2022 RNG THIRD QUARTER

EDUCATION BENEFITS & NON-DEGREE PROGRAMS

TURNS

GAMING IN

RESERVISTS MUSIC MAKE

CHOOSING A UNIQUE CAREER PATH

From owning a music store to esports, guardsmen and reservists are using their military service to thrive in unique careers. Highlighting our career issue are the service members who spoke with writer Lucretia Cunningham for the cover story, “Call to (esports) duty.” They not only see video games and online gaming as a form of therapy, but as a recruitment tool and path to a post-service career.

“I never would’ve thought of trying to stream on my own before this program,” said Sgt. Daniel Anderson, of the Washington Army National Guard’s esports gaming team. “After learning, I decided to launch my own business.

Allison Churchill

Lucretia Cunningham

Alexandra Vollman

Jessica Manfre

Andrea Downing Peck

I’m the owner of my own social media company.”

Speaking of being a self-made business owner, that’s where the Army Reserve band couple, Tim and Aisha Durst, come in. They operate Blue Note Music in Platteville, Wisconsin, taking their love of music into the service and back again. Read their story on page 12.

In addition to sharing success stories, we also actively made a point to speak to experts who can give advice to those who are either struggling to find employment or who will soon be leaving the service. Check out page

24 for tips on how to use your military service to your advantage in a civilian job search. Or, if you’re considering continuing your education, writer Ben Greene details on page 18 how a nontraditional approach (think tech and trade schools) can add value to the skills you gained in uniform.

Until next time.

KARI WILLIAMS Associate Editor

Ben Greene

Christopher Adams

Rebecca Alwine

Annemarie Mannion

Air Force Reserve medical officer speaks on COVID-19 response, what’s next

by Andrea Downing Peck

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THIRD QUARTER 2022

08 18 22 24

EDITORIAL

Army secretary keeps reserve component’s needs in mind with future planning

by Allison Churchill

Technical, trade school certification make service members ‘more valuable’

by Ben Greene

ESGR celebrates 50th anniversary 9 job search tips for civilian employment

by Rebecca Alwine by Annemarie Mannion

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Navy brings back degree-completion program

The Navy restarted its Baccalaureate Degree Completion Program, allowing reservist sailors to pursue Officer Candidate School or Officer Development School while earning a salary as they finish the degree. In addition to a salary, the BDCP also issues allowances to relieve financial hardships so students can focus on school. Sailors in the program pause their military responsibilities while full-time students.

“If they’re going to retain their status as full-time sailors and basically their full-time job is [to] go to school, that’s tremendously beneficial because it takes all the military roles off the table,” said Keith Hauk, a retired Army colonel who has taught thousands of veterans at the University of Maryland Global Campus.

For more information, visit https://www.navycs.com/officer/ bdcp.html.

SCAN TO READ THE FULL STORY ON THE RESERVE & NATIONAL GUARD MAGAZINE WEBSITE

NGAUS CONFERENCE

The National Guard Association of the United States will hold its 144th General Conference and Exhibition from Aug. 26-29 in Columbus, Ohio. The event, themed “The National Guard: At the Heart of it All,” will feature a golf tournament, fun run and mixers, in addition to annual business. Sports jerseys will be allowed for the States Dinner, which will be held on the last day of the conference. Registration costs $180. For more information, visit https://www.ngaus.org/events/144thgeneral-conference-exhibition.

Guard included in DOD suicide prevention committee site visits

A National Guard unit is among those that will receive a site visit as part of the Department of Defense’s recently announced Suicide Prevention and Response Independent Review Committee. The North Carolina National Guard was named alongside Nellis Air Force Base, Fort Campbell, Naval Air Station North Island, Camp Lejeune and Camp Humphreys. Installation visits will begin this summer.

DD-214 FOR GUARDSMEN, RESERVISTS

Following a Pentagon policy published earlier this year, guardsmen and reservists will receive a DD-214 at the end of their service. The new form, DD 214-1, will be issued to service members who separate from a reserve component or transfer to Individual Ready Reserve, Inactive National Guard, Standby Reserve or Retired Reserve, the policy states. However, it won’t be required for guardsmen who transfer states; “personnel whose Reserve Component service is terminated by death”; or “every issuance of a DD Form 214.” The policy has three years to be implemented.

Photo by Lauren Castellana/Towson University

Audience returns to Warrior Games

As adaptive athletes converge in Orlando for the 2022 Warrior Games, the community will be welcomed back as well. Held at ESPN Wild World of Sports Complex at Walt Disney World Resort from Aug. 19-28, the competition features athletes from the Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps and USSOCOM in sports ranging from archery and indoor rowing to wheelchair basketball and powerlifting. For more information, visit https://www.dodwarriorgames.com/about/about/.

GUARD ASSISTANCE IN

UKRAINE

In addition to the California Air National Guard’s relationship with Ukraine, several other units have stepped up to provide support since Russian troops invaded Ukraine in February. The West Virginia National Guard has supplied “an undisclosed number” of M-113 Armored Personnel Carriers, in addition to collecting unused or recently expired ballistic vests from law enforcement. The Missouri, Indiana, Ohio and North Carolina National Guard joined West Virginia in sending M-113 APCs.

SCAN TO READ ABOUT AN AIR NATIONAL GUARDSMAN WHO WILL COMPETE AT THE WARRIOR GAMES

An Army Reserve M113 Armored Personnel Carrier crosses an Armored Vehicle Launch Bridge during a GATE III or section gunnery and Engineer Qualification Table X11 validation exercise on Fort Knox, Kentucky.

Photo by Sgt. 1st Class Clinton Wood

Marines with Headquarters and Headquarters Squadron, Marine Corps Air Station Miramar, participate in a water polo game as part of the February Warrior Games competition.

Photo by Lance Cpl. Jose S. Guerrero Deleon

Army secretary keeps reserve component’s needs in mind with future planning

BY ALLISON CHURCHILL

The Army had a busy year – and its performance was outstanding, Secretary of the Army Christine Wormuth said while reflecting on her first year as the branch’s top civilian official.

“Everything is a team sport in the Army,” she said, so she wouldn’t take personal credit for the branch’s achievements. Instead, she praised the Army’s continued role in COVID-19 recovery – from the National Guard providing assistance in their communities to behind-the-scenes work of getting vaccines to the public. She also commended the Army’s work in the evacuation efforts from Afghanistan, and standing up what amounts to five installations around the United States to house tens of thousands of refugees.

Looking forward, Wormuth released a list of objectives in February that, she wrote, should guide the Army toward “specific and tangible outcomes.” The first – putting the Army on a sustainable strategic path – comes from shifting focus away from the Middle East and counterterrorism to emerging threats like Russia and China. The Regionally Aligned Readiness and Modernization Model (ReARMM), which is due to be implemented Oct. 1, supports this by getting new equipment and weapons systems to units. It should also provide soldiers in the reserve components with more predictability, she said; for example, the Guard will be on a five-year cycle under ReARMM.

The Reserve’s 75th Innovation Command, which is working with Futures Command to scout cyber and technology experts, is on track to make the Army more data-centric,

Wormuth’s second objective.

“That’s a good example of where we’re able to draw on folks who have particular skill sets from their civilian lives and leverage them through their service in the reserves,” Wormuth said.

The Guard knows better than anyone the importance of the third objective, building resiliency against climate change, she said. Beyond the Guard’s response to natural disasters, flooding due to rising sea levels has cost millions of dollars in damage to installations. Soldiers in all three components will need to train to operate in extreme temperatures.

Wormuth’s last three objectives – building positive command climates, reducing harmful behaviors and adapting recruiting and

Lt. Col Kelly Bell (far left); Maj. Sam Winkler; Christine E. Wormuth, Secretary of the Army; and Staff Sgt. Nicole Pierce pose at the signing of the Parenthood, Pregnancy and Postpartum Army directive at the Pentagon.

Photo by Staff Sgt. Tae Harrison

retention – all focus on the Army’s people. She said the Kentucky National Guard stands out for its focus on soldiers’ well-being, and that was reflected in good reviews in a Department of Defense-level survey.

Wormuth said Lt. Gen. Jon Jensen, director of the Army National Guard and Lt. Gen. Jody Daniels, chief of the Army Reserve, are working to help Guard and reserve commanders overcome geographic and time challenges to building unit cohesion.

Fusion Directorates, a pilot sexual harassment and assault prevention program that brings together support services outside of the chain of command, is showing promise. The 99th Readiness Division will launch the first virtual pilot in the reserve component this summer, covering all soldiers in the 99th RD’s 13-state region. Wormuth said she visited Fort Sill’s program and can see it being scaled up.

But none of the other objectives can be met without great soldiers. The “Know Your Army” advertising campaign, launched in April, touts benefits like home-buying aid and paid leave to compete with civilian employers. The Parenthood, Pregnancy and Postpartum Army directive that Wormuth signed April 21, 2022, will help more parents be able to stay in the service. The policies emerged from a Facebook group; Wormuth’s team invited input from the members, who spanned the Army’s ranks and components.

“It’s not only a great set of policy changes,” Wormuth said, “but I think it’s a real demonstration of the fact that people on the ground can actually be change agents.”

Wormuth said she brings a total Army perspective to her role, but she does have unique insight into the needs of the reserve component. She served as a senior fellow at the Center for Strategic and International Studies, and was the principal author on its “The Future of the National Guard and Reserves” 2006 report. Wormuth’s sister is a surgeon in the Army Reserve and her stepson-in-law serves in the National Guard.

There seemed to be an “us versus them” mentality between the active-duty Army and its reserve counterparts when Wormuth started working in defense and national security policy, she said. But working together on deployments seems to give soldiers across the components a chance to build mutual respect.

“My hope is that the bridge building that happened over the last 20 years, between the three components, will remain,” she said.

“It’s not only a great set of policy changes, but I think it’s a real demonstration of the fact that people on the ground can actually be change agents.”

Lt. Col Kelly Bell (far left); Christine E. Wormuth, Secretary of the Army (sitting); Maj. Sam Winkler; and Staff Sgt. Nicole Pierce pose at the signing of the Parenthood, Pregnancy and Postpartum Army directive at the Pentagon on April 19, 2022.

Photo by Staff Sgt. Tae Harrison

Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin III presides over the swearing-in ceremony for Christine E. Wormuth, the first woman to hold the position of Secretary of the Army for the Department of Defense, the Pentagon, Washington, D.C. Photo by U.S. Air Force Staff Sgt. Brittany A. Chase

CALL TO (ESPORTS) DUTY:

NATIONAL GUARD GAMING TEAMS AID RECRUITMENT, ENHANCE CIVILIAN CAREERS

BY LUCRETIA CUNNINGHAM

When Washington Army National Guard soldier Sgt. Daniel Anderson experienced a traumatic event, he said his first response was to isolate himself. However, when he heard that his unit was launching an esports gaming team in summer 2019, he was one of the first to volunteer to become an official streamer for the unit.

Kentucky Army National Guard Sgt. 1st Class Alex England livestreams “Apex Legends” on the Army National Guard Twitch channel as an official streamer on in 2020.

Photo by Sgt. Alan Royalty

“It very much became like a form of therapy for me,” Anderson said. “It forced me to be interactive, socialize more and bring myself to a place of normalcy. It revitalized my enjoyment of serving my country because I got to talk to so many new people every day.”

While playing video games as part of his military career is pretty great, Anderson noted the best part of representing the military in esports is the connections he makes with other military gamers. Also, the skills he’s been able to apply to his civilian career as a business owner.

Before joining the military esports program with the Washington ARNG, Anderson said he played video games as a hobby and embarked on a new venture to stream his gameplay on the unit’s Twitch channel in December 2019.

Now, he manages his own streaming business and collaborates with nonprofit and military-affiliated organizations for online gaming events. Known online by his gamer tag “thebiscuitwagon,” Anderson officially registered his business, The Biscuit Wagon, as an LLC in Washington state.

“I never would’ve thought of trying to stream on my own before this program,” he said. “After learning, I decided to launch my own business. I’m the owner of my own social media company.”

The Army launched its first esports team out of Fort Knox, Kentucky, in late-2018 as a recruitment and retention initiative. In July 2020, the U.S. House of Representatives passed the appropriations bill for fiscal year 2021 with an amendment prohibiting federal funds for “military recruitment via Twitch and esports activities.”

The bill is still with the Committee of Appropriations but points to how military decision makers might feel about militarygaming programs.

Army National Guard Maj. Ryan York realized leaders could underestimate the significance of a unit-run esports team. So, he has no problem helping them understand that gaming in the military is a step in the right direction.

“By the numbers, 60% of our formation plays games weekly,” he said. “If you want to understand your soldiers and how that relates to gaming, the vast majority participates casually, up to the top 500, in ‘League of Legends.’”

York is the program director for the Washington ARNG and took the job in addition to his primary duties as the recruiting and retention marketing public affairs officer. Since about 2020, York has elicited Washington ARNG soldiers to livestream themselves playing some of the most popular video games weekly.

He also coordinates tournaments where soldiers compete against other military players and esports teams for notoriety. They play games like “HALO” and “Call of Duty,” allowing military members to market their unit in a way they couldn’t when face-to-face interactions were prohibited. York attested that the Washington ARNG’s gaming tournaments generate about 10 recruitment leads whenever they host them. While matches might take place in a production studio, typically, soldiers participate and host weekly streams from home, using their gaming systems and camera setups.

“I don’t think this would’ve ever got to where it is without COVID-19,” he said. “I think it came at the right place, at the right time. The command bought into it because we could do this virtually while circumventing COVID-19 related issues to gain access to potential applicants and members.”

Outreach events with local high schools and colleges emphasize the skillsets video game streaming requires and how they can be applied to occupations in the information generation where content creation, video production and editing prove relevant in many careers.

Sgt. Robert Maldonado, of the D.C. Army National Guard’s 273rd Military Police

Company, goes by the gamer tag “maldo_ rob” as an Army National Guard official esports streamer. Maldonado and his wife own a marketing business outside of the military, which he said has reached a new level after learning how to stream while participating in the esports program.

“Being on this team, I’ve really learned a lot,” Maldonado said. “I’ve learned how to use a video camera properly and edit video using Adobe Premiere, which are tools I use to create content for my civilian business.”

Other than stream-production training, military gamers also receive public affairs training to ensure they’re interacting with their audience and presenting themselves in a professional matter. New team members shadow their more experienced teammates on streams before running their own. And, military streamers are required to be cleanshaven, restricted from consuming alcohol or using profanity during livestreams in order to represent the military honorably.

Members of the Washington ARNG even wear uniformed T-shirts during their streams for a more casual look.

Maldonado is among 10 other soldiers from states including Colorado, Illinois and Georgia who officially represent the Army National Guard in esports. He said live streaming is an optimal platform for humanizing military members while heightening unit morale.

“Before I even put on this uniform, I was already a gamer,” he said. “But this is something that my love for the military and passion for video games can merge and be something I can enjoy on both sides.”

COUPLE FINDS FULFILLMENT THROUGH MUSIC, MILITARY SERVICE

BY ALEXANDRA VOLLMAN

With a family legacy of military service and music, Spc. Tim Durst and his wife, Spc. Aisha Durst, are proud to represent their country as members of the 484th Army Reserve Band out of Milwaukee.

“It’s a good way to serve our country in a way that we’re really good at,” Tim said. Music, however, isn’t just part of their military duties — it’s their life.

The couple owns and operates Blue Note Music in Platteville, Wisconsin. In addition, Aisha is a full-time band teacher at the local middle and high school, and Tim is an organist at a local church.

But it wasn’t always this way.

A foray into music

Raised on a dairy farm in Richland Center, Wisconsin, Tim grew up singing with his father while doing chores together on the farm. Tim began taking piano lessons from his father at 6 years old and eventually joined his middle school choir. And, when he was old enough, band.

Despite his immersion into music, Tim didn’t initially see a future in it.

“I was exploring other options,” he said. “But none of those really seemed as comfortable

Spc. Tim Durst and Spc. Aisha Durst display coins that were presented in appreciation for their musical contributions during a change-of-command ceremony at Arlington Heights (IL) Reserve Center.

or as easy as continuing in music, so I went to the University of Wisconsin-Platteville (UW–Platteville) as a music major.”

Aisha grew up in Hinsdale, Illinois, and unlike with Tim, music wasn’t as prominent in her childhood. She participated in band and other musical extracurriculars in high school, but had no intention of going into music.

Instead, she pursued software engineering at UW–Platteville.

“As I continued on,” she said, “I realized that wasn’t really my passion, so I switched [my major to music].”

One thing Aisha always knew for certain, however, was that she wanted to carry on her family’s legacy of service.

“My dad was in the Air Force, and my grandpa was in the Army,” she said. “So, I knew that I would serve in some capacity.”

The Dursts met in 2008 as members of UWPlatteville’s concert band, and by the next year, she had joined the Army Reserve as a signals and systems support specialist — not

yet fully confident in her musical abilities.

Known as the largest employer of musicians in the world, the Army Band requires a high level of proficiency and versatility.

“I didn’t know that the Army band would be an option for me because I was not really that good at music, especially right out of high school,” Aisha said.

Six years later, she decided to re-enlist, this time as a member of the Army band –and was selected. Within two years, she’d convinced Tim, whose family also has a tradition of service, to join her.

“My dad was in the Army during Vietnam, my grandma was in the Women’s Air Corps during World War II, and I had several great uncles in World War II,” he said. “So, it’s always been in the back of my mind.”

Making music together

As members of the 484th Army Reserve Band, Tim and Aisha spend their drill weekends practicing with their bandmates. With the French horn his primary instrument, Tim plays most often with the brass quintet, while Aisha specializes in

clarinet, playing soprano as a member of the woodwind quintet and bass for concert band. Through these musical performance teams, they are dispatched based on the specific event, or mission.

“We usually do parades, but we’ll also do sitdown ceremonies,” Aisha said. “But we still have our Army commitments, such as qualifying on our weapons and PT tests.”

Although their Army Reserve duties, along with managing the store and raising two children, take up most of their time, Tim and Aisha wouldn’t have it any other way. In addition to the camaraderie with their fellow soldiers, they relish the time away the experience offers.

“The opportunity to perform with such great musicians is really enjoyable,” Tim said. “I also enjoy that I get to spend my drill weekends with my wife — time spent together doing what we love.”

For more information about the 484th Army Reserve Band, visit https://www.facebook.com/ 484thArmyBand/.

Spc. Tim Durst performs for a changeof-command ceremony.

WHEN REFINANCING YOUR HOME MAKES SENSE

BY JESSICA MANFRE – SPONSORED

With today’s housing market demonstrating an extraordinary increase in home values, it could be your opportunity to refinance. As a reserve or Guard member, securing your finances with your own equity to consolidate your debt might be something to consider.

Navy Reserve Lt. Commander Bryan Bergjans knows all about refinancing. Though he has spent more than 20 years as a sailor between his reserves and active time, his day job as Caliber Home Loans’ senior vice president of military lending has taught him a thing or two.

“With inflation and gas prices increasing, many military families may be using their credit cards more than they care to. But this sellers’ market has created a unique opportunity for debit consolidation by utilizing your own home’s equity,” Bergjans said. “The Federal Reserve indicates credit card interest rates typically hover between 1630% depending on your credit, so refinancing your home even with today’s slowly rising mortgage rates can be a game-changer.”

A home mortgage refinance, or “refi” for short, can be utilized for a number of purposes, one being to revise the terms of an existing credit agreement but consolidating

multiple debts into one with a lower interest rate. Even if it drops your existing interest rate by 1%, refinancing is worth it over the longterm for savings. Depending on when you purchased your home, you may also be able to save by using another form of refinance – a cash-out refinance – to withdraw some of your home’s equity to pay down your other debts.

But what if the interest rate now is higher than when you obtained your original mortgage?

The first step in determining whether a refi is right for you is to examine your household budget, Bergjans said.

“Figure out what you are spending on your existing debt – like car loans, personal loans and credit cards,” he said. “Once you’ve determined that number, its easy to hop on Google to utilize free calculators to figure out what a mortgage would look like with consolidated debt. From there, you’ll be able to calculate the savings for you and your family.”

Though the Federal Reserve has indicated America will likely see rising interest rates to combat inflation, a refinance may still be the best choice. Starting with a good budget and walking through all the options will give

you peace of mind for your financial future. According Bergjans, the key to a successful cash-out refinance is to not run the debt back up and negate all the hard work you just accomplished.

“The uncertainty of the market is absolutely enough to make anyone nervous, I completely understand. When you add in worry about finances and your responsibilities to serve while managing a civilian career it can be overwhelming,” Bergjans said. “My goal as a lender at Caliber isn’t to simply sell mortgage products but ensure that our customers know they are family, whether they ultimately choose us or not.

“We’re all in this together and if there’s a way that we can work with you to relieve your stress over your current budget by refinancing and consolidating all your debt into one payment, then that’s what we’ll do.”

Disclaimer: By refinancing the existing loan, the total finance charges may be higher over the life of the loan.

You can learn more about the products Caliber Home Loans offers by going to www.military.caliberhomeloans.com

Air Force Reserve medical officer speaks on COVID-19 response, what’s next

BY ANDREA DOWNING PECK

While Dr. Anthony Fauci, chief medical advisor to the president, is the face of the nation’s COVID-19 public health campaign, Air Force Reserve Medical Officer Maj. Vin Gupta might be America’s next most widely recognized medical expert on the pandemic.

The Harvard-trained public health physician and critical-care pulmonologist has become a fixture on NBC and MSNBC’s coronavirus coverage and a well-known face on CNN, CBS and other media outlets during his twoyear campaign to educate the public about a disease that has killed more than 1 million Americans, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Combining his estimated 1,000 media appearances with a prolific Twitter feed has made Gupta a strong voice for the science behind mask wearing, vaccinations and a “whole-government approach” to strengthen preparedness for the next outbreak.

In his multiple day jobs, Gupta is Amazon’s chief medical officer for new products, affiliate assistant professor at the University

of Washington’s Institute of Health Metrics and Evaluation, critical care pulmonologist and a major in the Air Force Reserve Medical Corps. He currently serves as Officer-inCharge of the Critical Care Air Transport Team at the 446th Aeromedical Staging Squadron, Joint Base Lewis-McChord in Washington.

Living and working in Seattle, Gupta, 39, discusses in an email interview with Reserve & National Guard Magazine his insights into the country’s response to the pandemic; explains what might come next; and praises the role his military service has played in his medical career.

Editor’s note: Responses have been edited for length and clarity.

How has your time in the Air Force influenced your ultimate career path and inspired you to work on global public health issues?

I’ve served in the Ready Reserve for seven years now, and each year of service has convinced me that I joined the force for the right reasons: to give back and to better understand how different parts of our

society can work together to address global challenges proactively. I have two Masters (international relations, the other in public administration). Coupled with my medical training and interests in global health, my military service has given me important perspectives I would have otherwise never had, all while being incredibly humbling.

As a global health expert, you knew that increased global travel, urbanization, exploitation of the natural environment and other factors increased the likelihood of a global pandemic in your lifetime. Did you expect the United States to be better prepared for a global pandemic than it ultimately was?

Yes, I did. Every study published in the wake of the Ebola epidemic suggested we were well prepared for a pandemic, even if we had gaps. The reality of our actual response was certainly surprising to see, particularly since we live in an era of epidemics and pandemics. I hope the last two-and-a-half years will be a wake-up call for us all to realize that a pandemic can impact our way of life in ways that no other threat possibly can.

You’ve spent more than two years educating the American public about the pandemic, yet a significant percentage of people, including some service members, remain resistant to such messaging. What can be done to overcome COVID-19 vaccine skepticism?

While I believe there remain some folks that are reachable and simply want to be heard and be spoken to respectfully and nonjudgmentally, that isn’t everyone. Some people simply will not want to engage in this conversation, and we have to accept that at this stage. I’m under no illusions otherwise, but I have tried hard to broaden my reach through an approach that emphasizes being understandable and apolitical. I tell patient stories and lean into visualizations because I think that can help build trust and convey genuine authenticity.

Omicron subvariant BA.1 and BA.2 appear to cause less severe disease, yet the death rate in the U.S. was higher during the delta surge this past winter. What lessons does this provide as we transition from a pandemic to an endemic?

The key lesson is that great vaccines against contagious respiratory viruses like omicron prevent severe outcomes like terrible pneumonia, but they do not necessarily

prevent mild symptoms or positive tests. It’s why we get the flu shot – we know it’s not going to prevent testing positive, but it may keep you out of the hospital.

The better we are at clearly messaging on why we get vaccinated, the better the chance we have at building and maintaining trust and promoting comprehension.

Virus experts predict periodic surges of COVID cases and warn of a potential wave next fall. What recommendations do you have as we navigate the months ahead?

I do believe the next six months are likely to feel less overwhelming, since hospital stress from COVID-19 is expected to abate, partly because of strong population-level immunity and also because of warmer weather. I do, worry, however, about next winter, since so many high-risk folks remain unboosted and respiratory viruses transmit more readily in colder, drier air. If you are someone that is higher-risk medically, I’d urge you to continue to be vigilant in public places for the foreseeable future and wear a higher-quality, N95 like mask in places like grocery stores. I’d also urge higher-risk folks to ensure close communication with their primary care docs in the event that they may need one of the newer COVID-19 pill treatments, since time to treatment is critical in maximizing their effectiveness.

How has your time in the Air Force helped prepare you for your public-facing role as a medical analyst?

The Air Force teaches “integrity, service before self and excellence in all that we do.” At a time where misinformation remains rampant in our public discourse, I leaned

into the core principles that the Air Force has taught me to be the most effective crisis communicator I could possibly be.

As a pulmonologist, professor, Amazon Care scientist and medical analyst your plate is overflowing. Why is it important to you to continue to serve in the Air Force Reserve Medical Corps?

My service to country keeps me centered and humble, focused on a deeply important mission, all while working with talented and gracious colleagues who are also serving for the same reasons. Don’t get me wrong – it’s exhausting serving in so many demanding roles and then giving up weekends and – potentially, weeks on end – for military service on top of it all. With two young kids at home and my wife as a pediatrician, staying organized and mentally present can be a huge challenge. But – ultimately – it’s these moments and opportunities that make my professional life so fulfilling.

How does your Air Force service and experience make you a better civilian physician?

I’ve learned skills as an aerospace critical care physician during my military medical training that I would have never learned as a civilian pulmonologist – advanced skills generally only known to ICU nurses on how to operate IV pumps, start A-lines and other hands-on techniques. I’m comfortable drawing up my own medications instead of relying on a pharmacist, as I normally would in a civilian hospital. In general, I’m just a far more independent ICU doctor because of the rigorous military medical training I undergo at regular intervals to ensure readiness for deployment.

Technical, trade school certifications make service members ‘more valuable’

BY BEN GREENE

Life

Sailors train as firefighters, plumbers and medics because, once at sea, they can’t call professionals to come aboard.

“Trades are the jobs we really need,” said Martell, a petty officer first class in Orlando.

Moreover, education in trade or technical fields increase their chances of promotion as sailors or civilians, according to Martell.

Jeff Walker, an assistant professor in nursing at Herzing University agreed. He was in the

Marine Corps Reserve for a year, then served four years on active duty with the Navy. He learned to rewire an entire Navy vessel, including generators and turbines.

Nevertheless, none of his hard-earned Navy training counted as academic credit after he left the service. Now, he encourages students to combine military experience and education whenever possible.

on a Navy ship convinced Carey Martell, a licensed practical nurse in the Navy Reserve, that technical education and promotions are interconnected.

“It makes you more valuable if you’ve got certification plus experience,” he said. “You have proof that you can show to an employer that you know what you’re doing.”

Daenel Vaughn-Tucker was an ammunition specialist in the Army when she separated in 1996.

“There aren’t many calls for an ammunition specialist when you get out in the civilian world,” she said.

So she earned an associate in education from a community college followed by two more degrees. She now works as the director of library services and social media coordinator at Central Louisiana Technical Community College (CLTCC).

“The military encourages you to better yourself,” she said. “When you’re in the military, you’re trained. That’s what they do. But if you don’t have those credentials behind your name, there’s always that fear” of life after military service, she explained.

CLTCC’s Lamar Salter campus has a close relationship with JRTC and Fort Polk in Leesville, Louisiana, so soldiers can expand their skills and become more eligible for promotions. For example, Lt. Col. JohnPaul E. Depreo, the 46 th Engineer Battalion Commander, approved his welders for a semester of welding classes, according to CLTCC Campus Dean Geralyn A. Janice.

“The battalion commander wanted them to increase their proficiency, which also contributes to the services they provide the Army,” she said.

Martell plans to add academic credentials to her Navy experience by completing a bachelor’s degree in nursing at Herzing University.

“Immediate skills definitely help the Navy because a person is more experienced and educated in the skill set,” she said. “Getting trades and education [and] community service helps you rank better against your peers when we do our evaluations every year.”

Further, she said the additional education will increase her chances at promotion in the Navy – or later when she hopes to work for the Veterans Administration.

Herzing counted her know-how as a Navy LPN toward her bachelor’s degree. That

accelerates her path toward graduation and the promotions possible through her achievements, said Jarvis Racine, Herzing’s vice president of strategic partnerships, workforce development and government affairs.

“The military provides a lot of opportunity for learning so we really want to make sure we’re maximizing that,” Racine said. “What we’ve done is create a pathway for them to validate their skills and begin working at a higher level.”

Likewise, Vaughn-Tucker believes a technical education is especially useful for reservists and guardsmen who enjoy their M.O.S. or aren’t academically inclined.

“Being able to get certification in that job helps them out because when they get ready to separate from the military, they have that credential,” she said.

“It gives them a skill set where they can provide a living for themselves and their family. You still have a life ahead of you.”

THRIVE ON ADAPTABILITY

BY CHRIS ADAMS

Army 2nd Lt. Jacob Smee leads a departure ceremony for Colorado National Guard’s Army Space Support Team 16 in 2021.

Photo by Maj. William Smith

The Colorado National Guard’s Army Space Support Team 16 deployed to the CENTCOM area of operation in March, supporting the 35th Infantry Division’s mission to augment Combined Land Component Forces and provide space support as needed. They replaced the 117th’s ARSST 22.

Team 16’s deployment objective is to coordinate, integrate, synchronize and execute space and technical operations. The space support team works to enhance the effectiveness of warfighters in real-time scenarios, improving mobility, communication and the ability to shoot.

“To boil it down, really what we do is, we take information that we can glean from space-based assets in areas such as … position-navigation timing, GPS satellite imagery, some type of electronic warfare. Whether it’s active or passive,” said ARSST team lead Maj. Tom Dell. “We’re more about knowledge of that and how it could be used.”

The Army’s Space and Missile Defense Command (USASMDC) deploys support teams via the 1st Space Brigade based at Peterson Air Force Base, Colorado. The USASMDC is the force modernization proponent for space, high altitude and global missile defense the Colorado National Guard indicated. The 1st Space Brigade is the only space brigade in the Army and oversees five missile defense batteries located in Japan, Turkey, Israel and Saudi Arabia.

ARRST 16 creates space-based information, providing comprehensive intelligence, data and potential outcomes to down-trace units and those who use it at the division level and higher.

“So instead of telling an infantry unit, ‘Hey, there’s gonna be a solar flare on this day,’ and they kinda look at us and go, ‘What the hell you talking about,’ we say, ‘Well, this could impact your UHF communications, could happen from this time to this time, there’s no guarantee that will happen. But there’s a chance,’” Dell said.

On their recent mission ARRST 16 supported a wide spectrum of ongoing situations and delivering it to entities

throughout the CENTCOM area.

“Obviously, a lot of things were going on with Ukraine and Russia,” Dell said. “And so while things were still getting spun up, we were looking at that area, and trying to find out who we could potentially send information to…we’re the team that just got back from Kuwait last month, and we were looking at what was going on in Ukraine.”

The 12 teams that comprise the Army’s 117th Space Battalion do not operate within the parameters of specific geographical zones but are attached to a division or higher-level entity, offering space knowledge and expertise.

Dell said space is in flux, changing daily, and the team engages people possessing varying degrees of space knowledge. So adaptability is a must for ARRST 16 personnel.

“And so we have to constantly change what we’re saying, how we’re saying it, based on who we’re saying it to,” he said. “We have to kind of tailor everything, every report we make and everything else to that situation, and to that person and…the current environment.”

What Dell has seemingly learned about the acquisition, coalescence and dissemination of space information is that it’s dynamic and subject to change.

“It’s definitely interesting and … you have to think flexible in this job because you never know which direction you’re going to go, what people are looking for, to try and help them with it,” he said.

ARRST 16 is part of the Guard’s 217th Space Company, 117th Space Battalion. The 117th is positioned with the 100th Missile Defense Brigade based in Colorado Springs, Colorado.

A unique team of six National Guardsmen will provide space support to Army and Combined Joint Forces operations for the next several months.

OF SUPPORTING MILITARY-CIVILIAN RELATIONSHIPS

BY REBECCA ALWINE

Retired

Guardsmen and reservists often hold multiple career positions while fulfilling their service in the military. The Department of Defense created Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve (ESGR) in 1972 to ensure seamless relationships can exist between military members and their civilian employers.

“In 50 years of outreach, we’ve presented a voice of the service members to employers in a way that they haven’t seen them before,” said Ronald Bogle, ESGR national chair since 2019. “ESGR has helped to improve the military-civilian divide in multiple ways – not just in hiring practices.”

Retired Brig. Gen. Carol Eggert, also senior vice president of military and veteran affairs at Comcast NBCUniversal, said she believes ESGR helps ease some of

What is ESGR?

ESGR is a Department of Defense program that helps promote a culture of cooperation between employers and National Guard and Reserve service members. With more than 3,000 volunteers in 54 communities, ESGR offers engagement, volunteer support and Ombudsmen services to both employers and employees.

the friction between civilian employers, guardsmen and reservists.

As the leader of a team that includes 12 currently drilling Guard and reserve members, she knows what it’s like to work around an employee’s last-minute deployment. And with more than 30 years on active duty and in the Guard and reserve, she also knows what it’s like for the service member to be spinning up for deployment while worrying about their civilian job.

Addressing the military-civilian divide in employment

The division between service members and employers isn’t malicious, Eggert said, but often based on misunderstanding.

Over the past two years, guardsmen and reservists have been busy with orders related the COVID-19 pandemic and general staffing shortages, meaning they’ve had to leave their civilian jobs. Employers might not understand what responsibilities they have to their employees in this situation,

which is where ESGR comes in.

ESGR also helps mediate and resolve issues between employers and service members – answering questions service members have about USERRA, for example. Because ESGR has this role, some employers might be hesitant to reach out to them first, Eggert explained. But ESGR offers resources both for employers and service members.

Building stronger relationships

One of ESGR’s programs, called Bosslift, allows civilian employers to visit a military installation and learn what their militaryaffiliated employees experience. Eggert said it is one of the coolest things she’s seen.

“They call them lifts because many times it’s a helicopter flight, or you get on a C-130 or something,” she said. “But it’s also just getting out to a training location and [being able to] see the incredible level of skill and responsibility, accountability, our service members possess.”

ESGR also builds relationships with employers through their awards program, which consists of a series of DOD awards. There are seven awards, with the highest being the Secretary of Defense Employer Support Freedom Award , which will be awarded this summer.

Comcast NBCUniversal employees gather during the 2016 ESGR commitment signing ceremony in Philadelphia.

Courtesy photo

9 JOB SEARCH TIPS FOR CIVILIAN EMPLOYMENT

BY ANNEMARIE MANNION

Nearly 50% of veterans reported not having a job lined up when they left the military, according to a 2019 Pew Research Center report. But career experts believe taking proactive steps can help ease the transition in the military-civilian divide.

START EARLY

Doing your homework and starting a job search early can ease the transition. Research and understand the specific requirements for the openings you’re interested in.

“Some jobs require additional certificates or degrees and some do not,” said Sheri Gross, manager of Veterans Services at the College of DuPage, a community college outside of Chicago. “It’s important to research the options and requirements of different paths to reach your desired position.”

2 TRANSLATE YOUR EXPERIENCE

A good tool to refer to is a military-tocivilian occupation translator, which can help you match your military skills and experience to civilian occupations, says Kimberly StienerMurphy, senior regional director for global talent solutions firm Robert Half.

Organizations like the Disabled Veterans National Foundation provide tools online to aid service members.

3 CONSIDER A CAREER ASSESSMENT

Those who might be unsure of their next

career path can consider an assessment to narrow the options, according to Gross, who said community colleges also provide guidance through career services departments. Several career assessment tools can also be found online through veterans-assistance organizations. Columbia Southern University compiled a list at https://jobs.dvnf.org/military-to-civilianoccupation-translator.

TALK WITH FRIENDS

Stiener-Murphy said it’s important to network with fellow veterans who are in companies that could be of interest.

“Veterans want to help veterans,” StienerMurphy said. “So connecting with someone on LinkedIn or joining a veterans networking group can be tremendous help.”

SEEK HELP

Don’t overlook nonprofits such as the National Able Network or Roll Call Chicagoland that offer various types of jobhunting assistance to veterans.

“They help veterans network, hone their skills and learn how to best market themselves,” Gross said.

FINE-TUNE YOUR RESUME

Highlight transferable skills and experience on your resume.

“Play up your pertinent technical expertise,” said Stiener-Murphy, but don’t forget to note previous leadership roles, as well as in-demand

soft skills such as empathy, adaptability or an entrepreneurial mindset.

Stiener-Murphy also cautions veterans to make sure their resume is easy to understand.

“Civilian employers may not be familiar with military terminology so it’s a good idea to spell out acronyms,” she said.

7 LOOK FOR VETERAN HIRING PROGRAMS

Many employers, including Walmart, Deloitte and the United States Postal Service, want to hire veterans. USPS, for instance, employs nearly 100,000 veterans

“Choosing a company or organization that values veterans and views them as assets to the community is a great place to start,” Gross said.

8 JOB FAIRS

Job fairs can be a great tool even if you are not yet looking for a job, Gross said. It provides a chance to meet recruiters faceto-face and hone the networking and social/ people skills that will help you prepare for interviews and feel more confident.

9 BE PATIENT

In today’s job market, finding a good position can take time, according to StienerMurphy.

“Keep in mind that the duration of a search is no reflection on your personality or skills; many people job hunt for some time before landing a position,” she said.

FORMER SOLDIER LEADS LAW

SERVING MILITARY CLIENTS IN ALL

TEAM 50 STATES

BY JESSICA MANFRE

Berry Law was founded in 1965 by his father, John Berry Sr., who’d been commissioned as an officer in the Army in 1960 and deployed to the Vietnam War not long after. There he earned a Bronze Star and the Vietnamese Medal of Honor First Class (Gold). His name would become infamous as the chief defense counsel in the “Green Beret Affair,” successfully defending the special forces operators charged with the murder of a double agent.

Berry Jr. said his father left big steps to follow. “My family has served in every war since the American Revolutionary War,” he said. “I served in Bosnia and then again in Iraq. I finished out a 20-year career with five years of active duty in the rest in the Nebraska National Guard. I have a brother who was a doctor in the Air Force and another who was a surface warship officer in the Navy.”

Serving in the military wasn’t always his plan. Berry Jr. had his eye on football while attending William and Mary but quickly realized it wouldn’t work out as a longterm plan. After graduation in 1997, he was commissioned into the Army and graduated from Army Ranger School. Two years later, he deployed to Bosnia.

In 2000, he pursued law school and transitioned into the National Guard, graduating three years later. As a brand-new

lawyer, Berry Jr. managed a civilian career and his responsibilities as a company commander. He started to question his ability to do it all, bringing his concerns to his boss. He was told not to worry about doing both, since his company was about to be deployed to Iraq.

“What I loved about the deployment was you show up and the military is going to take care of you. You just make sure you complete your mission and bring everybody back alive,” he said.

After returning home from Iraq, his new mission was to grow the law firm in serving the military community through defense law and benefit appeals. Its military law team now has clients in all 50 states.

So, what does he think about the bad reputation lawyers get?

“I hate lawyers,” Berry Jr. laughed. “I think there are a lot of lawyers that have sullied the profession ... but sometimes it’s a tough fight, sometimes we have to do it as lawyers, especially on the criminal defense side. We have to represent unpopular people; people that everybody hates and nobody thinks they should get a lawyer. But by God, if we don’t step up and do it, nobody else will. And that’s why a lot of veterans become lawyers, because they understand you have to be willing to do what needs to be done to protect the Constitution.”

The firm is proud to employ guardsmen, reservists, and veterans. In 2021, it was a finalist for the Secretary of Defense Freedom Award, voted Best Defense Law Team for Nebraska and has been named a U.S. Department of Labor HIRE Vets Platinum award winner multiple times.

“We love having veterans on our team. It’s just there. It’s part of our culture, you either get it or you don’t. We were not going to make you do pushups, although I’ve thought about it,” he said.

Berry Jr. left the National Guard in 2017 as a lieutenant colonel and credits his time in the military for who he’s become as a father, husband, and lawyer.

“It’s important that we have veterans in the legal system because they actually know what it means. And by God, some of them have paid the price for freedom that most lawyers will never pay,” he said. “We’ve tried some innovative things at trial and yeah, I might get yelled at by the judge, I might be ridiculed. But at the end of the day, how could I live with myself if I didn’t just go for it? Don’t be afraid of failing. As long as you’re alive, it’s OK.”

Though you won’t find him rucking for fun or jumping out of airplanes anymore, Berry Jr. is continuing to bring his military values to the courtroom.

“I love going into the courtroom and arguing cases because I’m too old to play sports or do any of the military stuff anymore,” Berry Jr. said. “The body doesn’t last forever for all that but the competitive spirit we learned in the service can.”

As the CEO and managing partner of a well-known law firm, veteran Army officer John Berry Jr. brings passion for defending the U.S. Constitution to the courtroom. And he learned from the best.

OF MILITARY CAREER TRANSITIONS

BY ANDREA DOWNING PECK—SPONSORED

Guardsmen and reservists spend their entire careers in a state of transition, whether that is for training and mobilization, shifting gears to civilian employment or completely exiting the service. The latter option requires a series of decisions that affect personal readiness, which is why a number of programs are dedicated to assist with choosing the right path for yourself and your dependents.

With the transition may come a need to replace lost military income, health care and dental care benefits and Service Members Group Life Insurance. On the flipside, hanging up the uniform can also open the door to relocating for a new civilian career opportunity or to cash-in on post-9/11 GI Bill benefits.

Navy Federal Credit Union Regional Outreach Manager Clay Stackhouse believes transition planning should begin a year before a service member’s separation date, in part so guardsmen and reservists have time to delve into the numerous resources available to guide their passage to full-time civilian life.

“I had a pretty good transition,” said Stackhouse, a retired Marine Corps colonel. “But now that I do this for a living, I see there were more programs out there I could have taken advantage of if I had known about them.”

In addition to capitalizing on transitionassistance opportunities, Stackhouse recommends Guard and reserve members ensure their finances are in order as they prepare to separate or retire from the military. He said joining a credit union can be a first step in that process.

“Banks are in the business to make money and credit unions are people over profit. It’s a financial institution owned by its members,” Stackhouse said. “I love our motto: ‘Our members are our mission.’”

Not only does NFCU offer better interest rates and have lower fees than a traditional bank*, but it also provides members with free financial counseling and investment services at local branches. Its portfolio of product offerings includes savings vehicles, credit cards and mortgages, as well as auto loans, student loans and equity loans. Members also have access to a 24/7 customer service phone line at 888-842-6328.

At www.navyfederal.org, the “MakingCents” knowledge center offers in-depth articles on improving personal finances, managing credit, navigating auto loans, saving for retirement, home buying, paying for college, building savings and other topics.

“The fundamental touchstone of my financial philosophy is no matter what position you’re in now, it’s never too late to come up with a plan,” Stackhouse said. “Each family has different [financial] needs. Ensuring you know what you need and you’re reaching out to the people who can help you is the most important thing.”

As part of its effort to help military members with transition planning, Navy Federal partners with organizations such as Hire Heroes USA and Operation Homefront to produce a “Best of” series that includes “Best Cities After Service,” which identifies top United States cities for transitioning service members, and “Best Careers After Service,” outlining the top 10 civilian industries for veterans.

Stackhouse recommends guardsmen and reservists use transition as a time to reassess career and family goals.

• Department of Defense SkillBridge Program

https://skillbridge.osd.mil/faq.htm enables military personnel nearing their last 180 days of service, including select Guard and reserve members, to intern with one of 500 civilian-industry partners.

• Hiring Our Heroes https://www.hiringourheroes. org/career-services/fellowships/ offers career counseling, hiring expos and fellowship programs and is sponsored by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce.

• Helmets to Hardhats https://helmetstohardhats.org/ connects National Guard members and reservists with training and career opportunities in the construction industry.

• Hire Heroes USA https://www.hireheroesusa.org/ is a nonprofit that assists military members, military spouses and veterans in finding new careers.

• USO Pathfinder Transition Program https://www. uso.org/programs/uso-pathfinder-transition-program connects National Guard, reservists and military spouses with employment, education, financial readiness and veterans’ resources.

“It’s an opportunity to think about where you want to be, No. 1,” he said. “Think about what you want to do and look at all those people who are out there to help you figure out what you want to do. I would say to relax because you have a lot that is very desirable in the civilian world. The Guard and reserves know that pretty well by the time they transition.”

* Value claim based on Navy Federal’s 2020 Member Giveback Study.

Here are military transition assistance programs to consider:

DETROIT TIGERS NAMESAKE

ROOTED IN NATIONAL GUARD HISTORY

BY CHRISTOPHER ADAMS

The Detroit Tigers appellation seems simple enough – with the tiger a common symbol from the Louisiana State University Tigers to the Cincinnati Bengals. But for the Michigan baseball team, its name reportedly has roots in the National Guard. Specifically, the Detroit Light Guard.

According to the nonprofit American Battlefield Trust, the Light Guard has served Detroit for nearly 200 years and deployed into combat during the Civil War, World War I and the Iraqi War. It was initially referred to as the Detroit City Guard but changed to the Light Guard before 1860.

The Detroit Historical Society reported that by the time the Tigers began playing in the Western League in 1896 they were already being cited as the Tigers.

“The Tigers appellation enjoyed wide circulation to Detroit long before the Western League arrived,” author Richard Bak told Reserve & National Guard Magazine, reading from his book, “A Place for Summer: A Narrative History of Tiger Stadium.” “This was due to the Detroit Light Guard, an elite group that was the city’s foremost military and social organization from the time it was formed in 1855, through the early part of the 20th century.”

Bak further wrote that veteran Light Guard member John Bersey said the team sought permission from the Detroit Light Guard to use the name and a tiger-head logo. A carved tiger’s head was displayed on an exterior stone wall of the Light Guard’s armory.

“Exactly when this occurred is unclear, but it was probably about 1900, not long after the guards’ triumphant return from the SpanishAmerican War… The Detroit Light Guard said yes to the Detroit team’s pro forma request,” Bak wrote.

Early Tigers history comprised two monster seasons, winning the American League pennant in 1907 and posting a 100-54 record in 1915. Most notably, however, was the acquisition of Ty Cobb in 1905.

Cobb helped the Tiger ball club achieve success in those two seasons, plus batting .420 in 1911. Through the years, several prominent players in addition to Cobb donned the Tiger uniform: Hank Greenberg, Mickey Lolich, Al Kaline, Willy Horton, Mark “The Bird” Fidrych, Ozzie Virgil, Alan Trammell, Lou Whitaker, Kirk Gibson and Miguel Cabrera.

Military ties not solely in Detroit

The Detroit Tigers title isn’t the only one with a military-related history. The Bengal tiger of LSU has been the school’s nickname/ mascot for nearly 100 years.

However, it has recently become controversial due to its Confederate past, according to the university. Louisiana Company B was established to serve the Confederate Army, adopting the flamboyant and ostentatious dress of the French Zouaves. The ruckus company contained a criminal element and became known as the “Tiger Rifles.”

Over time, all infantry soldiers from the state became known as the “Louisiana Tigers.”

Less controversial but inspired by the Civil War is the NHL’s Columbus Blue

Jackets. The team states the name was chosen because it “pays homage to Ohio’s contributions to American history … as both the state of Ohio and the city of Columbus were significantly influential on the Union Army … Many of the Blue Coats worn by the Union soldiers were manufactured in Columbus.”

Detroit Tigers origin story

Of course, team nicknames from yesteryear usually have more than one origin. Bak said the Tigers were the Detroits first, courtesy of unimaginative local press. The Tigers were also called the Wolverines, Creams, and one newspaper declared them the Detroit Eccentrics, according to Bak.

“It was kind of an organic kind of thing when it came to nicknames for sporting teams back then, you know, you didn’t have contests and things like that,” Bak said. “No fan input … That’s all modern 20th century, 21st century kind of stuff.”

The team’s socks were another reason given for the name.

“There was another belief that one of the teams had striped socks that looked like tigers, tiger stripes,” said Mitch Lutzke, of the Tigers History Project. “And somebody referred to the team as that.”

Bak’s book states that George Stallings — captain and field manager of the 1896 squad — said it was because he dressed the players in black and brown striped socks, supposedly resembling tiger paws.

But the consensus seems to be the Light Guard is the primary source of the name.

“I had normally heard that it was a reference to the Light Guard Armory Tigers in Detroit … They were the high-level minor league team,” Lutzke said. “And they were called the Tigers … Common knowledge for most people is it’s tied to that armory team.”

Ty Cobb and Joe Jackson circa 1913. Courtesy Library of Congress 1913

$30 million

dedicated from Activision Blizzard to Call of Duty Endowment

100,000 veterans placed in meaningful employment

$547

80%

of veterans have at least a six-month retention rate in employment secured through the Call of Duty Endowment

Average starting salary of $64,000 for those in these careers

87% per placement for veteran job seekers

of veterans have full-time work through the Call of Duty Endowment

SOURCE:

https://www.callofdutyendowment.org/100k

https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20220502005727/en/Call-of-Duty-EndowmentReaches-Milestone-of-100000-Veterans-Placed-Into-Meaningful-Employment

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