Organization Hiring "Heroes" - Another Great Program for Vets

[wackychick]

Returning from combat in Iraq or Afghanistan with a disability certainly brings with it a number of challenges, but for one soldier, a great aid to his successful recovery was the easy transition he made into the civilian job market.

Justin Callahan enlisted in the U.S Army as a combat engineer when he was 18. When he was 21, he deployed to Afghanistan, where he led an eight-man squad. During a routine patrol, Justin was hit by an improvised explosive device and suffered a left leg amputation below the knee.

During his recovery at Walter Reed Army Medical Center here, Justin was approached by John Bardis, a businessman who offered him a job as soon as his health returned.

Callahan inspired Bardis to found Hire Heroes USA, a non-profit organization dedicated to helping disabled veterans to find the right fit in the civilian job market. Hire Heroes USA is a member of America Supports You, a Defense Department program that connects individuals, non-profit groups and companies who want to support U.S. military men and women.

“Hire Heroes USA was designed to give other wounded servicemembers like myself the opportunity that I was fortunate to have right out of the hospital,” Callahan said during an interview on America Supports You Live BlogTalkRadio. He and Bayne Tippins, the organization's director, discussed the Hire Heroes USA's success during the interview.

Callahan explained that the biggest challenge for many wounded warriors is getting their confidence reestablished after a tragic event.

Please take the time to read the rest of this story - it is worth the read and maybe you can help too!