Ex-Machine Gun Operator Seeks Work

Here’s a line most entry-level job seekers don’t have on their resume: “Operated a high-caliber machine gun, in Baghdad, Iraq.”  Many of the 2,700 National Guard soldiers from the Northwest who just returned from Iraq aren’t old enough to have much of a pre-deployment work history.  Now, many soldiers struggle to translate their war experience into a civilian career. In Iraq, Specialist David Hampton was an IT guy.  His formal job title was information management officer.  But back in Idaho, it’s a different story.  “Right now I’m trying to get by,” Hampton says, “driving around, putting in job apps, submitting resumes.” Hampton figured his tech skills would easily transfer to the civilian workforce/ Jessica Robinson , StateImpact. More here.

Question: Should private employers give preference to returning Mideast combat vets?