Location
Research Meeting Room
Event Website
http://uenr.warnercnr.colostate.edu/
Start Date
3-23-2012 11:00 AM
End Date
3-23-2012 11:30 AM
Description
There are many affinities between military service in the Armed Forces and careers in natural resources, particularly in jobs involving outdoor conservation and wildland fire fighting. Military members have a sense of service and teamwork, conduct numerous actions under harsh and extreme conditions and long hours, are familiar with dangerous equipment and hi-tech instruments, and enjoy the outdoors. The decade of war since 9/11 and the end of combat operations in Iraq have resulted in numerous service members returning to their communities in search of meaningful employment. Unfortunately, a coalescence of conditions, including the poor economy, has resulted in extremely high unemployment rates, with rates exceeding 30% for younger veterans of recent conflicts. The need for qualified professionals in outdoor conservation and wildland fire fighting has led to a unique partnership between the federal government and non-profits in the conservation and veterans sectors. With impetus in funding from the USFS and BLM, several Conservation Corps throughout the western U.S. have partnered with Veterans Green Jobs, a national non-profit in Denver, to develop veteran-based cohorts called the Veterans Green Corps (VGC). Since 2009, more than 500 veterans have trained and worked in cohorts to build trails, cut timber and fight wildland fires on public lands in the West. This model program accentuates the many positive outcomes of transforming veterans from military service to conservation work, to the benefit of both the veterans and these public agencies. Examples of program design, success and outcomes will be presented.
Military Veterans in Natural Resources Management: the Veterans Fire Corps Model
Research Meeting Room
There are many affinities between military service in the Armed Forces and careers in natural resources, particularly in jobs involving outdoor conservation and wildland fire fighting. Military members have a sense of service and teamwork, conduct numerous actions under harsh and extreme conditions and long hours, are familiar with dangerous equipment and hi-tech instruments, and enjoy the outdoors. The decade of war since 9/11 and the end of combat operations in Iraq have resulted in numerous service members returning to their communities in search of meaningful employment. Unfortunately, a coalescence of conditions, including the poor economy, has resulted in extremely high unemployment rates, with rates exceeding 30% for younger veterans of recent conflicts. The need for qualified professionals in outdoor conservation and wildland fire fighting has led to a unique partnership between the federal government and non-profits in the conservation and veterans sectors. With impetus in funding from the USFS and BLM, several Conservation Corps throughout the western U.S. have partnered with Veterans Green Jobs, a national non-profit in Denver, to develop veteran-based cohorts called the Veterans Green Corps (VGC). Since 2009, more than 500 veterans have trained and worked in cohorts to build trails, cut timber and fight wildland fires on public lands in the West. This model program accentuates the many positive outcomes of transforming veterans from military service to conservation work, to the benefit of both the veterans and these public agencies. Examples of program design, success and outcomes will be presented.
https://digitalcommons.usu.edu/cuenr/9thBiennial/Sessions/3
Comments
Citation: Doe, WW. 2012. Military Veterans in Natural Resources Management: the Veterans Fire Corps Model. UENR 9th Biennial Conference. http://digitalcommons.usu.edu/cuenr/9thBiennial/Sessions/3/