CLAY NATIONAL GUARD CENTER, Marietta, Ga. Jan. 25, 2012 – Major Gen. Jim Butterworth, Georgia’s Adjutant General, today thanked businesses and associations across the state for their response to his call to aid unemployed Georgia National Guardsmen impacted by high unemployment.  

“Georgia Guardsmen have unique leadership qualities, experience, skills, and talents that represent a unique opportunity to employers,” said Gen. Butterworth. “The initial response to our call for businesses to assist our Guardsmen facing unemployment has been outstanding. The companies attending our job fairs and the associations providing training to our Guardsmen show that Georgia believes in our Citizen-Soldiers and Citizen-Airmen.”

As unemployment has increased, so too has effort by the Georgia Guard to assist its members who often return from war only to find that civilian jobs are more scarce than ever. The Georgia National Guard Family Program, traditionally assisting with emotional transitions from the battlefield back to civilian life, has developed programs such as job fairs, résumé preparation, and interview skills training to assist returning Guardsmen.

Additionally, Georgia’s Family Support Foundation provides hardship grants to Guardsmen in need. The Foundation is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization that Georgians can support with tax-deductible donations on Georgia state income tax forms. Since 2005, Georgians have donated over $586,000 to the Foundation.

“Our Guardsmen possess a strong work ethic borne of shared sacrifice and duty that you can’t just pick up in a classroom,” said Gen. Butterworth. “This quality makes them exactly what employers are looking for, and we appreciate the strong response we’ve had so far in showing that the Georgia Guard works.”

Contact:

1st Lt. William Carraway

Media Relations Officer

Georgia Department of Defense

(404) 788-1487

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