Arborists Helping Vets out

[TimberMcPherson]

I have a thought.

In many of our nations there are alot of servicemen and woman coming back from active duty who are having a hard time when they have to adapt back to life at home.
Some bring home physical injuries but many have post traumatic stress disorder and the world of trouble that can follow it.
Finding a new job after the armed forces can be tough, and having a clean break from the forces and your fellow servicemen isnt the best for coping with ptsd, they often need to be around there own kind, having guys that understand them and they can relate to.

As we know treework is tough, dangerous and tends to force one to focus on the task at hand. Takes teamwork, its not closed in, you can travel and work anywhere with it and is a constant challenge. It could be a good fit to some of these guys.

Maybe we could help, start a program that opens the world of trees to these guys, teach them skills, give them a job to fall back on. Get in contact with the military and various groups that try to help the transition back into normal life. Have them refer appropiate "candidates" to us.

We could do it internationally, I know some vets end up moving around alot for a while. Our industry could give them a place to find there feet, or at least a sence of consistancy, where ever they land.

If we end up with ex service people as full timers, it would help with those passing through have someone to relate to.

What do you think?

 

[Tree Pig]

I think that's the best idea to come out of AS in a long time.

 

[PinnaclePete]

I've had several guys come into the store wanting to learn. We'll show him the basics of equipment, knots and techniques, head next door to the park to get up in the trees for a while. A couple have gotten on with local private companies, one went with the local utility contractor, but didn't stay and started his own landscape/tree service.

They all have willingness to learn, discipline to stick with it and like the relative freedom and physical challenge of working outside all day everyday. They will do well for sure.

As the old saying goes...Think globally, act locally... Hire a Vet.

Rep to ya.

 

[Hank Chinaski]

you might also want to check with the Department of Veterans Affairs education officer. They used to have a program that if you did OJT, the .gov would pay half the Disabled Veterans salary up to a certain amount, and that program may still be available. They will also in some instances help the Disabled Veteran buy tools for the job (ie saws, ropes etc)

It's an excellent idea and very do-able.

 

[climberjones]

Any thing that will help combat vets is a great idea!! REPPED!!

 

[sgreanbeans]

Their are several programs out there, none tailored to the trees. I tried getting Arbormaster hooked up with the VA, got Mrs Rip in contact with thier state VA educational officer, not sure if any thing came out of it. The other thing I have been working on with the VA, is the OJT. In order for the Vet to get his Voc Rehab bennies, he/she has to take a placement test, this test narrows down the possibility by making the Vet describe what he likes. From there, if "forestry" is the most likely choice, the Va will contact a company in his local area to do it. They will pay his per deim and pay half his wage. I signed up for this, but have had no one from my local office test out to trees.
I will say this. I, as a Marine Vet am always looking to help them out. I stay in contact with the local recruiting office. They send out any who are interested. Most work for a day or 2, but then they are done. They have the mindset that they have been thru hell and back and want no more. I get the "this is hard f'ing work, not what I want" which is understandable, some of these kids have been to hell and back, not interested in staying hard, they want to take it easy and all the adrenaline junkies go to become cops. The others take advantage of the VA educational bennies and go get degrees, take JPS for example, now he being the exception, a Marine who happened to be also an Arborist. He is also getting a degree thru the same program. I chose the small biz assist vs the education, figure if they really buy me all this equipment, then I will be able to put my self thru school.

 

[Hank Chinaski]

another point of contact to check with is your local Unemployment office. We have a specific Veterans Representative here at ours and they are always looking for business' that prefer vets.

 

[Kottonwood]

I was in that boat just a few years ago... found my way into tree work and it's the best thing that ever happened to me.

Now, I always hire a vet if I have enough work for him and I would like to be an exclusively veteran company though that is is hard to do. Currently two of my four employees are vets. I will say that some come back with a sense of entitlement thinking that they are owed everything because they did a tour or two..... those guys don't last long working for me.

I have also talked with the guys over at arbor master about accepting the GI Bill. I haven't spoke to them in a while but hopefully they are moving forward with that.

This is truly a great industry for vets to get into. If you are hard enough to ruck through the mountains of Afghanistan then you are hard enough to do tree work. Not to mention most vet types like the adrenaline kick that we have the pleasure of enjoying on a day to day.

My two cents is if you have the chance to hire a vet do it, give him a chance and some training and you most likely will not be disappointed, who knows they may turn into your best climber in no time.

Some rep sent your way

 

[TimberMcPherson]

This is doable obviously. We just need to make it work.

Hate to use the organised word but this could be very worthwhile for guys we owe alot to.

Here is what I propose.

We give it a name.

We come up with ways of making this as money, trouble and hassle free as possible (insuring NOBODY is getting stiffed at either end as trust is going to be a HUGE part of this) and it would be to easy for it to be abused by wankers.

We make contact with the relevant military and civilian agencys and organisations.

We work out how WE can make this work. Some sort of net registration (perhaps we could get Darin to help with this) or willing arborist list. I dont think having these guys calling up guys who have nothing for them would be helpful, we have to make it smooth for all involved.

Then we do it.

Number one rule- Giving vets opportunitys. They dont need help, they just need paths.

Simple.....right????

I dont think its going to be easy. But in my book its incredibly worthwhile.

 

[oldugly]

Great Idea..as no longer a business owner..I don't know if I could do much to help...but this is definitely one of the best..if not THE best idea to come out of this site.
I do have some limited contacts I can pursue on this end...(very limited) but lets do this.

 

[treemandan]

Oh Yeah! Sounds like a great idea. Take a shell-shocked guy who just came out of a war zone and put him back in one. I say give that guy a couple of beers and some airconditioning for little bit first.

No, really there are some good possibilities for people with that kind of knowledge and skillsets and mindset.

I was never in a war, never in the actuall Armed Forces but I went through boot camp a few times before I was 18. That was interesting, wish I could go back, maybe even get a gun this time.

 

[treemandan]

Oh and look up America Responds, its a charitable organization that gets people together to help repair and maintain the homes of Vetrans.


Rich McDonough , one of the program cordinators, is one of the people I have worked with around my area. He finds other types of contractors willing to donate service AND can bring in 20 people with Community Service sentences from the courts to do the grunt work. I never feel uncumbered with the business part of my usuall life/work when doing this kind of stuff, I just show up, be myself and do what I can do to help without having to think about how much money needs to be counted at the end. Doing this gives me a good sense of freedom, I frequently take off work to work. Rich very well understands what I need to do for myself ( he also knows I just had knee surgery) but everyday I think about how I wish I could do more.

 

[treemandan]

And I wanted to put this in the center of the table:

If anyone interested or has a project in mind to do work for a Vetran in need please let me know your thoughts so we can see what can be done. I am up for something.

Also, of course, if anyone knows a gentleman Vet looking for some work I might be able to help too.

 

[treemandan]

This is doable obviously. We just need to make it work.

Hate to use the organised word but this could be very worthwhile for guys we owe alot to.

Here is what I propose.

We give it a name.

We come up with ways of making this as money, trouble and hassle free as possible (insuring NOBODY is getting stiffed at either end as trust is going to be a HUGE part of this) and it would be to easy for it to be abused by wankers.

We make contact with the relevant military and civilian agencys and organisations.

We work out how WE can make this work. Some sort of net registration (perhaps we could get Darin to help with this) or willing arborist list. I dont think having these guys calling up guys who have nothing for them would be helpful, we have to make it smooth for all involved.

Then we do it.

Number one rule- Giving vets opportunitys. They dont need help, they just need paths.

Simple.....right????

I dont think its going to be easy. But in my book its incredibly worthwhile.

I would think all an interested party would have to do is call the discharge office at the Corps for that info. They would probably be happy to hear from you.

I know they have a system just like this down at the county jail.

 

[Kottonwood]

Oh Yeah! Sounds like a great idea. Take a shell-shocked guy who just came out of a war zone and put him back in one. I say give that guy a couple of beers and some airconditioning for little bit first.

Haha you would think so.

The best thing to do for a combat vet is to give him something challenging to occupy his brain. This way he doesn't have time to dwell on all the stupid #### that happens in war. If you hire one make him learn all the knots over one weekend, quiz him on tree ID daily, and expect more out of him than you do with other new employees. If he is worth a #### he'll thank you for it.

Also if anyone is near a military post, they are constantly having job fairs for people getting out. I went to a few of them when I was getting out. Usually it is a bunch of fire fighters, police, and Govt contracting companies. It would be nice to have something else there.

If you are a smaller company you probably wouldn't even need to set up a booth. Just go down with some pics/vids of guys swinging through big trees and flopping big tops, hand out some cards and explain the trade. If a few guys are interested and around the same area then you could go in on a booth together.

If anyone is interested in the job fairs I can make a few phone calls and do some leg work for you if you'd like.