Homeland Security unveils new job site for veterans

By Fred W. Baker III, Armed Forces Press ServiceNovember 25, 2009

The Department of Homeland Security has unveiled a new Web site designed to provide a one-stop location for veterans, including those at the Presidio of Monterey, looking for jobs.

The site, www.dhs.gov/veterans, also serves as a resource for veterans' organizations to learn about the department's veteran outreach initiatives.

"This new Web site reflects the shared commitment across the department to hiring American veterans," Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano said. "Veterans play a vital role in the Department of Homeland Security's mission to protect the nation, and this Web site will help us build our veteran work force to more than 50,000 departmentwide by 2012."

On Nov. 9, President Barack Obama signed an executive order aimed at hiring more veterans to work in the federal government. The order calls on each federal agency to establish a veteran employment program office designed to help veterans get through the maze of paperwork as they apply for positions in the federal work force and mandates that agencies train personnel specialists on veteran employment policies.

It calls on agencies to work with the departments of Defense and Veterans Affairs to develop and apply technologies designed to help disabled veterans.

The new Web site, www.dhs.gov/xcitizens/veterans.shtm, features information for veterans about how to find employment opportunities at the Homeland Security Department, ways to get involved in community-based efforts such as Citizen Corps, and special veteran programs such as Operation Warfighter and Wounded Warrior, which provide job opportunities for severely wounded or recovering service members to assist their transition back to the military or civilian work force.

The Web site also features Homeland Security procurement opportunities for businesses owned by veterans and service-disabled veterans, and features information about Homeland Security policies and news affecting the veteran community.

The Homeland Security Department's civilian work force includes about 47,000 veterans - about 25 percent of all employees.

Related Links:

Department of Homeland Security veteran jobs

Presidio of Monterey