There is something I find rewarding about an early to bed – early to rise, day of hard work. In addition, the Veterans I am lucky enough to serve with, bare the knowledge, functionality, and cohesion of a professional crew with decades of combined experience. We have three more similar hitches leading into the end of August, and I am looking forward to the wealth of knowledge to be attained from such a diverse yet united group of individuals.

On August 24th Veterans Green Corps will be launching its 13-week, Fire Fuels Reduction Program. The program’s overview will include fire fuels reduction & mitigation, noxious tree removal, and forestry and wildfire education projects on Colorado Public lands. Work will include: wild land urban interface thinning; beetle-kill Juniper thinning; Russian Olive and Tamarisk removal; and habitat enhancement thinning projects. Members will receive firefighting and power equipment national standard S-212 and 130/190 certifications.

I need to express thanks and admiration for the dedicated folks at the Southwest Conservation Corps (SCC) in conjunction with Veterans Green Jobs for the outstanding opportunities they’ve made available to myself and my fellow Veterans.

If you are a current era Veteran looking for a challenge, and could use some work, don’t hesitate to check the web site and fill out an application.

-Ray Curry
USMC OIF Veteran
Veterans Green Jobs Energy Efficiency Professional

June 7, 2009

by Joe Hanel

Call of duty: Vets go green
Program gives forestry jobs to returning troops

GOLDEN – “Cut and run” used to be an insult wielded against opponents of the Iraq war. But this summer in Southwest Colorado, eight military veterans will proudly employ the tactic in service to their country. They will be clearing trees in the backcountry, using what Harry Bruell of the Southwest Conservation Corps calls a “cut and run” technique.

“It’s hard work. It’s remote. They go through, they cut, they camp, get up in the morning, keep going,” Bruell said. It’s work at which disciplined, self-motivated veterans such as Ray Curry can excel.

“You’re always going to get wet. You’re always going to get cold. It’s a mental thing. But there’s a sense of camaraderie,” said Curry, a Marine Corps veteran from Annapolis, Md., who will be part of the crew.

Curry is one of the first graduates of Veterans Green Jobs, a training program that ended its first class last week. Three of those graduates are headed to Southwest Colorado to work on forest-health projects. Organizers plan to take the idea national by next year.

The eight-man crew in Southwest Colorado will start in the Rio Grande National Forest. Other crews will work in the San Juan National Forest this fall, possibly in Dolores County, Bruell said.

The crew will work 11 days on and four days off for eight weeks, said crew member Nick Morgan, a former Army Reservist who served in Iraq. “We’re really looking forward to it. It’s my natural habitat,” said Morgan, who already looks the part of a mountain man with his bushy black beard.

Morgan, Curry and 13 others graduated Wednesday from the Home Energy Audit Training class, designed and run by Veterans Green Jobs. The class spent most of its time in the San Luis Valley, getting on-the-job training in upgrading homes to be more energy efficient.

Members of the first graduating class will stay with Veterans Green Jobs to be “missionaries” to other classes around the country, said Brett KenCairn, CEO of the nonprofit. Most future graduates will be placed with private firms in either energy-efficiency or land-conservation work.

Home-energy auditing jobs are hot because of the federal stimulus bill, which has $70 million in funding for upgrades of Colorado houses. Curry calls the Conservation Corps his “dream job” and plans to stay with it. “Living sustainably is a passion of mine,” he said.

The veterans see the work – creating energy independence, cleaning up the environment – as an extension of their military service.

Garett Reppenhagen was a sniper in the 1st Infantry Division. Now he is the regional program director for Veterans Green Jobs. He compared the graduates with the Knights of the Round Table, who swore allegiance to a cause greater than themselves.

“These heroes have stepped forward to claim their contemporary quest,” Reppenhagen said. “They’re entering a time when we need champions. The damage we have already inflicted on our climate is severe.”

KenCairn, the founder, isn’t a veteran. He worked in the Pacific Northwest to find sustainable careers for unemployed loggers, and he came up with the Veterans Green Jobs idea three years ago after hearing a radio report about Iraq veterans who couldn’t find work at home.

The idea took off after a big investment from the Wal-Mart Foundation. By the end of the year, KenCairn hopes to have 60 to 70 graduates.

“By 2010, we’ll be in at least eight states and serving hundreds of veterans,” KenCairn said.

Historically, veterans have had a hard time finding work in the civilian world. The Veterans Administration estimates 154,000 veterans are homeless on any given night.

Gov. Bill Ritter gave the keynote address at the graduation ceremony, which was held at the National Renewable Energy Laboratory in Golden. Ritter said the veterans will be helping the country create a new way of producing and consuming energy.

“It is a future that will come over time and will come somewhat gradually, but it’s good to be at the head of it,” Ritter said.

The governor also announced that Veterans Green Jobs will help run a demonstration project in energy-efficiency training, in partnership with the state, NREL and the Department of Energy. “This is the first national training center, and it’s going to be right here in Colorado,” Ritter said.

Richard Knaub, director of education for Veterans Green Jobs, developed the home-energy training class and has sent the curriculum to community colleges around the country. The classes are hands-on and less focused on book learning, much like military training, he said.

The first class was the best group of students he’s had in his teaching career, Knaub said. “They all had open minds. They were willing to ask questions and explore new ideas,” he said.

During home-energy audits in the San Luis Valley, the veterans found nonenergy problems with homes, such as the lack of a ramp at a disabled person’s house and poor sewage in a young couple’s house. Instead of ignoring the problems, they found local charities or government agencies to help.

“These are people who can solve problems on the fly. They are people who can figure things out,” Knaub said. “They don’t say, ‘That’s not in my job description.’ They don’t say, ‘We didn’t learn that.’”

Contact:
Kirsten Maynard
415-350-4147
kirsten [at] veteransgreenjobs [dot] org

VETERANS GREEN JOBS ACADEMY™ GRADUATION HONORS FIRST TEAM OF VETERAN ENERGY EFFICIENCY PROFESSIONALS READY FOR DEPLOYMENT ACROSS THE COUNTRY

Colorado Governor Bill Ritter to Deliver Commencement Address to Veterans Green Jobs Graduates on June 2nd at the National Renewable Energy Laboratory in Golden, CO

BOULDER, CO – June 1, 2009 – The first team of veteran energy efficiency professionals will graduate from the Veterans Green Jobs Academy™ Home Energy Auditor Training (HEAT) Program on June 2, 2009 at a celebration event to be held at the U.S. Department of Energy’s National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) in Golden, Colorado. In his Commencement Address, the Honorable Colorado Governor Bill Ritter will congratulate the Veterans Green Jobs Academy participants on their dedication to moving our country toward energy independence through the pursuit of ‘green’ careers that will benefit all Americans.

“I’m extremely proud to take part in this graduation ceremony and to welcome these heroic veterans to the New Energy Economy,” Gov. Ritter said. “By equipping military veterans with new training and new skills today, we are adding a vital new dimension to the workforce of tomorrow. Thanks to programs like Veterans Green Jobs, we are creating a new energy future for America and positioning Colorado for a strong economic recovery and a sustainable future.”

The 15 graduates of this HEAT program represent all branches of the military and all regions of the country. They have successfully completed a rigorous eight-week training program to gain skills in environmental studies, energy efficiency and conservation and weatherization. The Veterans Green Jobs Academy also helps veterans retool for meaningful green careers in land conservation and restoration, green building and retrofitting, disaster preparedness and response, and urban forestry. The Academy is a unique hybrid of classroom and on-the-job training designed to move the experienced, disciplined military veteran through their transition from duty overseas to meaningful work and future careers serving America here at home.

“Veterans Green Jobs is working to mobilize a highly-skilled population to lead the revival of a national service ethic to address our most pressing problems,” said Brett KenCairn. “That includes setting a standard so that green jobs in this country offer a true living wage, job security, and the knowledge that one’s work in green industries is leading to energy independence, ecological restoration, community renewal and economic prosperity for all Americans.”

With a wide consortium of partners, Veterans Green Jobs (http://veteransgreenjobs.org) developed the curriculum to provide veterans interested in green careers with the opportunity to gain general environmental education, college credits and a nationally recognized home energy auditing and weatherization certifications. This intensive training and rapid deployment model was designed to meet the growing consumer demand for experts to help lower residential energy consumption as well as the goals set by the Obama administration to conduct stimulus-funded energy surveys and audits on low-income homes.

“As Marine veteran of World War II, Korea and Vietnam and someone who has been active in promoting energy efficiency and renewable energy for the last several decades, I am honored to support Veterans Green Jobs in strengthening America’s national, energy, homeland, environmental and economic security – all geared to the source and cost of energy, its impact on climate change, new industry development, and jobs. ACORE is proud to be working with Veterans Green Jobs because we see veterans’ skills, leadership and active involvement in these critical challenges as key to advancing the security and sustainability of the American Society,” said Bill Holmberg of the American Council On Renewable Energy.

Generously supported by a diverse array of individuals and organizations, including the Wal-Mart Foundation, Veterans Green Jobs is working to expand its Academy training programs into 5-10 additional states in 2009, and hopes to be in all 50 states as soon as possible in order to increase access to training and resources for veterans nationwide.

About Veterans Green Jobs
Veterans Green Jobs (http://veteransgreenjobs.org) is a national 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization pioneering an unprecedented national initiative that offers concrete solutions for three of the most urgent issues of our time: rebuilding a sustainable green economy; reversing deteriorating environmental conditions and mitigating climate change threats; and reengaging our nation’s nearly 2 million military veterans in need of meaningful new careers. The Veterans Green Jobs Academy™ provides job training and placement opportunities for military veterans in emerging green industries, and connects veterans with a wide range of complimentary resources to assist with re-establishing themselves in civilian communities and careers.

# # #

VETERANS GREEN JOBS TO PARTICIPATE IN MIDDLE CLASS TASK FORCE CHAIRED BY VICE PRESIDENT BIDEN ON TUESDAY MAY 26, 2009

“Building a Strong Middle Class Through a Green Economy” Town-Hall will Incorporate Veterans’ Perspectives on Realizing the Full Potential of Green Jobs and Raising Living Standards in America

BOULDER, CO – May 25, 2009 – The Boulder-based nonprofit organization Veterans Green Jobs will participate in the fourth meeting of the Middle Class Task Force in Denver, CO. Vice President Joe Biden will moderate the town-hall discussion – held at the Denver Museum of Natural Science – focused on green jobs and training.

Vice President Biden Thanks VGJ Trainees After Middle Class Task Force Town Hall Meeting in Denver, CO - 26 May 2009

Four of upcoming graduates of the Veterans Green Jobs Academy™ will share their personal stories as veterans being trained to serve their country under a new mission: to green America. White House Middle Class Task Force, Chaired by Vice President Biden, is a major initiative targeted at raising the living standards of middle-class, working families in America. Veterans Green Jobs is at the center of many issues of importance to the MCTF, including green technology innovations, living wage green jobs, and deploying a trained workforce to address issues of economy and environment that affect America.

Taking place at the Denver Museum of Nature & Science on Tuesday, May 26, the public event titled “Building a Strong Middle Class Through a Green Economy” will build on previous events focused on how to realize the full potential of the green jobs movement in America. The military service members representing Veterans Green Jobs will share their perspectives and personal stories on the importance of utilizing veterans – a national field-tested workforced dedicated to serving this country – as a leadership resource in spearheading green industries and implementing enviromental initiatives ranging from energy conservation to tree planting and wildfire mitigation.

The VGJ Team Meets With Labor Secretary Solis at Middle Class Task Force Town Hall Meeting in Denver, CO - 26 May 2009

Speaking at the town-hall event will be U.S. Secretary of Labor Hilda Solis; U.S. Secretary of Housing and Urban Development Shaun Donovan; U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack; and Deputy U.S. Secretary of Energy Dan Poneman. Veterans Green Jobs’ participants include Michael Flaherty, an Army veteran who served two tours in Iraq; Tom Cassidy, an Army veteran who served in Kosovo and Iraq; Andre Winn, an Air Force Medic; and Garett Reppenhagen, an Army veteran who served in Kosovo and Iraq.

About Veterans Green Jobs
Veterans Green Jobs (http://veteransgreenjobs.org) is a national 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization pioneering an unprecedented national initiative to implement concrete solutions for three of the most urgent issues of our time: rebuilding a sustainable green economy; reversing deteriorating environmental conditions and mitigating climate change threats; and reengaging our nation’s nearly 2 million military veterans in need of meaningful new careers. The Veterans Green Jobs Academy™ provides job training and placement opportunities for military veterans in emerging green industries, and connects veterans with a wide range of complimentary resources to assist with re-establishing themselves in civilian communities and careers. Veterans Green Jobs is generously supported by a diverse array of individuals and organizations, including the Wal-Mart Foundation.

# # #

Press Contact:
Kirsten Maynard
415-350-4147
kirsten [at] veteransgreenjobs [dot] org

General Inquiries:
866-984-8459
info [at] veteransgreenjobs [dot] org

Ray Curry, HEAT Program Participant

After deploying to Iraq, I have many-a-buried-memory of entering strangers’ homes. These invasive orders were to directly ensure the safety of my Unit and myself. However, typically finding nothing of note, they made me feel like a perpetrator. In a detachment of security personnel, we become a tightly-knit fire team, equipped with high-speed gear to ensure the efficiency of our movements and missions.

As a ‘Green Veteran’ I have now been equipped with the training, tools and team for a different much-needed mission. Entering the homes of strangers on a daily basis to conduct home energy audits, I initially felt a hint of apprehension. Knocking on the first door, a 93 yr old woman named Patricia answered and I could immediately see that we shared that apprehension. After brief introductions, noting that we were veterans, I could see a sense of trust and respect begin to establish itself. We found ourselves sitting around the kitchen table, hearing stories and updates on her family members that were and are in the military.

Patricia was more than happy to show us around her home, giving us a brief – yet thorough – history of each room and appliance. As I examined the crawl space under her home, attic, and the rest, I began to feel an overwhelming sense of service and connection, knowing we were going to be able to make sure her pipes didn’t freeze and her heat wasn’t shut off this upcoming winter. I was no longer the perpetrator, but the fixer.

Accurately articulating the myriad of emotions I feel, assisting one family at a time would end in futile attempts. I am encouraged because my fellow participants in VGJ’s HEAT program all share these feelings towards this community. Daily, the second-wind of service re-enters my focus, and I am honored to be a part of the driving force that will tend to our suffering environment, heal our ailing economy, and re-connect and empower our communities.

-Ray Curry
USMC OIF Veteran
Veterans Green Jobs Energy Efficiency Professional

Nick Morgan, HEAT Program Participant

My involvement in Veterans Green Jobs is two-fold: it is a continuation of my unwavering dedication to fellow veterans and highlights my urgent mission of sustainability. I have a brief story to give an example of how needed this training program is for folks wanting lucrative non-military careers.

I have a friend who serves on active duty and has completed 4 tours to various combat zones. A few months ago, he expressed to me that he wanted nothing more than to get out of the Army. On his last tour, he was a victim of an IED attack and suffers a minor disability as a result.

When I asked him if he was going to get a medical discharge, he said he wasn’t going to consider it because he has a child on the way and he wanted the financial stability. He had tried college before joining the regular army and decided that it was not him. Understandably, there seems to be little opportunity in the civilian world for those who have a combat MOS. Fortunately for my friend and other vets with similar situations, Veterans Green Jobs programs like HEAT (Home Energy Auditor Training) and the Veterans Green Corp are available to offer a new set of tools for veterans to quickly assimilate into society within a lucrative field. Involving yourself with fellow veterans who share similarly intense experiences really assists in making this transition smooth.

One thing I have stepped back to consider is where most of our energy comes from and why this is detrimental to our overall sustainability. Not to beat a dead horse, but our over consumption of fossil fuels (non-renewable resources) cannot continue if we intend to preserve our lifestyle for future generations. Stripping away our landscapes to extract coal, going to war for oil, and creating radioactive waste are all highly destructive tasks in which the cost is placed on the backs of average citizens like you and I.

By taking on projects that involve energy reduction and weatherization, we are taking the first step in weaning America off its detrimental energy dependencies. Being cognizant of our everyday actions and the rippling repercussions of said actions, we can take great leaps in gaining our independence, financially and otherwise for future generations. The next step (or rather, a concurrent step) I would submit, is to continue creating technologies that are sustainable, environmentally and economically. I think we can all agree that taking care of this beautiful world of ours is paramount for the perpetuation of our way of life.

Home Energy Auditor Trainees (HEAT), CO June 2009

Geoffrey Talkington, HEAT Program Participant

Henry was thrilled to find out that Joe and I were combat vets from OIF. We were in Alamosa, Colorado doing energy audits for low income residents, as part of the Veterans Green Jobs Academy’s ‘first wave’ cadre of HEAT (Home Energy Audit Training) professionals.

Henry served his country with the US Air Force during the “Cold War”; and has since become disabled by being run over by a drunk driver. He has waited patiently for assistance ever since. You see, he has just bought an old, not-so-mobile home, and is trying to make it better for his teenage daughter and himself.
Henry is a good neighbor, making small improvements were possible, yet his disability challenges him.

The amount of Tier 1 energy improvements we installed has greatly boosted his morale, and will save him money on his subsequent Xcel energy bills. I went over his recent bill with him, as I like to do, because no one has ever stopped to do this for him.

It felt good to help him reduce his energy demand, but more importantly I felt honored to have made an instant friend when Henry sat back, smiled, and said: “Thank you for serving over there. You served so my daughter doesn’t have to.” The bottom line is that we are making a difference, and it is rewarding to connect in such a profound way!

Mike Flaherty, HEAT Program Participant

I just got back from doing my first two home audits with Veterans Green Jobs close partner organization, the Southwest Conservation Corps. It was a lot of fun and very educational. The training we received last week more than prepared us and that knowledge will continue to grow throughout the rest of the training process. We learned how to use thermal imaging devices, conduct a blower-door test (checks for air leakage), and a lot about appliance efficiency.

Going into homes of low-income families to help show them how to lower their energy bills each month is just one tiny drop in the vast ocean of what VGJ can accomplish. I’m not only learning how to conduct home energy audits; I’m learning how to be a leader in the field of Green Energy. I want to continue developing my ideas and see them come to fruition some day in the future. I want to show others how easy it is to make a difference, even if those differences are seemingly slight.

I still have three more audits to do today and I look forward to them. This morning we conducted audits on homes that only had Spanish speaking residents, which lent to some awkwardness. I can’t lie and say it didn’t seem reminiscent of doing home raids in Iraq. I never had to do any home raids, but those in my group that had agreed with me on that notion. The good thing is that you get the chance to actually show them how you’re helping them, and not just terrorizing them in their own home. Though it was hard to explain everything we were doing, I tried to break out some old high school knowledge to communicate better. I suppose I could use some brushing up on my Spanish

Back to my theme for this blog … I have always been told that I possess the qualities of a leader. In my younger days, some had told me that I had a tendency to lead people away from the good of the cause. While some told me that my natural ability to lead is very coveted by those who do not have “it”. I never feel like a leader until the time comes for me to take the reins and lead. I’m 27 years old now, and want to start becoming the leader I never thought I could be, yet others knew I could be. I’m learning more about leading now than ever before. I am now in the position where people are relying on me to lead, and to do well at it. I know I won’t let them down, for they have taken me this far. I have those around me that I look up to and hope to learn more from, and also to maybe teach them a thing or two as well.

Veterans Green Jobs WILL produce leaders for the Green Movement, and I hope to be living proof of that over the course of the next few months and past the next few years.

Mike Flaherty, HEAT Program Participant

Last May, roughly a year ago, I lost my grandfather to heart complications. He was the first grandparent I have lost. He really had a big part in shaping me as a young man and into my adulthood. He always had to be working, doing something to help others or maybe just to keep his idle hands busy. He taught me about work ethic, and doing a job well every time. He taught me about compassion and consideration of others. He taught me how to love those that I care about and always take care of my fellow man.

Papaw was a gigantic influence on who I wanted to be when I “grew up.” At his funeral, I rummaged through my wallet to find some offering to give to him; to place in his casket. All I could find with any sort of symbolism was my old Temporary Active Duty ID card I received when I got out of the ARMY. My grandfather served in the ARMY and always wanted to trade soldier stories with me; anything from sharing basic training experience at Ft. Know to deploying overseas during time of war. In my grandfathers eyes I was always a soldier, and I wanted to remain that way for the rest of my life. I placed my ID card into his casket and whispered to him, with eyes full of tears, “I’ll always be a soldier for you Papaw.”

Nearly a year passed, and I started feeling like I was welching on my deal a bit. I went into a slump and just started working and sleeping and eating and working and not really making much of a difference for the world I live in. Then my friend Garett came back from his training with Veterans Green Jobs. He told me about some of the programs that VGJ was starting. My ears perked right up and I wanted to know more! He told me of programs that will help homeless vets, and vets with drug and alcohol issues, and vets who just need help finding the venue to launch a career after years of military living. I wanted in, and Garett walked me through the process all the way until now.

I’ve nearly finished my first couple of weeks of the HEAT Academy in Center, CO. I have learned a lot and have already seen the kind of good that VGJ can do for people. Most of the guys in the group have stories similar to mine. Life was slowing down to a nearly complete stop and then one day they heard about this VGJ opportunity and things began to look better for us. We all needed this and plan to make even more great things happen!!

I thank Garett for guiding me, Brett for having his vision and sharing it with me and fourteen others, and thank the fourteen others for being such amazing individuals!! We’re all in this together to help bring VGJ to the forefront of the Green America and the entire Green Collared Nation!!

To any vets that are just thinking about joining the cause: please do it, and you can thank me later You learned a lot of great skills in the military, and it’s time to feel useful again and make a real difference in the world! This organization was founded to help guide our nation’s veterans into stable lifelong careers, and they deserve the most help! While the nation often forgets about what we’ve sacrificed, we have each other now to remind ourselves every day that this nation’s veterans can and WILL continue to serve our nation to the fullest! Please take advantage of this opportunity and maybe one day I can shake your hand and thank you for joining the Green Team!

Mike Flaherty is currently a participant in Veterans Green Jobs’ Home Energy Auditor (HEAT) Training Program in the San Luis Valley of Colorado.

Nick Morgan, HEAT Program Participant

As we approach the end of our first week of classroom instruction in Home Energy Auditor Training (HEAT), I feel it’s time to reflect and share my experience thus far. But before I do this, I would like to share a little bit of my background regarding how I came to be involved with Veterans Green Jobs.

I graduated high school in 2002 with a full academic scholarship, a pole vaulting state championship, and an enlistment in the United States Army Reserves. I grew up in a small town in WV and was ready to kick ass and take names in the “real world.” I had one marginally successful semester in college where I studied engineering before I went on to my scheduled Basic Training and AIT. The following semester was going quite well and then, unexpectedly, on Veterans’ Day, I received that infamous phone call….”You’re getting deployed to Iraq. Report to your new unit in two days.” Clearly, I’m paraphrasing but the time frame is accurate.

To make a long story short, I spent the next 16 months deployed to Ft. McCoy, WI and Baghdad (for one year and one week). Upon my return, I struggled focusing on my studies and relating to my fellow college students. I was in and out of school and dead-end jobs until I was recently introduced to Veterans Green Jobs (VGJ). I picked up an AA in business along the way and was accepted back into WVU’s engineering program in fall of 2008. I choose not to pursue professional engineering because my life experience had left me a little anxious, action oriented, and occasionally transient.

With VGJ, I find it greatly beneficial working with fellow veterans who I can relate with, and have fun in an educational environment. Our first dose of course work in ‘Green 101′ was spent in the Utah wilderness and was highly insightful, challenging, and fun. This segment of the program gave me a renewed motivation for the work and a great appreciation for it at the same time.

Following our time in the backcountry, we have buckled down to get into the nuts and bolts of our certification training in Home Energy Auditing (HEAT). The course aims at getting us vets trained and out in the field in a rapid, yet thorough, manner. The exchange of information, camaraderie, and individual growth has been nothing short of inspiring. From here, I look forward to expanding my knowledge of this socially, environmentally, and economically important work. I look forward to working with veterans from all eras and expanding my horizons to improve the livelihood of Americans and citizens of the world.

In Solidarity,
Nick Morgan
fmr. SGT. USAR
A Co. 458th En. Bn., 1st Cav. Div.

Nick Morgan is currently a participant in Veterans Green Jobs’ HEAT (Home Energy Auditor Training) Program in the San Luis Valley of Colorado.