Janet Napolitano: ‘Veterans: Your Country Still Needs You'.
‘Veterans: your country still needs you'
By Janet Napolitano
Later today (Wednesday), I will speak at the American Legion's annual conference here in Louisville, to engage directly with veterans about our shared mission.
Not only does the Department of Homeland Security house one of the branches of the military — the United States Coast Guard — but we rely heavily on veterans from across the armed services to carry out our critical mission of securing the country and protecting the American people.
Veterans make up a quarter of the DHS civilian workforce. Last year alone, we hired more than 6,800 veterans, and since January we've hired 3,000. Today, our total is more than 46,000 veterans.
By 2012, I am committed to making sure that we employ 50,000 veterans.
To do so, we are aggressively expanding our outreach to former military personnel. Just last month, the department held its first-ever veterans job fair, attracting over 750 attendees.
We're also partnering with the Department of Defense on Operation Warfighter, a program for service members who are recovering from injury to build their résumés, develop their skills, explore new employment opportunities and gain valuable federal government work experience for the future.
We're increasing opportunities for veteran-owned and service-disabled veteran-owned small businesses to provide the department with important goods and services. Last year, veteran-owned small businesses won more than $931 million in prime contracts from the department, and we're committed to do even more this year and in the future.
Our commitment to veterans, however, isn't simply about numbers. A young department like ours benefits tremendously from the enormous experience and dedication veterans bring to our workforce.
With our nation fighting two wars and with other deployments around the world, DHS continues to strengthen its partnerships with veterans in new ways.
I personally rely on distinguished veterans in DHS' senior leadership, like Deputy Secretary Jane Holl Lute and Under Secretary of National Protection and Programs Rand Beers.
Since Sept. 11, 2001, tens of thousands of men and women have become American citizens while serving in the U.S. Armed Forces. DHS oversees the naturalization process, and we have worked diligently to grant citizenship to the men and women in uniform who so honorably and proudly serve our country.
And at today's American Legion Conference, I have an important message for all of our veterans: your country still needs you. We will always be indebted to you for your service. And we will forever be grateful for your sacrifice. But, in today's world, as we confront challenges that range from terrorism to natural disasters and pandemics, we need you to continue serving our nation.
I have been asking all Americans to take more responsibility for their individual security. If you see something suspicious, say something. Have a personal preparedness kit, and a family unification plan, particularly if you live in an area prone to hurricanes, floods, earthquakes or tornadoes. Volunteer in your community.
I am grateful for the many veterans who have already joined FEMA's CitizenCorps initiative, which helps communities across our country become better prepared for emergencies and disasters.
We must build a national culture of preparedness and resilience. And we need the skills and experience veterans bring to our workforce and country in order to do it.
The challenge in securing our nation is bringing new energy to old values — values that have long defined our country: resilience, shared responsibility and standing up for what's right.
No one is more qualified to help lead this charge than the more than 20 million veterans, whose service embodies these values and can help lead this charge.
Janet Napolitano, a former governor of Arizona, is U.S. secretary of Homeland Security.
By Janet Napolitano
Later today (Wednesday), I will speak at the American Legion's annual conference here in Louisville, to engage directly with veterans about our shared mission.
Not only does the Department of Homeland Security house one of the branches of the military — the United States Coast Guard — but we rely heavily on veterans from across the armed services to carry out our critical mission of securing the country and protecting the American people.
Veterans make up a quarter of the DHS civilian workforce. Last year alone, we hired more than 6,800 veterans, and since January we've hired 3,000. Today, our total is more than 46,000 veterans.
By 2012, I am committed to making sure that we employ 50,000 veterans.
To do so, we are aggressively expanding our outreach to former military personnel. Just last month, the department held its first-ever veterans job fair, attracting over 750 attendees.
We're also partnering with the Department of Defense on Operation Warfighter, a program for service members who are recovering from injury to build their résumés, develop their skills, explore new employment opportunities and gain valuable federal government work experience for the future.
We're increasing opportunities for veteran-owned and service-disabled veteran-owned small businesses to provide the department with important goods and services. Last year, veteran-owned small businesses won more than $931 million in prime contracts from the department, and we're committed to do even more this year and in the future.
Our commitment to veterans, however, isn't simply about numbers. A young department like ours benefits tremendously from the enormous experience and dedication veterans bring to our workforce.
With our nation fighting two wars and with other deployments around the world, DHS continues to strengthen its partnerships with veterans in new ways.
I personally rely on distinguished veterans in DHS' senior leadership, like Deputy Secretary Jane Holl Lute and Under Secretary of National Protection and Programs Rand Beers.
Since Sept. 11, 2001, tens of thousands of men and women have become American citizens while serving in the U.S. Armed Forces. DHS oversees the naturalization process, and we have worked diligently to grant citizenship to the men and women in uniform who so honorably and proudly serve our country.
And at today's American Legion Conference, I have an important message for all of our veterans: your country still needs you. We will always be indebted to you for your service. And we will forever be grateful for your sacrifice. But, in today's world, as we confront challenges that range from terrorism to natural disasters and pandemics, we need you to continue serving our nation.
I have been asking all Americans to take more responsibility for their individual security. If you see something suspicious, say something. Have a personal preparedness kit, and a family unification plan, particularly if you live in an area prone to hurricanes, floods, earthquakes or tornadoes. Volunteer in your community.
I am grateful for the many veterans who have already joined FEMA's CitizenCorps initiative, which helps communities across our country become better prepared for emergencies and disasters.
We must build a national culture of preparedness and resilience. And we need the skills and experience veterans bring to our workforce and country in order to do it.
The challenge in securing our nation is bringing new energy to old values — values that have long defined our country: resilience, shared responsibility and standing up for what's right.
No one is more qualified to help lead this charge than the more than 20 million veterans, whose service embodies these values and can help lead this charge.
Janet Napolitano, a former governor of Arizona, is U.S. secretary of Homeland Security.
Labels: General information
posted by KYJurisDoctor at 8:52 PM
0 Comments:
Post a Comment
<< Home