Initiative to help injured troops gets startup funding

  • Published
  • By Rudi Williams
  • American Forces Press Service
BETHESDA, Md. (AFPN) --  Department of Defense officials have startup funding for a new initiative for servicemembers injured in the war on terrorism, a senior official said here Dec. 7.

"We're looking at possibilities for internships and other types of trial employment," John M. Molino, the acting deputy undersecretary for equal opportunity, told attendees at the 17th DOD Disability Forum here. "We're also looking at possibilities for mentoring.

"We intend for every injured or disabled veteran to have as many opportunities as he or she needs to achieve his or her maximum potential on active duty or in our civilian work force," said Mr. Molino. "We are here for the people who fight to protect us."

In addition, department officials are expanding other efforts on behalf of people with disabilities, he said.

The department will continue using initiatives that have worked well in the past, such as the Workforce Recruitment Program for College Students with Disabilities, Mr. Molino said.

"In the past 10 years, we've been able to document almost 2,000 hires at DOD activities around the world," he said. "In fiscal 2004, we hired 248 (people). In mid-March 2005, we'll release a CD-ROM with information (on) 2,000 students and recent graduates with disabilities who are looking for summer or permanent positions."

He advised people to get in touch with their component's disability program manager or DOD's administrative coordinator for the recruitment program to find out how to benefit from the program.

Mr. Molino also encouraged them to participate in the department's "e-mentoring" program for disabled students.

"The mentors are volunteers from our civilian work force and the military services," he said. "This year, 50 students signed up. The matches have now been made, but we continue to need volunteers. Student goals and interests are phenomenally varied, so we need mentors in a very broad range of occupations."

The DOD Computer/Electronic Accommodations Program is another program Mr. Molino mentioned. It provides technology to make facilities, programs and activities usable for disabled workers at no cost to the requesting organization.

"This program now serves active-duty members of the military services and civilian employees," Mr. Molino said. "It provides real solutions for real people by eliminating barriers in the electronic environment.

"Legislation a few years ago authorized us to serve the entire federal community," he said. "Last year (the program) supplied more than 5,500 accommodations to DOD organizations and (outside) partner agencies."

DOD officials welcome Americans with disabilities into the civilian work force and increasingly into the military services, as well as in facilities, programs and activities worldwide, Mr. Molino said.