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VETS News Release: [10/04/2004]
Contact Name: Jane Norris or Mike Biddle
Phone Number: 202-693-4676 or x 5051
U.S. Secretary of Labor Elaine L. Chao Launches First Phase of New Recovery and Employment Initiative for Injured and Wounded Veterans
WASHINGTON—After visiting with wounded veterans at
Walter Reed Army Medical Center today, U.S. Secretary of Labor Elaine L.
Chao announced the first phase of REALifelines,
a comprehensive new program to provide individualized job training, counseling
and re-employment services to each and every veteran seriously injured or
wounded in the War on Terrorism.
The Recovery and Employment Assistance Lifelines (REALifelines) initiative
is a joint project of the U.S. Department of Labor, the Bethesda Naval
Medical Center and the Walter Reed Army Medical Center. It will create
a seamless, personalized assistance network to ensure that seriously wounded
and injured service members who cannot return to active duty are trained
for rewarding new careers in the private sector.
“Our country owes a tremendous debt of gratitude to the brave young men
and women who have defended our nation with such honor in the Global War
on Terror,” said U.S. Secretary of Labor Elaine L. Chao. “These wounded
veterans are to be treated with the respect and dignity they deserve and
all of us need to do all we can to help them transition successfully to
careers in the private sector.”
The pr ogram creates a new team to work full-time with America's recovering
wounded. Dedicated professionals stationed on site will meet personally
with each wounded veteran at the Walter Reed and Bethesda Naval Hospitals.
They will help each person discover his or her
special interests and unique talents. They will help each veteran find
the right career path to suit his or her special needs. And they will
be there to answer questions and provide insight into the processes of
choosing job training opportunities and career paths. In addition, to
ensure that everyone is served, a new national follow-up system will be
established to ensure that each wounded veteran receives personalized
assistance as he or she returns home and transitions to the private sector.
A key part of the program will be the services available at the Department
of Labor's nationwide network of One Stop Career Centers. In addition
to assisting wounded veterans, job training and employment services will
also be made available to spouses in families that have suffered an active
duty casualty, as well as to family members who have temporarily left
their jobs to be with their loved ones during recovery.
Participating with Secretary Chao in the launch of the REALifelines program
were Maj. Gen. Kenneth L. Farmer, Jr., Commanding General of the Walter
Reed Army Medical Center and Rear Adm. Adam M. Robinson, Commanding Officer
of the Bethesda Naval Medical Center.
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