“My name is Carolyn Consoli and I am a 23 year Veteran of the U.S. Navy.
I enlisted when I was 17 years old. But if I could have had it my way, I would have enlisted sooner. Serving our country was always my dream.
In fact, when I was 13, I ran away from home to the recruiter’s office to join the Navy. They ended up giving me a donut and driving me back home.
In the Navy I was a Boatswain’s Mate and a Career Counselor. I was fortunate that I never had to serve at war, but like some of my brothers and sisters here today, the difficulty for me began when I left the service.
Transitioning from the Navy to the civilian world was difficult. When I tried finding a job, I basically encountered what so many other veterans do – the fact that the skills we learn in the service do not translate into the general workforce.
I could tell that every time I met with a potential employer, I made them uncomfortable. They did not know what to make of my military experience. They didn’t know what to do with me.
I remember the feeling of disappointment that I felt every time I tried finding a job.
Or feeling like a failure when I started my first job after leaving the Navy. It was at the East Coast equivalent of Big Lots. There I was required to work over 12 hours a day for $6 dollars an hour as a Store Manager. I had no health care and no retirement benefits.
It didn’t get much better for me after that. It seemed like the only jobs I could find were those that led to poverty wages. I’ve worked as a security officer, operations manager at a cleaning company and string more of crappy jobs.
I finally got to the point that I had to apply for section 8 housing. I can’t even begin to express how disappointing it is to feel like a complete failure because the Government that I was trained to protect and serve is now having to take care of me.
Don’t get me wrong. I’m fortunate to have access to Section 8 housing, but I should be in a better position so that I don’t have to rely on it.
Now I work in Public Health for the County of Ventura. More specifically, I work educating the public about tobacco prevention. I sometimes go into sixth grade class rooms and talk to the kids about the dangers of tobacco.
It makes me sad to think that in just a few years, some of those kids might go into the military and then what? What’s going to happen to them when their service is complete? Are they going to have to go through what I have? Are they going to be forgotten too?
Despite it all, I consider myself to be fortunate. My job is not middle class, but at least now, I feel like I’m on the right path to somewhere better. I have great benefits – healthcare, sick time, vacation and retirement.
I know that in the long run, I’ll be okay.
But Secretary Solis, if I can ask one thing of you today, it’s that you please not forget us. Don’t forget about the men and women who were willing and ready to risk everything to protect and serve this country.
Please don’t forget.”
To Protect and Serve – Hard Working Americans
Carolyn Consoli was one of many military veterans who testified at a Veterans Town Hall meeting with Secretary of Labor Hilda Solis recently held in Los Angeles. Veterans spoke about the challenges they face in finding good jobs after they leave the service.Read her story and watch the video.
“My name is Carolyn Consoli and I am a 23 year Veteran of the U.S. Navy.
I enlisted when I was 17 years old. But if I could have had it my way, I would have enlisted sooner. Serving our country was always my dream.
In fact, when I was 13, I ran away from home to the recruiter’s office to join the Navy. They ended up giving me a donut and driving me back home.
In the Navy I was a Boatswain’s Mate and a Career Counselor. I was fortunate that I never had to serve at war, but like some of my brothers and sisters here today, the difficulty for me began when I left the service.
Transitioning from the Navy to the civilian world was difficult. When I tried finding a job, I basically encountered what so many other veterans do – the fact that the skills we learn in the service do not translate into the general workforce.
I could tell that every time I met with a potential employer, I made them uncomfortable. They did not know what to make of my military experience. They didn’t know what to do with me.
I remember the feeling of disappointment that I felt every time I tried finding a job.
Or feeling like a failure when I started my first job after leaving the Navy. It was at the East Coast equivalent of Big Lots. There I was required to work over 12 hours a day for $6 dollars an hour as a Store Manager. I had no health care and no retirement benefits.
It didn’t get much better for me after that. It seemed like the only jobs I could find were those that led to poverty wages. I’ve worked as a security officer, operations manager at a cleaning company and string more of crappy jobs.
I finally got to the point that I had to apply for section 8 housing. I can’t even begin to express how disappointing it is to feel like a complete failure because the Government that I was trained to protect and serve is now having to take care of me.
Don’t get me wrong. I’m fortunate to have access to Section 8 housing, but I should be in a better position so that I don’t have to rely on it.
Now I work in Public Health for the County of Ventura. More specifically, I work educating the public about tobacco prevention. I sometimes go into sixth grade class rooms and talk to the kids about the dangers of tobacco.
It makes me sad to think that in just a few years, some of those kids might go into the military and then what? What’s going to happen to them when their service is complete? Are they going to have to go through what I have? Are they going to be forgotten too?
Despite it all, I consider myself to be fortunate. My job is not middle class, but at least now, I feel like I’m on the right path to somewhere better. I have great benefits – healthcare, sick time, vacation and retirement.
I know that in the long run, I’ll be okay.
But Secretary Solis, if I can ask one thing of you today, it’s that you please not forget us. Don’t forget about the men and women who were willing and ready to risk everything to protect and serve this country.
Please don’t forget.”
“My name is Carolyn Consoli and I am a 23 year Veteran of the U.S. Navy.
I enlisted when I was 17 years old. But if I could have had it my way, I would have enlisted sooner. Serving our country was always my dream.
In fact, when I was 13, I ran away from home to the recruiter’s office to join the Navy. They ended up giving me a donut and driving me back home.
In the Navy I was a Boatswain’s Mate and a Career Counselor. I was fortunate that I never had to serve at war, but like some of my brothers and sisters here today, the difficulty for me began when I left the service.
Transitioning from the Navy to the civilian world was difficult. When I tried finding a job, I basically encountered what so many other veterans do – the fact that the skills we learn in the service do not translate into the general workforce.
I could tell that every time I met with a potential employer, I made them uncomfortable. They did not know what to make of my military experience. They didn’t know what to do with me.
I remember the feeling of disappointment that I felt every time I tried finding a job.
Or feeling like a failure when I started my first job after leaving the Navy. It was at the East Coast equivalent of Big Lots. There I was required to work over 12 hours a day for $6 dollars an hour as a Store Manager. I had no health care and no retirement benefits.
It didn’t get much better for me after that. It seemed like the only jobs I could find were those that led to poverty wages. I’ve worked as a security officer, operations manager at a cleaning company and string more of crappy jobs.
I finally got to the point that I had to apply for section 8 housing. I can’t even begin to express how disappointing it is to feel like a complete failure because the Government that I was trained to protect and serve is now having to take care of me.
Don’t get me wrong. I’m fortunate to have access to Section 8 housing, but I should be in a better position so that I don’t have to rely on it.
Now I work in Public Health for the County of Ventura. More specifically, I work educating the public about tobacco prevention. I sometimes go into sixth grade class rooms and talk to the kids about the dangers of tobacco.
It makes me sad to think that in just a few years, some of those kids might go into the military and then what? What’s going to happen to them when their service is complete? Are they going to have to go through what I have? Are they going to be forgotten too?
Despite it all, I consider myself to be fortunate. My job is not middle class, but at least now, I feel like I’m on the right path to somewhere better. I have great benefits – healthcare, sick time, vacation and retirement.
I know that in the long run, I’ll be okay.
But Secretary Solis, if I can ask one thing of you today, it’s that you please not forget us. Don’t forget about the men and women who were willing and ready to risk everything to protect and serve this country.
Please don’t forget.”
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