Steinhauer writes: "Erica Uleski fought to save her fellow service members as an Army medic in Iraq, working under brutal conditions to stanch bleeding, save limbs and bring back lives teetering on the edge."
A job fair for veterans in Pittsburgh last year. Unemployment for veterans is now slightly below 3 percent. (photo: Keith Srakocic/AP)
09 March 20
Like most Americans, veterans have benefited from a robust labor market. But skills learned in combat do not always translate to private-sector jobs.
rica Uleski fought to save her fellow service members as an Army medic in Iraq, working under brutal conditions to stanch bleeding, save limbs and bring back lives teetering on the edge.
But when she returned to Virginia Beach in 2007 after three tours in Iraq, she found her extensive combat medical experience had little relevance in the civilian health care world, largely because she lacked the required licenses. She was able to leverage her language skills to pivot to another career instead.
“You can tell all the stories you want,” Ms. Uleski said. “But if you don’t have the credentials, you don’t get work.”
