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Lt. Col. Ralph Peters (Ret.) sounds off on the media’s impact on employment opportunities for veterans of wars in recent history.
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Now the US unemployment rate remains above 8% but for veterans returning from Iraq and Afghanistan it is much China is over 12%.
Retired US on at a time Connell and also all McCain -- get its Ralph Peters joins the company right now.
-- -- -- And get this right you say that -- wouldn't plays a big role in Al vets coming back to no jobs explain it.
Well first of all -- I have to make it absolutely clear.
Our vets don't want handouts.
They don't want freebies they want a fair shot at had a decent job.
And for the most part they get it but there aren't real structural problems.
In the economy as you know but also.
Look at the Hollywood films that feature or include returning veterans from our recent work or for Vietnam.
-- have you ever seen a film about a well adjusted debt he starts his own business raises a healthy family.
British majority vets the movies are always you know lefty rants about -- about to explode in the work place.
But it's not just Hollywood -- films and TV.
Let's be honest the 24/7 media whether it's news -- infotainment they also love the stories about -- -- gone wild.
-- to can't naked homeless vets but Stewart.
Money no personally.
Hundreds of vets and somewhat thousands of vets.
I don't know one who's gone nuts.
I don't know why and I'd be afraid -- -- -- had to be in the room with I don't know one who's unemployed -- a matter of fact I don't even.
No one who is.
You know -- -- failed in life in general most vets do well it is.
It's interesting you say that because during these wars in in Iraq and Afghanistan Fox News and other news organizations embedded reporters with the troops.
A we frequently put the troops on television they were being interviewed.
-- without exception.
Do a very high quality people.
Organized -- discipline trade.
They did what they had to do they were up just just fine human beings.
And I juxtaposed backs -- experience from seeing these people in the field by juxtapose that with what -- talking about.
The image -- the returning vet asked -- on television frequently in the dramas and especially by Hollywood there is a complete.
Juxtaposition.
In the reality of the people in the field and how that portrait.
-- what can we do about -- Well first thought -- -- -- have to make this blunt statement that.
Any employer looking for a dependable employee who knows how to show up in time cannot do better than hiring a -- Know what can we do about it what goes back to employers.
Employers shouldn't allow themselves be frightened by the latest military horror film with the Metroplex.
They have to.
Give people with honorable discharges a chance -- -- saying that much that I know the one thing employer should check.
Is that the soldier marine sailor airman has an honorable discharge because -- in the military is anywhere else -- -- some bad apples but that's the only thing that matters senseless let me just pick up on something you just mentioned.
Showing up on time getting to look on time.
Paul -- Charles Payne is is with me he had a very interesting statistic the other day that what it's something like Tellme just -- half the people colonel.
-- got over over half empire state they do survey business as and they say the difficult things they have.
Over half the people this number by the way growing.
Just think the punctuality they won't show up on time and -- and another half.
Had pork interpersonal skills it's amazing to me because before to your point of view -- -- what the discharge from the military honorable discharge you almost always got the job.
In.
Well let me let let me make this personal -- -- The army gave me a for Roche -- work ethic.
And I'll tell you for young soldiers were used to showing up -- formation of five or 5:30 AM showing up at 8 AM is a luxury.
I mean these acute stress enough that these don't soldiers overwhelmingly.
Are tremendous quality.
They'll also when you look at the statistics.
How I would point out -- you know you know numbers can -- And part of the problem with the higher rate for vets being unemployed isn't that they're nuts.
It's just something the army the military has always been the great chance for people get out of depressed rural areas out of -- out of debt rose.
And if the end one enlistment.
And all evil -- honorable discharge if your choices to go back to the depressed.
Area and Appalachia or back to the barrier or back -- -- the jobs aren't there.
So you the military can give you a great job train you prepare you.
But the military cannot provide private sector jobs so some -- that really a structural.
OK so.
This is something we feel very very strongly about -- -- very glad that you pointed this out for us today.
And we hope that -- -- as watching this program -- watching you -- it will take notes of the quality of people coming out of our own services today.
Thanks for joining us Connell is always a -- to have this segment -- so.
