Henry Howard, director of media and communications for the American Legion, joined the America's Work Force Union Podcast for a preview of their monthly magazine and a broader discussion of what the Legion is doing to connect veterans and transitioning service members with civilian careers.
Howard described the Legion's partnership with Hiring Our Heroes, labor unions and Task Force Movement — a White House initiative — to help veterans transition their military skills into civilian workforce opportunities. He also discussed the ongoing fight for credentialing legislation that would allow military service time to count toward civilian licensing and qualification requirements.
Howard also previewed the November American Legion Magazine cover story he wrote on the 50th anniversary of women being admitted to the service academies. The article focused on Pat Locke of the first West Point class, who has become one of the Academy's most prolific recruiters and one of only six women in 177 total recipients of the West Point Distinguished Graduate Award. He also discussed how American Legion posts will mark Veterans Day, including the Legion's presence at the New York City Veterans Day Parade, a wreath-laying at the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Wall in Washington, D.C., and a separate ceremony at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier at Arlington National Cemetery.
If you or a veteran you know is struggling, call or text 988 or visit betheone.org.
Henry Howard opened his appearance by describing what the American Legion does throughout the year to help veterans and transitioning service members find civilian careers that honor their military experience. The Legion partners with Hiring Our Heroes, labor unions and other organizations at hundreds of job fairs annually. The work to connect employers with prospective employees who are veterans, active-duty service members or military spouses. The work takes place at their large-scale events, as well as at smaller regional events and virtual job fairs, on a near-daily basis.
At events like the national convention job fair in Louisville at the end of August, the Legion brings in dozens of employers — local, regional and national — and functions as a matchmaker between those employers and the veterans and service members who attend. Legion representatives also help attendees understand their GI Bill benefits, which the American Legion championed and pushed through Congress in 1944.
The Legion also holds a board seat on Task Force Movement, a White House initiative focused on helping veterans and service members transition into rewarding careers. Howard described the initiative's scope as broad — everything from high-tech fields to hands-on trades. As an example, he mentioned elevator repair as a specific high-demand area.
Howard also addressed a persistent challenge that the show has discussed before: the gap between what veterans learned in the military and what civilian licensing and credentialing requirements recognize. A service member who spent years driving military vehicles, managing logistics, providing medical care or performing any number of specialized technical functions often finds that those years do not automatically count toward the civilian credentials required for equivalent work.
The Legion advocates for credentialing legislation that would change that equation. If you performed a job in the military for two, four, five or 15 years, that time should count toward the civilian credential. Howard said the argument is not just about technical skills. Employers consistently report that veterans bring something beyond their specific training — the ability to solve problems under pressure, manage logistics with limited resources, and operate as part of a team focused on mission accomplishment. All of it translates directly to the civilian workforce. The credentialing gap, he said, is an ongoing battle.
The November issue of The American Legion Magazine features a cover story written by Howard. “First in Their Class” marks the 50th anniversary of women's admission to the United States service academies. President Ford signed the legislation the previous year, and the first class of women entered the academies in 1976.
Howard spoke with three women from that inaugural class: Pat Locke of West Point, Joanne McCaffrey of the Coast Guard and Diane Juhasz of the Air Force. The main profile focuses on Locke, who applied to West Point even though she didn’t know what the Academy was. Someone merely asked if she wanted to attend.
Locke has since become one of the most prolific recruiters in West Point's history and is one of only six women among the 177 recipients of the West Point Distinguished Graduate Award.
What Locke does now is conduct monthly training sessions at Fort Belvoir for high school students who are applying to or considering applying to any of the service academies. Howard attended one of these weekend sessions and witnessed students working through the physical fitness requirements. They also get to test themselves against the actual metrics used to evaluate their applications. After the physical training, everyone returns to Locke's residence for a breakfast buffet and individual application review sessions, where volunteers work one-on-one with students to ensure their paperwork is complete. They also provide support with improving SAT scores. It is, Howard said, an invaluable service that gives prospective cadets the best possible foundation for their applications.
Veterans Day is one of the most prominent days on the American Legion calendar, alongside Memorial Day. Howard was careful to distinguish between the two. Memorial Day is for remembering those who made the ultimate sacrifice, while Veterans Day is a celebration of those who have served and kept the country safe. It carries elements of both celebration and remembrance.
Across the country, American Legion posts will mark the day with community events, parades and visits to schools to educate children about veterans, the flag and the meaning of service. The Legion's most visible national presence will be at the New York City Veterans Day Parade, the largest in the country, where the Legion will have a team marching with veterans.
In Washington, D.C., Howard will attend a ceremony at the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Wall where a member of the Legion's national leadership will lay a wreath in honor of those whose names are inscribed there. And at Arlington National Cemetery, the Legion will have a representative at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier for another wreath-laying ceremony.
If you or a veteran you know is struggling, call or text 988 or visit betheone.org. The American Legion's Be the One veteran suicide prevention program offers free training open to everyone at betheone.org.
More information on the American Legion is available at legion.org.
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