By: Austen Hammon
Veteran employment has become an issue in the recent years. Due to media exposure, veterans are seen as problematic in the work place. It’s assumed that most veterans are plagued with intense PTSD, while some are, many are not but still fall under that stereotype. Much of the veteran unemployment also comes from lack of qualification and the lack of bridging the gap between war and civilization. Many military members are gone on tours for 3-4+ years at a time, and in that time they are unaware of the evolution going on in their home state. This leads to veterans trying to pick back up where they left off when they return in a society that they don’t recognize.
Veteran, Patrick Garner, is a prime example of a veteran of war who has returned from Afghanistan unfazed, despite witnessing tragic events. Although Garner is blessed to say he doesn’t suffer from PTSD, his road to employment after service was anything but easy. Unfortunately, Garner went unemployed for a long period of time which could have been from the combination of being stereotyped and having the lack of qualification. Throughout these projects, Garner helps explains how and why veterans go unemployed, while also sharing his own experiences.