Oregon Military Job and Benefit Fair‏ Set in Clackamas

Hundreds of Oregon service members are expected to turn out.

Oregon Guard troops establish a road block in Afghanistan Photo by: Tim King

(CLACKAMAS, Ore.) - More than 800 veterans are expected to take part in the Military Job and Benefit Fair at Clackamas Community College on November 3rd from 10:00 AM to 3:00 PM. Guard officials say that with the ongoing operations in Iraq and Afghanistan, many veterans have recently returned from deployments and need help finding jobs, accessing their veteran benefits, and furthering their education "The soldiers returning know they have benefits but don't know where to get them," said Sgt. 1st Class Phillip Maas, who leads the Oregon National Guard's Career Transition Assistance Program in Salem. "We're trying to be that one-stop shop for service members and their families."

More than 60 employers, 20 veteran service organizations, and various educational institutions will be on hand to talk with veterans and their families. The event is a cooperative event between Clackamas, Multnomah, and Washington Counties and coincides with the first Annual Veterans Summit which will take place just days prior to the job and benefit fair.

"The process can be very daunting to a young soldier," said Maas. "We want to make it easy for service members to find the people they need to speak with to take the next step in their lives, whether that be a new job or education."

The Military Job and Benefit Fair is sponsored by the Oregon National Guard Reintegration Team, one of only a few teams in the nation dedicated to helping soldiers readjust to civilian life upon return from a deployment.

Members of the Oregon National Guard Reintegration Team are available for interviews this week. Interested media please call Oregon National Guard Public Affairs Office.
Source: Oregon National Guard Public Affairs Office