Tuesday, January 31, 2012

TWC Chairman Highlights Success of Programs to Help Returning Veterans

AUSTIN - Texas Workforce Commission (TWC) Chairman Tom Pauken today
highlighted TWC's efforts to help returning veterans transition back to
civilian life. Pauken spoke to hundreds of veterans at the Texas Veterans of
Foreign Wars (VFW) Mid-Winter Round Up at the Doubletree Hotel in Austin.
"Texas is leading the way in getting military experience in critical skills
recognized and that experience is being put to work a lot quicker," Pauken
said in his remarks to VFW attendees. "As part of our College Credit for
Heroes initiative, Houston Community College has streamlined the credit
hours needed for veterans to attain the surgical technology certification so
that no longer do veterans who had that training and experience in the
military have to get 37 hours in credits to be able to take the
certification test. They can sit for the certification exam and, if they
pass, they can go right to work in that field."

TWC funds the College Credit for Heroes initiative, which is designed to
recognize the exceptional knowledge and skills gained by military service
members and award them college credits for their military experience,
allowing them to more easily re-enter the workforce.

"In addition, Central Texas College has completed a database available to
other community colleges and veterans to allow veterans to get college
credit for their military experience and training - and not have to start
all over again from square one," Pauken also noted.

Chairman Pauken also promoted TWC's Texas Veterans Leadership Program
(TVLP), which is staffed by returning veterans from Iraq and Afghanistan to
help fellow veterans transition successfully to civilian life by applying
the skills they acquired during their military service to civilian jobs.
TVLP has served more than 8,000 returning veterans from Iraq and
Afghanistan, Pauken said. Most of those have received direct assistance from
TVLP veteran representatives, ranging from finding employment to directing
them to educational and health benefits.

"Approximately 25,000 Iraq and Afghanistan veterans separate from the
service and return to Texas every year," said Pauken. "These young men and
women have answered our country's call under very difficult circumstances
and they deserve our maximum support in making a successful transition to
the civilian world."

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