1. So how many people do we have running around in uniform that we are serving ?

2. 3.4 million total worldwide Active Duty 1,421,787 Spouses 777,011 Children 1,216,020 Source: Department of Veterans Affairs; Coalition for Iraq & Afghanistan Veterans Over 1.4 million young Americans have been deployed in support of OEF/OIF since 9/11 and approximately 45% of these veterans are members of the National Guard and Reserve

3. According to the Texas Veterans Commission’s 2007 reports, Harris County has the largest population of veterans in the State – an estimated 197,000! Counting the surrounding counties there are over 304,000 veterans in the Greater Houston Area, an estimated 16,000 are veterans of the Global War on Terror - one of the largest populations of OEF/OIF veterans in the country. And the 72 nd BCT is next. Source: Texas Veterans Commission

4. Over 18,000 veterans call Houston home who have served since 9/11 and would qualify for the New G.I. Bill

5. Texas Supplies over 11% of all recruits for the Active Military Forces Houston supplies over 25% of those from Texas 40% of those recruits return home after their enlistment term is over. Army Recruits (2004) 1) Los Angeles County, California1,231 2) Harris County, Texas1,134 3) Bexar County, Texas 838

6. Recruits come primarily from middle-class areas. Poor areas are proportionally under represented in the wartime years. The percentage of recruits from the poorest American neighborhoods (with one-fifth of the U.S. population) declined from 18 percent in 1999 to 14.6 percent in 2003, 14.1 percent in 2004, and 13.7 percent in 2005.

7. From a racial diversity perspective, the military, as of December 2004, had proportionately fewer Whites than the national population, partly because the military has proportionately more African Americans. Although Hispanic representation in the Active Component has markedly increased from 5 percent in 1993 to 9 percent in 2004, it is below the 11 percent for the U.S. civilian workforce.

8. The representation of women in the military, at 16 percent, is below that of women in the U.S. workforce, at 48 percent, partly because of military policy and federal statutes.

9. In 2008, women made up 11% of OEF/OIF veterans, which is the largest group of women veterans today. Each VA Medical Center has a Women Veterans Program for transitional assistance services Source: Department of Veterans Affairs

10. High School Education There is a significant difference between the national recruit high school graduation rate of 99% and the national youth graduation rate of 75%.

11. Education Levels High School Graduate 99.2% Some College 42.9% College Graduate 18.1%

12. Many enlisted personnel are drawn to the benefits offered by the armed forces that allow them to obtain funding for college. In recent years, incentives to join the military have increased, providing more of the enlisted recruits with additional resources to finance their education. Although only about 7 percent of recruits for 2003–2005 entered the military with some college experience, over 11 percent of the 2004 active component enlisted force had some college experience

13. Things You Need to Know About Returning Veterans Education According to a recent poll, 92% of respondents rated access to education benefits as either “very important” or “the most important” issue for new veterans Source: Iraq & Afghanistan Veterans of America You don’t need to sell them on education, just how your program meets their needs!!!

14. In the same poll, 89% thought that employment was a “very important” issue. National Guardsmen and Reservists are facing a unique set of employment issues: 24% had a problem with their civilian employer when they returned home from being deployed. These problems include facing employment discrimination, missing out on promotions, and cuts in pay and other benefits Source: Iraq & Afghanistan Veterans of America Things You Need to Know About Returning Veterans Employment

15. Who knows were to find them? Texas Veterans Commission Texas Veterans Land Board VA Regional Office (OEF/OIF Coordinator) VA Medical Office (OEF/OIF Coordinator) Houston Military Affairs Committee Military Unit Commanders County and City Veteran Office Staff Veteran Organizations Student organizations & veterans Welcome Home ceremonies / outreach (Expos, job fairs, etc)

16. Things You Need to Know About Returning Veterans The Post 9/11 GI Bill, which takes affect in August 2009, will provide returning veterans with more comprehensive education benefits much like the WWII GI Bill Source: Iraq & Afghanistan Veterans of America Over 25,000 applications were submitted in the first two weeks of May. The system was overloaded on May 1 st.

17. Things You Need to Know About Returning Veterans The State of Texas also plays a role in ensuring its returning veterans have the benefits and entitlements they deserve. For example, the Hazelwood Act enables veterans to attend graduate school at a state institution for free. This Act compliments the GI Bill just as the Texas Veterans Land Board’s programs compliment the National VA insured home loan program. Source: Texas Veterans Commission

18. A Resource Directory “Navigating the Road to Services for Returning Veterans,” lists hundreds of governmental, nonprofit and faith- based organizations that provide financial, legal and educational services, assistance with housing, transportation, employment, health care and many other issues. Veterans and their families obtain copies as well as access it on line. This directory is also web-based counterparts located at www.csd.hctx.net at the county, www.houstontx.gov/vetaffairs at the city and at www.houstonreturningvets.org. www.csd.hctx.net www.houstontx.gov/vetaffairs www.houstonreturningvets.org United Way 2-1-1 Helpline