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Show Helpinp Discharged Veterans Get Back to Work Is Part of Selective Service System's Duties Local Boards Find New Jobs and Aid In Regaining Old A job for every returning serviceman that is the present pres-ent goal of the Selective Service Serv-ice System. With the armed forces at their peak authorized author-ized strength, the system has now only to induct enough men for replacements. Most of the energies of the huge organization can be directed to obtaining employment for men who are being released from the army or navy at the rate of 50,000 a month. Thus, the same agency which has sent more than 10,000,000 men for induction into the Army, Navy, Marine Ma-rine Corps and Coast Guard, also is serving them when they leave the armed forces by helping them to obtain ob-tain reinstatement in their former peace-time jobs or by aiding in finding find-ing new positions for them. Congress, by law, has provided that veterans discharged after having hav-ing completed successfully their period pe-riod of training and service are entitled en-titled under most circumstances to their old jobs back, or to assistance in obtaining new ones if they want them. The duty of carrying out this mandate has been placed upon the Selective Service System, which is cooperating with a number of other agencies such as the United States Employment Service and the Veterans' Vet-erans' Administration. Even now, before cessation of hostilities, hos-tilities, the program is well under way, for the armed services are discharging dis-charging an average of some 50,000 men each month men who are anxious anx-ious to get back into their civilian work which was interrupted for them by war. At present, the problem of placing the men back into their old jobs or into new ones is not a difficult one, since industry still is geared to wartime standards, and can absorb the returning veterans with comparative ease. But the problem will become infinitely larger larg-er and more complex when either partial or total demobilization begins. be-gins. Can Get Old Job Back. By provisions of the Selective Training and Service Act as amended, amend-ed, a veteran is entitled to reinstatement reinstate-ment in his former position or to a position of like seniority, status and pay, if: 1. Such position was in the employ of a private employer, the United States Government, its territories or possessions, or the District of Columbia; Co-lumbia; r 2. Such position was not a temporary tem-porary one; 3. He left the position subsequent to May 1, 1940, to enter upon active military or naval service in the land or naval forces of the United States; 4. He satisfactorily completed his period of training and service and received a certificate to that effect; 5. He is still qualified to perform the duties of such position; 6. He makes application for reemployment re-employment within 48 days after he is relieved from service, and 7. Such position is in the employ of a private employer, the employer's employ-er's circumstances have not so changed as te make it impossible or unreasonable to reinstate the veteran vet-eran to such position or a position of like seniority, status and pay. Other provisions protect the veteran vet-eran even after he has been restored re-stored to his job. When he goes back onto the payroll, the law provides that: 1. He shall be considered as having hav-ing been on furlough or leave of absence ab-sence during his period of service; 2. He shall be restored without loss of seniority; 3. He shall be entitled to participate partici-pate in insurance or other benefits offered by the employer pursuant to e:Xablished rules and practices relating re-lating to employees on furlough or leave of absence in effect with the employer at the time such person entered military or naval service, and 4. He shall not be discharged from such position without cause within one year after such restoration. The Selective Service local boards are well-fitted to assume the task of veteran reemployment. In their files they have a complete record of their experience with the veteran from the time he registered until the day he was forwarded for induction. The record includes details as to his capabilities in civilian employment. His service records also are turned over to the board by whichever branch of the armed forces with which he was connected. These local boards, therefore, are well acquainted with the veteran. In addition, they are familiar with the employment situation in their own communities. The Congress, in the Selective Training and Service Act, instructed instruct-ed the Director of Selective Service to set up a personnel division to supervise veteran reemployment. Such a division was established, although al-though to avoid confusion as to its specific functions, it was named the "Veterans' Personnel Division." This division determines the overall over-all policies for operation of the Selective Se-lective Service Veterans' Assistance Program. The program in the states is under un-der the direction of the governors, who have, generally delegated to the State Directors of Selective Service the duties of administering it. Local Boards Handle Program. Actual operation of the program, however, will remain with the Selective Se-lective Service Local Boards some 6443 of them in conformity with the decentralized procedure which has characterized the Selective Service System since its inception four years ago. At least one "reemployment committeeman" has been attached to each of the local boards to assist in the work of veteran reemployment. reemploy-ment. These committeemen are individuals individu-als who are well qualified to know Should he not wish to employ his own counsel, the veteran may bring the case to the attention of the United Unit-ed States District Attorney. The discharged veteran who had no job when he entered the service, and who now wants one, or the veteran vet-eran who had a job when he was inducted but now wants a new one rather than to return to his former position, also will find the Selective Service System ready to help him. When the veteran who wants a new job is discharged, he should report to his local board and explain his desires. All of his qualifications will be considered and he will be turned over to one of the board's reemployment reem-ployment committeemen. If the job desired is in an industry other than railroading, the committeeman commit-teeman will take the veteran personally, per-sonally, or will arrange an appointment appoint-ment for him, with the proper representatives rep-resentatives of the Veterans' Employment Em-ployment Division of the United States Employment Service, an agency with some 1500 offices in the nation which has been planning this service for a number of months. The U.S.E.S. officials will carefully consider con-sider the veteran's desires and his qualifications. This agency maintains main-tains records of all different types of jobs that are open and is in a posi- y$fgf ig jit ! IT'S GOODBYE TO THE ARMY for these soldiers who are entering j the Fort Dix, N. J., separation center, where they will spend their last 48 hours of military life. This two day period is needed for the completion comple-tion of mustering out routine, during which the men receive their discharge dis-charge papers. The "separation center" is the reverse of the induction center. the labor situation within the community com-munity served by the local board; they are acquainted with industrial executives, civic organization leaders, lead-ers, labor leaders, county agents and others who will be in a position to assist in the reemployment program. pro-gram. The program as now set up operates oper-ates substantially as follows: Upon his discharge the veteran is instructed to contact his local board within 10 days. Obviously, if be is certain he can return to work at his old job, no further assistance will be necessary. However, he must report re-port to the local board, taking along with him his army papers (or Navy, Marine or Coast Guard, as the case may be) including the discharge certificate cer-tificate so his new status can be recorded by the board. If there is some reason why his reinstatement in his former position posi-tion may present difficulties, his local lo-cal board and its reemployment committeemen com-mitteemen are prepared to assist him. After the veteran discusses his problem with the reemployment committeeman, com-mitteeman, the latter will make every ev-ery effort to obtain the veteran's reinstatement. He may contact the employer to explain to him provisions provi-sions of the law requiring the veteran's vet-eran's reinstatement, or he may contact con-tact any number of civic, local or labor agencies that will be in a position posi-tion to help. It is anticipated that in a majority of cases only minor' difficulties will be experienced. But it is recognized that some differences of opinion, some disputes, are bound to arise in cases where employer's circumstances circum-stances have changed, or where there is an honest question whether the veteran is now qualified to perform per-form the job he formerly held. In all of these eventualities, the local boards and the reemployment committeemen will attempt to work out a solution agreeable to both parties. par-ties. Law on Veteran's Side. If all avenues of approach have been exhausted without success, and it still appears the veteran should be reinstated under provisions of the law, further measures will be taken. The veteran's case then will be taken tak-en by the local board to the State Director of Selective Service, who may forward it on to National Headquarters Head-quarters to be turned over to the Department of Justice. Or, if the veteran desires, he may employ his own attorney and file suit in the United States District Court for the district in which the employer maintains his business. l ' ' - " tion to advise the veteran of the opportunities available in them. A Job for Every Soldier. The Selective Service Local Board, even then, will not consider that its responsibilities to the veteran have ended, but will keep following the case and using every effort to see that he is placed in a job. In each state, the United States Employment Service, under the War Manpower Commission, has appointed appoint-ed a veterans' representative who is supervising the employment interests inter-ests of the veterans at the local offices of-fices of the U.S.E.S. A local veterans' veter-ans' employment representative has been designated in each employment office to perform at the local level duties similar to those performed by the state veterans' employment representative at the state level. Since the United States Employment Service maintains contacts with employers em-ployers throughout the country, it is in an advantageous position to assist as-sist the veteran. Some returning veterans doubtless will 'prefer a job with the Federal Government. In such instances, the veteran's Selective Service Local Board will refer him to the nearest United States Civil Service office or any first or second-class postoffice where all necessary information may be obtained. A veteran is entitled en-titled to five points preference in an' examination for appointment and a veteran with service-connected disability dis-ability is entitled to 10 points. Assistance to Farmers. Whenever a veteran is interested in establishing himself in an agricultural agricul-tural activity, he will be referred to the County Agricultural Agent who is qualified to explain the benefits available to the veteran who desires de-sires to make a career of farming, or is interested in its associated job opportunities. The War Food Administration, through the cooperative Agricultural Extension Service, has arranged for advisory groups in each agricultural county which will give advisory assistance as-sistance to all veterans interested in agriculture, and who express a need for assistance. Such assistance will include advice as to types of farming, amount of capital required, sources of credit, size of units necessary to maintain satisfactory standards of living, sound operating policies and similar simi-lar matters as well as current job information. In summary, good advice to the veteran, regardless of the nature of his problem, is this: Take it up first with your Selective Service Local Board. FIRST STEP in leaving the army is this desk, where soldiers turn in their identification tags and such papers pa-pers as their service records, special orders, pay and deposit books. All men to be discharged will go through this process, which will no doubt be a joyous experience to most of them. Forty-eight hours later, they will be free civilians again. As soon as they reach home, they report to their Selective Service local boards, where they will be assisted in getting get-ting their old jobs back, or in obtaining ob-taining new ones. |