On the weekend of April 21, 2012, Post 304 participated in the Big Shanty Festival in downtown Kennesaw, GA.  Activities at the booth included general community outreach, American Legion membership drive, Post 304 information sharing, and fund raising through the sale of military cap.  Over 50,000 people from the surrounding communities were estimated to have attended the 2 day event.  Our booth enjoyed significant volume of visitors and several prospective new members were identified.  Many thanks to the core of volunteers who sacrificed their personal time to assist manning the booth and allowing us to showcase what we have to offer.  We consider our participation in this annual event a great success.

You can see more pictures of this event by selecting the “Post 304 Picture Gallery” under the Media link above.

The American Legion North Cobb Post 304, in partnership with the City of Acworth and the Veterans Administration, recently opened a Veterans Information and Referral Office (VIRO) at 4367 Senator Russell Ave. or Carnes St., (the old jailhouse), in Acworth.

The mission of the VIRO is to provide veterans with benefits information and resource referral within the community where the veteran resides. The VIRO will utilize community volunteers (American Legion members) who wish to serve those who have served from the local communities. They will connect the veteran to the appropriate benefits, services and entitlements subject matter expert in the most streamlined manner possible. Also, it will allow many of them to remain within their community and not travel outside the greater North Cobb, South Bartow, South Cherokee or East Paulding counties.

The VIRO isopen on the first and third Wednesdays, and the second and fourth Saturdays of each month from 11:00 a.m. until 2:00 p.m. Veteran personnel will be on hand to help area veterans commencing Saturday, February 11.  The grand opening with ribbon cutting by Acworth Mayor Tommy Allegood and city Aldermen and officials will be held on Wednesday, February 15, 2012, at noon.

Most veterans are not aware of the benefits to which they are entitled. Veterans who come to the VIRO office will be able to speak with a volunteer about accessing benefits for which they might be entitled to. They will also be asked to complete an information form so that a VA representative can follow up with them regarding the services in which they are interested. Family members and survivors of veterans may also be potentially eligible for benefits, to include education, home loans, vocational rehabilitation, life insurance, compensation and pension, and survivorship benefits. No appointment is necessary but the veteran is encouraged to bring his/her military discharge document (Form DD-214).

The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs estimates that nearly a quarter of the nation’s population, roughly 70 million people, are eligible for veterans benefits and services. There are over 773,000 veterans living in Georgia, according to USDVA’s numbers but, because most veteran’s resource information is located at the VA facility on Clairmont Road in Decatur, it’s not easy to access that facility for most veterans in Northwest Georgia.

Through this partnership with the City of Acworth and The American Legion North Cobb Post 304, the VA hopes that “first time” veterans will be able to access valuable VA resources information for assistance with their future needs.  For more information about the VIRO facility, please call VIRO Manager and Post 304 Vice Commander Bob Hughes at (770) 845-5593, or you may email him at r.hughes@post304.org .

CONTACT:

Roger Pett, Publicity Director, North Cobb Post 304

Phone: (678) 294-9892

Email: rogerpett@bellsouth.net

–END–

Federal   Agencies, Private Sector Companies Partner to Hire Veterans on the Spot

WASHINGTON — Answering the   President’s call to expand employment opportunities for America’s Veterans,   the Department of Veterans Affairs will host a major Veteran-focused career   fair and exposition with thousands of public and private-sector on-the-spot   hiring opportunities for Veterans on Wednesday, Jan. 18, in Washington.    Senior VA officials are expected to attend the event, which will take place at   the Walter E. Washington Convention Center, 801 Mount Vernon Place, NW, from   8:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m.

“Ensuring that Veterans are   educated, trained and able to translate their military skills into careers in   both the public and private-sector continues to be a top priority for the   Obama Administration,” said Secretary of Veterans Affairs Eric K.   Shinseki.  “Now more than ever, America needs the knowledge, skills and   abilities of our Veterans, and this generation of heroes is capable of   transforming the Nation at a time when we need their leadership and   ingenuity.”

Approximately 6,400 public and   private job opportunities are available to be offered to qualified applicants   Wednesday; the majority of which will be private-sector job offers.    Other participating federal agencies include the departments of Homeland   Security, Defense, Interior, Agriculture, Labor, and EPA.  Over 20   private-sector partners will participate, including Microsoft, Lockheed   Martin, Citigroup, Safeway, Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority,   Philadelphia Police Department, Johns Hopkins Hospital, JPMorgan and many   others.

“Veterans play an important role   in our Department’s mission, and every day these men and women bring their   skills, talents and experience to our many mission areas in order to keep our   nation more safe, secure and resilient,” said Secretary of Homeland Security   Janet Napolitano.  “Together, we recognize the invaluable sacrifices that   Veterans make for their country, and DHS is committed to increasing Veteran   employment opportunities and enhancing Veteran engagement within the   Department.”

Representatives of public and   private-sector organizations will interview Veterans onsite for job   openings.  The Career Fair will also feature interactive training   sessions and workshops for resume-building, interviewing, and one-on-one   career coaching.

In addition to onsite interviews   and hiring, VA will showcase its VA for Vets   program, which provides first-in-class online “high-tech” and “high touch”   approach to recruiting, hiring, and reintegrating Veterans into civilian   careers.  VA for Vets offers the most advanced integrated military   skills translator and career assessment tool available in the federal sector;   a resume builder and search engine; and avatar-based technology that connects   deployed Servicemembers to VA during their operational missions.  In the   coming months, VA expects to make VA for Vets   technology available to other federal agencies.

“Veterans face two barriers to   finding careers in the federal government,” said VA’s Assistant Secretary for   Human Resources John U. Sepulveda. “First, translating and marketing their   skills and experience gained during military service into language that   civilian employers can understand, and, second, navigating the complex federal   hiring process.  VA for Vets helps them address both.”

Currently, Veterans make up 30   percent of VA’s total workforce and Secretary Shinseki has set a goal to   increase that total to 40 percent.  The Expo will also explain various VA   programs, and Veterans service organizations will help participants understand   and enroll in VA benefits and services, including new education benefits   provided through the Post 9/11 GI Bill.  Veterans will also learn about   small-business opportunities.  VA for Vets was launched this past   Veterans Day as the Department’s new online platform for Veterans to   join VA’s workforce.

There will be a registration desk   for credentialed media. To RSVP, email josephine.schuda@va.gov.  To   learn more, visit http://www.vaforvets.com/DC/ and www.VAforVets.VA.gov.

Contact:   Josh Taylor, VA Press   Secretary, 202-461-7216; Josh.Taylor@va.gov

Drew Brookie, VA Deputy Press Secretary, 202-461-5133; Drew.Brookie@va.gov