U.S. Navy SEAP and TAMP Counselors, Air Force Family Support Center, Army Community Service Counselors are training Veterans and Spouses to apply for and land quality Federal jobs with new, successful "Ten Steps" approach!

U.S. Navy Fleet & Family Centers - U.S.-wide:
Alice Slate, Transition Program Manager, Gaeta, Spain
Joan Telles, Transition Manager, China Lake, CA
Elizabeth Stelljes, Transition Assistance Program Manager, Bahrain
Sue Catherman, TAMP Manager, Ingleside, TX
William Hansberry, Career Resource Center Manager, Mawgan
Vivian Hanson, SEAP Coordinator, Marys, GA
Patricia Kapitan, SEAP/RAP Programs Mgr, Kingsville, TX
Rick Speller, NAS Kingsville FFSC, Kingsville, TX
Ronald Lancaster, TAP Specialist, Kings Gay, GA
Clifton Laub, Transition Counselor, Jacksonville, FL
Patrick McDonald, SEAP Manager, Jacksonville, FL
Novella Magwood, Spouse Employment Counselor, Marysville, WA
Richard McLaughlin, Family Program Spec., FPO AA
Sheryl Rivers, Financial Educator, Naples, Italy
Nanlee Taylor, Administrative Assistant, USNA, Annapolis, MD

Army Community Service:
Marilyn Howard, Employment Program Manager, Aberdeen Proving Ground, MD

Air Force Family Support Centers:
Gary Adams, Family & Work Life Consultant, Bolling AFB, Wash., DC
Michele Hill, Program Assistant, Bolling AFB, Wash., DC
Terry Cornelier, Transition Specialist, Hanscom AFB, MA
Independent Career Counselors and Trainers:
LeRachel Buffkins, President, Writingforyouinc.com, Baltimore, MD
Beth Stefani, President, www.orizon.com, Buffalo, NY

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Baltimore, MD--

(Baltimore, MD - August 22, 2003) - In support of much needed training to help Veterans receive job search training, Navy Spouse Employment Counselors, Air Force Family Support Center Relocation Counselors, Army Career Services Counselors and private career counselors traveled from all over the United States to Columbia, Maryland to learn a new, first-ever, structured Federal job search training program. The Federal Job Search Training curriculum is being implemented at every Navy and Coast Guard base and many Air Force bases in the world.

OPM recently wrote this press release on improved Federal job search training for Veterans:

"Washington - Veterans will soon receive additional incentive and assistance as they transition from military service into the Federal workforce. Office of Personnel Management Director Kay Coles James is launching the Veteran Invitational Program (VIP), an educational and recruitment strategy which targets military personnel who are transitioning to civilian life.

President Bush wants to make every effort to assist our veterans as they transition to civilian life," James said. "Veterans represent a loyal and dedicated workforce that Federal agencies and departments must tap into as they seek to successfully meet their goals and missions. Veterans' preference offers individuals who have served America in the armed services the ability to transfer their skills from the military service to the civil service with due preference through the process. The new VIP program will educate veterans and allow a timely and accurate dispersion of information on job opportunities in the federal workforce." Press Release from OPM, Aug. 19th, 2003.

Ed Roscoe, Director of Fleet & Family Support Centers, U.S. Navy has recognized the need to train career counselors in Federal Job Search strategies. Kathryn Troutman's award-winning book, Ten Steps to a Federal Job was turned into a friendly, effective and understandable federal job search curriculum that is being used at military bases to help military retirees and separates and spouses find federal jobs and more effectively apply for them.

"The Office of Personnel Management has said that by 2006 approximately 1.8 million Federal employees would reach retirement," noted Ed Roscoe, Manager of the Navy's Spouse Employment Assistance Program (SEAP). "What a perfect opportunity for our retiring Navy, military spouses and transitioning military to find a home in the Federal employment system." Roscoe added, however, that the Federal employment system is "very cumbersome at best" because no two HR departments within it seem to work the same way. So he has turned to top Fed job expert Kathy Troutman for help in training his personnel. "Our employment managers are hungry for this information and training," he said.

Here's what the trainers are saying about the new Federal Job Search Training curriculum:

From LeRachel Buffkins, Writing For You, Inc. (Laurel, MD)

"I learned a great deal about the process and with the abundance of information you gave us I walked away feeling very confident and inspired to educate my clients on the "game". It's important for trainers to stay abreast on the employment issues in the federal sector. LEARNING DOES NOT STOP AFTER DAY 3! Thank you for being in front of the trenches leading the public on this very important subject matter."

+++++++++

From Sheryl D. Rivers, Financial Educator/Transition Assistance, Fleet & Family Support Center, Naples, Italy :

Kathryn: Thank you for a wonderful class. I really learned a lot; and look forward to integrating the 10 steps material into our program. As I mentioned during the class, the number one challenge for spouses in the overseas arena is obtaining a job. There are very limited employment options for them outside of federal employment. I am hoping that adding the 10 steps program curriculum will improve the percentage of spouses in our area making the "list." I look forward to communicating with you and the other trainers. Good luck in you future endeavors.

+++++++++

From Beth Stefani,Director/Career Transition Consultant:

Hi Kathryn, Thank you so much for all the information you shared with us this week! You wanted me to tell you how I plan to use this program. In September, I am going to present an "Intro to Ten Steps" program to (1) executives who are attending ExecuNet executive networking meetings in Buffalo and Rochester, NY, (2) the POD (Professional Opportunities Development)group of our Buffalo's One-Stop Center, and (3) a group of IT professionals who belong to InfoTech Niagara. Then, I will be scheduling two pro bono four-hour "Ten Step" workshops for (1) the IT and professional level group, and (2)executives looking for SES opportunities. Once I am certfied as a Fed Job Search Trainer, and my associate, Susanne Blanton, is certified as a Federal Resume Writer, we hope to secure a contract with the US Airforce base in Niagara Falls, NY to provide Federal Job Search training and resume consultation to returning and retiring military personnel and their families. If we don't get the contract, we plan to market the program to the general public - with a focus on people who will qualify for professional and executive level positions with the U.S. government. Thank you, again, for this wonderful opportunity to expand my knowledge and resources.

++++++++

ABOUT THE FJST CERTIFICATION PROGRAM:

The Federal Job Search Trainer Certification is provided to Transition Managers and Career Counselors following a two-day training, writing a Federal application, teaching the pro bono courses to two non-work related organizations. The training program goal is to train more successful Federal job seekers in a long and daunting process. The jobs are clearly available if the applicants can make it through the Federal recruitment and selection process.

Career Counselors, Transition Managers and Job Developers are licensed and certified to use Kathryn Troutman's successful Ten Steps to a Federal Job Program in their career transition centers. The flexible job-search system can be taught in a ninety-minute orientation, one-day to two-day programs to help jobseekers find and apply successfully for Federal jobs.

In addition to teaching the trainer curriculum, the Federal job information helps career counselors provide quality one-on-one counseling and advisement services for jobseekers, military personnel transitioning, spouses searching for civil service positions on military bases, and civil servants who attend training programs.

Federal Job Search Training programs will be announced within months in the Career Centers listed above to help jobseekers land high-quality, well-paying jobs. The Federal job search is a complex process, but Kathryn Troutman's Ten Steps makes the training and learning process more approachable and less intimidating.

Trainers are certified to teach a colorful Ten Step PowerPoint presentation, using handouts and trainer's curriculum to lead job searchers into a structured federal job search campaign.

Information about the Trainer's Certification program and dates for next courses taught by author and curriculum developer, Kathryn Troutman can be found at www.resume-place.com - go to Workshops and Certification Programs.