Helping Each Other: While the AMVETS career center has helped retired First Lieutenant Kenneth Malker, he is also helping them with his voice

While innumerable military veterans are appreciated for their efforts during their active-duty days, not many people think about the struggles career-wise for veterans during their post-service days. It can be very difficult for them to find a job, which is why military organizations such as AMVETS have programs like their career center to help ease the transition for veterans during their post-military careers.

One of these veterans who has used the career center, Kenneth Malker, spoke to the positive impact it has had on his life.

“My first encounter with AMVETS involved assistance in submitting my initial VA claim, and their support has been steadfast over the years,” Malker said. “In addition to aiding with career transition and job counseling, the most invaluable aspect has been a dedicated team comprising AMVETS VA benefit counselors, employment specialists and support staff. This team has been with me every step of my transition from a younger to an older veteran, aiding in my adjustment to the changes that have occurred.”

Malker served in the Army and made his way up to First Lieutenant. And while he has a lot of military achievements, he is the first to admit that those do not always translate to the “real world.” Once he retired from the military, he realized that there was a drop-off in certain skill areas, but he is grateful the career center helped mend the difference.

“In addition to dealing with health issues that demanded my full attention and recognizing the gap in job-related skills and experience necessary for competitive interviewing, my primary challenge was effectively communicating my military background,” Malker said. “Aligning my military skills with the criteria for civilian employment proved to be a challenging task. However, I learned I possessed numerous transferable skills acquired in the Army.”

Admittedly, many companies can struggle to figure out the balance between job experience and military experience. They can be wary of hiring military veterans because of preconceived notions, and also because veterans like Malker can struggle to really portray the positives of their military background and how they can translate to the workplace.

Moreover, Malker also knows what skills he brings to the table. He knows that, while not all the things he learned in the military directly translate, he does have leadership experience, and he is not afraid to use the resources available to him to help.

“Overcoming several obstacles, I have sought assistance from AMVETS in my journey toward renewing my nursing license, aiming to rekindle my passion for nursing,” Malker said. “With their support, I am working diligently to bridge the gaps and return to a field of significance.”

Malker was passionate about his position in the Army, and he is also passionate about helping people. That is why he is ecstatic about the fact that he has a newfound joy in the nursing field.

He is also thankful for the career center helping him in all of this.

“The assistance I received from AMVETS has opened doors to employment opportunities that would have otherwise been challenging to secure,” Malker said. “The support extended towards alleviating the financial burden associated with acquiring necessary training and has been crucial for maintaining competitiveness in the complex job market. AMVETS was vital in helping me access VA benefits, a resource I was entitled to, but was not previously informed about. These benefits have significantly improved my overall quality of life.”

Military veterans like Malker are not always afforded the knowledge of having certain resources and benefits at their fingertips. Luckily, however, veterans like Malker are beginning to realize these benefits (with the help of AMVETS), and are speaking out about their experiences. It is really helping to bridge a gap, and voices like Malker’s should be heard.