There’s a new Veterans Affairs program called “Fulfilling the Commitment—Coming Home to Work” that VA officials hope will make it easier for veterans returning from duty in the Global War on Terror to make the transition back to civilian life. The multi-departmental and public-private effort will attempt to link up veterans with prospective employers through local and regional job markets around the country. The VA says that around 200,000 troops separate from active duty each year. Officials also noted a dire statistic recorded by the Bureau of Labor Statistics: In the first nine months of 2005, the percentage of 20-24-year-old veterans who were unemployed was 15 percent—nearly three times the national unemployment rate.
As commander of Air Forces Central, Lt. Gen. Alexus G. Grynkewich has been in the middle of almost all U.S. military action in the Middle East, from overseeing airstrikes against Iranian proxy groups to protecting troops as America’s air defense commander for the region. Just before handing over his command to…