Thousands of soldiers return to their families and friends, homes and communities, and places of work- after bravely serving our nation in combat. Many face a reality that consists of coping with new injuries such as paralysis and amputation, deafness and blindness. This road to recovery is not easy- but extremely challenging, not only for the solider themselves, but for the family members as well.

It is with the understanding of the long and difficult road to recovery that the Armed Forces Foundation has committed itself and its resources to rebuilding the lives of these injured heroes through the Armed Forces Foundation | Career Counseling Program. The Armed Forces Foundation’s Career Counseling Programs mission is to help develop employment opportunities within the public and private sectors of the community that results in jobs/placement for the injured veterans (SOF*) population. This initiative focuses on helping veterans find employment in the corporate arena as well as an educational degree fulfillment. Our goal is not to find JOBS, but to find CAREERS for these warriors and their families. We also welcome all other injured veterans or dependents of injured veterans.

*SOF or Special Operations Forces is the term used to describe the elite Special Forces units within our military. Units include: Navy Seals, Army Rangers, Army Green Berets, Delta Force, Air Force Para-Rescue/CCT, Marine MARSOC, Army Psy. Ops. These (SOF) Warriors go through a strict and stringent selection and training process and deploy differently than conventional forces.  They are specially selected, highly trained; best equipped and most disciplined soldiers in our armed forces.

There are currently 1340 injured SOF veterans that the program is tracking with dozens that are already medically retired due to their injuries.  Another 200 of these will be out of the military in the next 90 to 180 days. Unfortunately, these numbers continue to grow and these figures just represent the SOF population.

Goals for Career Counseling Program

Establish a working relationship with corporations within their human resource departments to provide wounded (SOF) military service members with career counseling, career enhancement and/or employment.

Plan career exploratory activities through skills assessment testing, evaluations and/or further their education.

Objectives for the Career Counseling Program

1. Superior Performance / Competitive Advantage
2. Exceptional Customer Relations
3. Avoid Decline
4. Illuminate Quality
5. Understand Risks and Diversity more Deeply
6. Pro Innovation
7. Personal and Spiritual Well Being
8. Increase our Ability to Manage Change
9. Energize Committed Workforce
10. Expand Boundaries

Highlights of the Program

• Prepares and conducts corporate and community presentations allowing for employment opportunities and/or placement for participating clientele
• Cultivates potential and maintains existing relationships with corporations Human Resource departments through direct correspondence, membership in professional organizations, attendance at conferences, etc
• Plans career exploratory activities through skills assessment testing, evaluations and/or educational tracks
• Helps develop a personal career plan, and/or an educational/vocational scheme
• Teaches job hunting strategies and skills to assist in the development of resumes and interview skills
• Offers a flexible and unique educational opportunity to further their education
• Prepares necessary documents that may be required for corporate hiring process
• Testing
• Resume writing, transcripts

Through a strong partnership through the Special Operations Command, (SOCOM) Care Coalition the Career Counseling Program offers an unparalleled opportunity for professional and personal development.

Career Counseling Program Application

If you are an injured SOF veteran and would like to use the services of the AAF Career Counseling Program, click here to apply.

Career Counseling Education Program

The program’s educational component for injured soldiers allows them to advance their education through a program developed by the Foundation and Methodist University, University of West Florida and the University of Idaho. All the programs offered through these universities is unique in that they are designed from the beginning for the injured veterans and is tailored to their special needs.  These programs allow the injured soldier to take classes online and classroom free with a degree map that takes into account the flexibility needed for these soldiers due to their injuries.  These programs will be of no cost to the soldier and the college will give credit for their unique military experience.

Career Counseling Program Personnel

The personnel of the Armed Forces Foundation Career Counseling Program, consists of two professionals, Bryan Lane and Wendy O’Neil.  Bryan has spent the last 9 years in the special operations command as a special operations warrior and has extensive experience on the war on terror.  Bryan was medically retired due to injuries received in Iraq.  With this comes his dedication and motivation to the program to help fellow warriors in his position. Wendy has 16 years experience as a wife of a special operations officer and 9 years as a family support group advisor in the special operations command. She holds this program close to her heart   She has an undergraduate degree in Recreation Management and a MPA.

A board of advisors provides management expertise.  Our advisors are Michael Stevens, Patricia Driscoll, Jim Lorraine, Jennifer McEwan and human resource departments that have agreed to participate/partner with our program.