ESC Holds Veterans Appreciation Events
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE November 5, 2009
The South Carolina Employment Security Commission is gearing up to celebrate a very special Veterans Appreciation Day.
The agency’s 36 workforce centers will be hosting open house events to recognize those who have bravely served our country. Each center will host a unique event informing veterans about their benefits, allowing them to see all of the services offered when seeking employment service assistance.
According to the South Carolina Army and Air National Guard, more than 500 troops are currently stationed overseas with Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation Enduring Freedom. Figures from the 2000 US Census show that there are 420,971 veterans in South Carolina.
ESC will use this event to show veterans and active soldiers how the agency can assist them with facilitating their return to work and transitioning from military life to civilian life as smoothly as possible.
In addition to the special events, each workforce center will showcase a veteran who has successfully transitioned from dedicated service to our nation to employment back in their local communities.
One example of this is Junior Reaves. After six years of service, Reaves was honorably discharged from the United States Army in February, 2009. Mr. Reaves returned home to Marion, SC, to care for his ill grandmother, but found that his search for work would prove difficult.
Months went by and Reaves was beginning to become desperate for work. He ran in to an old friend in his community, Donnie Hill, who is the Assistant Area Director at ESC’s Marion Workforce Center. Hill encouraged Reaves to come visit the Veteran Representatives at the center before he finalized his decision to re-enlist. With the assistance of the Veteran Representatives, Reaves became gainfully employed as a machine operator within a month of his visit, and with a job close to home where he could better meet the needs of his family.
Veteran representatives are available in each ESC Workforce Center to assist veterans who are re-entering the workforce. These staffs are men and women who have also served their country and are now proudly serving veterans throughout the Palmetto State.
All veterans are cordially invited to visit their local Workforce Center where staff will have an opportunity during this special event to honor all who have served.