New Report Shows Gulf War Illness Is Real

By Ginny Estupinian

In 2002 Congress created The Research Advisory Committee on Gulf War Veteran’s Illnesses to investigate whether or not there Gulf War illness exists. This was the first report review the hundreds of U.S. and international studies on Gulf War veterans since the mid 1990’s.

For the past 17 years veterans suffering from this illness would complain of a combination of memory and concentration problems, persistent headaches, fatigue, and widespread pain.  Other characteristics include skin rashes, chronic digestive and respiratory problems

The report that was released today stated that at least one in four U.S. veterans of the 1991 Gulf war suffers from multiple symptoms cause by exposure to toxic chemicals. Previously government officials had denied the existence of any illness and attributed these conditions to the effects of wartime stress.

The report stated that “the extensive body of scientific research now available consistently indicates that Gulf War illness is real, that it is the result of neurotoxic exposure during the Gulf War deployment, and that few veterans have recovered or substantially improved with time”.

The panel reported that they believe that the pesticides and pyridostigmine bromide (PB) aimed at thwarting the effects of never gas were most likely the causes of the illness.

3 Resources for Veteran Jobs

By Ginny Estupinian

In California, the RecruitMilitary Career Fair comes to Concord on Dec. 4 2008, at The Speedway Club at Lowe’s Motor Speedway. It is expected that more than 300 veterans will attend the event, which is intended to help recently returning troops, other veterans and service members, and their spouses find jobs.

Veterans will be able to interview with national, regional and local employers.

This event, which begins at 11 a.m. and runs until 3 p.m.,

Another resource that I came across is Simply Hired (www.SimplyHired.com). This is a comprehensive search engine for jobs, that recently announced a new job search offering for veterans. The filter provides results from Direct Employers Association’s list of over 400 federal contractors and “vet-friendly” employers, who take affirmative action to employ and advance in employment veterans in accordance with Affirmative Action Programs, the Vietnam Era Veterans’ Readjustment Assistance Act (VEVRAA), and the Jobs for Veterans Act. Simply Hirer’s new veteran filter can be found at www.simplyhired.com/veteran.

The last resource is a community center that is offering some great assistance to veterans in the Chicago area. The Albany Park Community Center specializes in assisting military veterans. They help veterans by offering the following free workshops: Resume Writing, Internet Job Search, Interview Skills, and Life Skills.  They also give detailed information about the supportive services . For more information please visit them at 3403 W. Lawrence or call them 773-539-3828.