AMVETS today released the results of an online survey conducted among the nation's military veterans. Among the key findings:

-- Eighty percent of surveyed veterans believe that more can be done to ensure that troops exiting the military experience a smooth transition into the civilian workforce.

-- Sixty-four percent of veterans responding to the survey said they were not given even basic instruction in how to find a job in the civilian workforce until they had less than six months of service left in the military.

-- Nearly half of the surveyed respondents who are National Guard and Reserve members believe there is difficulty in re-entering the workforce after temporarily leaving their jobs in response to deployment.

-- Nearly 38 percent of responding veterans among all age groups consider themselves underemployed, while two-thirds have had difficulty accessing their disability benefits.

-- 62% of surveyed participants believe changes should be made involving the types of benefits offered as well as the delivery system for providing these benefits.

AMVETS released the study, conducted by Military, on the opening day of its National Symposium for the Needs of Young Veterans. The symposium is being held at Chicago's Hyatt Regency O'Hare Hotel today through October 21.

The symposium is expected to draw hundreds of veterans, active duty military, families, government, business and education leaders and others serving veterans to solicit their best ideas to improve and refine the nation's system of veterans' benefits.

The event will address a range of topics, including veterans' access to healthcare services, unemployment, the VA claims process, the Disabled Assistance Program (DAP) and the Transition Assistance Program (TAP).

More than 600 veterans from across the country participated in the survey. The results have a 90 percent confidence level.

AMVETS, one of the nation's premier veteran's service organizations, is dedicated to helping veterans and providing services to the community. They are the most inclusive of veterans organizations, welcoming anyone who has served honorably since World War II including active-duty, National Guard and reservists.

AMVETS
amvets/