Brave New Foundation: In Their Boots Webcast 18
Topic: Employment After Service Beyond Basic Training Chapter 1
Originally aired on October 29th, 2008
Beyond Basic Training
After being medically retired from the Army, Iraq veteran Kevin Randolph and his family are without options. They move to a transitional housing facility, and Kevin must enter one of the worst job markets in recent history to support his wife and their new baby.
Elise Randolph
Army Wife
Gracie Broll
Director
Operation Homefront Village
Kevin Randolph
Army Specialist (Ret.) Kevin Randolph joined the service straight out of high school. In 2003, he started in the Air Force and in 2005 switched to Army. He deployed to Iraq out of Fort Drum, New York in 2006. Six months into his deployment Kevin was hit with an IED, which broke his fibulae, tore his meniscus and did a lot of irreparable damage to his knee and leg. Since returning stateside, the 23-year-old vet received a disability discharge and was forced to move his family off of base, and move back into the civilian world with no job and only $1,000 per month from the Army. Like many vets, Kevin has struggled with reintegrating. Now, he and his wife Elise and their new baby Zeppelin live in a transitional housing facility in San Antonio, while Kevin awaits his VA benefits and looks for employment in an unraveling job market.
Elise Randolph
Elise met Kevin shortly after he returned from Iraq, and it wasn’t long before they were married and had baby Zeppelin on the way. Without any other options, the young family moved into Operation Homefront Village in San Antonio, where they currently reside. There, Elise is able to get financial help with buying diapers and other baby needs, while Kevin tries to find a job. Now the stakes are higher. Elise recently found out she’s pregnant again, which means she’ll have two babies to care for with an unclear financial future. Once Kevin gets his VA benefits, they have to leave Operation Homefront, whether Kevin has a job or not.
Brave New Foundation: In Their Boots Webcast 19
Topic: Employment After Service Beyond Basic Training Chapter 2
Kevin Randolph
Army Specialist (RET)
David Leonard
Liberty Project Coordinator, The Salvation Army
After being medically retired from the Army, Iraq veteran Kevin Randolph and his family are without options. They move to a transitional housing facility, and Kevin must enter one of the worst job markets in recent history to support his wife and their new baby.
Originally aired on November 5th, 2008
Veterans Day Tuesday 11-11-08
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-Calvin Coolidge
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The Real News senior editor Paul Jay and head of the Center for Constitutional Rights (CCR) Michael Ratner discuss the demolishment of peoples’ constitutional rights and civil liberties.