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closeHector Torres spent two decades of his life serving his country as a soldier in the Army National Guard.
In fall 2006, after working at Camp San Luis Obispo as a course manager and training instructor, he was deployed to Afghanistan, where he saw combat.
But when he returned from the war nearly two years later, he found himself without a full-time job.
“It’s been hard,” said Torres, 48. “I’ve even asked for minimum-wage jobs like landscaping. Once they see my resume, they say I’m over-qualified.”
With the economy in one of its worst recessions since the Great Depression, the Los Osos man is looking for a break. Right now, he’s open to any position that would bring in a paycheck to support his wife, Caren, son, Archie, and daughter, Seirria.
In the meantime, Caren is the primary breadwinner, working as a full-time caregiver in Cambria.
“She’s like our life-saver,’’ he said. “That’s how we’ve been getting by.”
Torres’ situation, unfortunately, is not the exception.
With the economy ailing, Milt Batson, the local veteran work force specialist for the state’s Employment Development Department, says it’s not unusual to see military men and women of all ages and backgrounds seeking employment help.
Despite their exceptional work ethic and top-notch skills, many soldiers have a tough time finding jobs in the civilian world, said Batson, who counsels vets and encourages prospective employers to hire them.
Sometimes, they will have specialized training in a certain field — such as health care — but that training isn’t recognized without civilian certification. Often, the skill set a soldier had in the military doesn’t match up with what’s needed for a particular business or industry, he added.
The unemployment rate among veterans who have served anywhere on active duty in the U.S. Armed Forces since September 2001 is no better than that of the general population.
In June, the unemployment rate for this group was 9.3 percent, on par with 9.4 percent for the nation’s civilian population, according to the U.S. Department of Labor’s Bureau of Labor Statistics.
While it may seem bleak for men and women who have returned or are returning home to a nation dealing with deep financial woes, Batson said it’s important for soldiers to remember that they have what it takes.
“Just remember you have proven abilities,’’ he said. “Never forget that.”
Torres is trying to keep a positive attitude, even though he acknowledges that it’s easy to feel as though he’s been overlooked.
He has had some success, landing a position for a few months with SRI International, a Menlo Park-based nonprofit institute that does research for government agencies. And in August, with help from the GI Bill, he plans to attend Cuesta College, where he hopes to major in psychology.
Torres also was one of three soldiers whose story caught the attention of In Their Boots, a documentary series highlighting the impact the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan have had on active-duty soldiers and veterans.
Torres is featured in an episode, “Vets for Hire,” airing on the Web site www.intheirboots.com.
His story, he said, isn’t remarkable. He’s just a guy doing the best he can under the circumstances. Still, he’s hopeful that someone will give him a chance.
“What manager wouldn’t want somebody with an attitude that ‘I’m going to get the job done’?” he said. “A soldier is going to make something happen.”
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