employers and gain first-hand knowledge of what an employer is looking for during the initial interview.”
If you would like more information on the upcoming DoD Hiring Heroes Career Fair or how you can work at the Wounded Warrior Battalion-West, Warrior Hope and Care Center please visit http://www.dodvets.com/careerfairs.asp.
Established in 2007, the Marine Corps Wounded Warrior Regiment was created to provide and facilitate non-medical care to combat and non-combat wounded, ill, and injured Marines, and sailors attached to or in direct support of Marine units and their family members in order to assist them as they return to duty or transition to civilian life. The Regimental Headquarters element, located in Quantico, VA, commands the operations of two Wounded Warrior Battalions located at Camp Pendleton, Calif. and Camp Lejeune, N.C., and multiple detachments in locations around the globe.
For more information about the Wounded Warrior Regiment go to woundedwarriorregiment.org, call the Wounded Warrior Call Center at 1877-487-6299 or visit us on Facebook at http://Facebook.com/wwr.usmc.