Finding jobs for veterans is already a tough task; finding meaningful jobs for them is even tougher. Fortunately, many vets are turning to firefighting to give them "a sense of camaraderie and purpose they miss."
From the Source:
'Battalion Chief Richard Hess says many of the veterans really needed the job. "Some of them were having difficulty having jobs just like everybody else in this economy," he says. "Some of them had ... started working in careers that really weren't up to the expectation they had for ... what they want to do with their life."'
'As a department, we're just happy to get a good quality group of guys," he says. "At the same time, it's rewarding on our end to provide them a chance for a good occupation after what they've done for us."'
Above: "Probationary firefighter and military veteran Victor Ramos gets truck driving practice near the 16th Street Firehouse in Union City, N.J. New Jersey's North Hudson Fire Department hired 43 veterans this year." Photo Courtesy of Melanie Burford, NPR