According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, about 22 percent of Gulf War II veterans 18 to 24 years old and younger are unemployed. This is 5 percent higher than unemployment in the civilian population.
Veterans liken looking for work to being stuck on a desert island. Many joined the military out of high school, and their deployment is usually not considered “sufficient job training or experience.”
Employers are reluctant to hire a new worker who may have to leave to redeploy at any time. Many veterans return with physical or mental health problems that make it difficult to find work.
Justin Wilcox, a 30-year-old Iraq veteran, told the Associated Press: “[I]t’s been a real hard time for me. Because when I do get a job, it’s not a real high paying job. . .”
These statistics highlight the priorities of imperialism. Young people are used as cannon fodder, and once they return to civilian life, they are deemed worthless.
