Photo By 1st Sgt. Alexandria Hughes | Joint Task Force Guantanamo Troopers socialize at the Camp America Liberty Center and...... read more read more
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NAVAL STATION GUANTANAMO BAY, Cuba—The Joint Task Force Guantanamo Logistics Directorate teamed up with Joint Medical Group’s Joint Stress Mitigation and Restoration Team to share information about National Disability Employment Awareness Month as part of JTF GTMO’s Equal Opportunity Program, Oct. 11.
Equal Opportunity Leaders (EOL), JSMART Troopers, and volunteers set up a booth at the Camp America Liberty Center to talk to Troopers about the different resources available to Service Members, the rights of employees with disabilities, and to share the stories of the men and women who led the way for disability inclusion in the workplace.
Handouts and candy were available, and the JSMART dogs made an appearance to spotlight the positive impact of service dogs.
The JTF Trooper and EOL who helped coordinate the event shared why National Disability Employment Awareness Month is important for JTF Troopers and all military members.
“When people think October, most often they think of Breast Cancer Awareness and not Disability Employment Awareness. This needs more light,” she said. “Guard, Reserve, or prior service; people still have to work; they still have families to support. There are jobs for them, including federal jobs, and it’s important to know that employers cannot discriminate against people with disabilities. Events like this help keep our Troopers informed. We’re here to be an advocate for them.”
A Naval Station Guantanamo Bay Sailor and volunteer also spoke about the value of keeping Troopers informed throughout their military careers.
“Disability employment is a big deal, especially in a warfighting community,” he said. “Too often Service Members don’t realize what resources are available to them in life after the military, or how to navigate the Department of Veterans Affairs, and that can have a big impact: positive or negative. People need to know what to do.”
“We want to let Service Members know the importance of documentation, what help is available, and the different avenues they can take,” he continued. “Just because someone gets out of the military with a disability, does not mean they are out of work.”
More information about the Office of Disability Employment Policy can be found at https://www.dol.gov/odep/. To learn more about the VA, visit https://www.va.gov/.
| Date Taken: | 10.11.2018 |
| Date Posted: | 10.12.2018 15:58 |
| Story ID: | 296226 |
| Location: | NAVAL STATION GUANTANAMO BAY, CU |
| Web Views: | 115 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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