First lady presses governors on veterans' jobs

Obama's call to governors: First lady Michelle Obama, shown here next to New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie at the Governors’ Dinner at the White House on Sunday, wants states to make it easier for veterans to obtain credentials and licenses for such occupations as commercial driving and nursing. IMAGE

AP Photo: Susan Walsh. Obama's call to governors: First lady Michelle Obama, shown here next to New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie at the Governors’ Dinner at the White House on Sunday, wants states to make it easier for veterans to obtain credentials and licenses for such occupations as commercial driving and nursing. IMAGE

2/25/13 By Julie Pace

Michelle Obama is calling for state legislation to help veterans use their skills for civilian jobs.

WASHINGTON — First lady Michelle Obama challenged governors Monday to make it easier for military personnel to transfer their skills to civilian jobs as they return home from Afghanistan and other far-flung posts.

"While this time of war may be ending, the truth is our responsibility to our troops and their families will really just be ramping up," the first lady told governors during an event at the White House.

She pressed states to pass legislation or take executive action by 2015 allowing veterans to receive professional credentials or licenses based on their experiences in the military. Administration officials said that would allow veterans to apply for jobs more quickly rather than having to take courses for skills they already have.

The nation's governors are in Washington for their annual meeting.

The veterans' initiatives are part of Michelle Obama's "Joining Forces" program, which aims to help veterans and their families. The program has focused in particular on assisting military personnel find civilian jobs, an effort that is expected to take on more urgency as the Afghan war comes to a close by the end of next year.

The first lady said 1 million military personnel will be transitioning back to civilian life over the next few years.

She wants states to focus in particular on making it easier for veterans to obtain credentials and licenses for commercial driving, nursing and emergency medical services, administration officials said. The White House has outlined suggested legislative language states can use for implementing the changes.

Officials did not have an estimate for how much it would cost states to implement the credentialing programs. But they suggested the programs eventually could be a cost saver by keeping veterans off unemployment.

The first lady Obama previously has called on states to help military spouses transfer their state-specific credentials when their families move because of changes in deployment. Seventeen states have passed such legislation over the past year, joining 11 states that already had laws on the books.

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