November 17, 2005

Contact: Jeff Schrade (202)224-9093

(Washington, DC) A new training program for unemployed veterans being offered by the Purple Heart Foundation has gained the praise of the chairman of the U.S. Senate Committee on Veterans' Affairs, and he is encouraging veterans to check it out.

"It was just a few weeks ago that my committee held a hearing concerning the dramatic increase in the number of veterans deemed unemployable by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs. I'm pleased that the Military Order of the Purple Heart Service Foundation has stepped up quickly to help veterans with disabilities get the training and support they need to reenter the workforce," said Sen. Larry Craig, who chairs the Veterans' Affairs Committee.

There are now over 221,000 veterans who have been deemed unemployable by the VA.

"I am sensitive that many veterans deemed unemployable may never return to the workforce. But I believe that there are some, perhaps thousands, who could be helped emotionally and financially by working, and this program is an important step in that direction," Craig said.

The Purple Heart Foundation's new initiative is called the "Business Training Center" and will provide remote and virtual in-home national training in the near future. The 15-week program will provide 600 hours of training for positions in the information industry.

In phase one, the Foundation is offering free training at their headquarters in Annandale, Virginia, for positions in the "Business Training Center." Participants will be paid a stipend and job placement assistance when the candidates complete the program.

"Re-training veterans to work in both the private and public sector is a top priority of our organization" said Richard Gallant, Executive Director of the Purple Heart Service Foundation. "We are recruiting veterans, with a special emphasis on un-employed, combat-wounded and disabled veterans."

For additional information, contact Ken Smith at the Military Order of the Purple Heart Service Foundation at (703) 340-8763 or online at http://www.purpleheartfoundation.org.  

#####