PSA: Hiring Our Heroes Job fairs set for veterans, Guard and Reserve members and eligible spouses

MONTGOMERY, AL (04/16/2012)(readMedia)-- Several local, state and federal agencies are teaming up to help Alabama military veterans, members of the National Guard and Reserve Components and eligible spouses. Large scale job fairs are scheduled in Mobile, Birmingham and Montgomery during late April.

Veterans from active duty, the National Guard or other Reserve component members who are currently unemployed are highly encouraged to attend. The programs are also open to military spouses who are seeking employment.

In Mobile, the 14th annual Business Expo and Jobs Fair will be held from 9:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. on Thursday, April 19, in the Mobile Civic Center Expo Hall. The South Alabama Regional Planning Commission, the U.S. and Mobile Chambers of Commerce and the Hiring our Heroes initiative are supporting the Mobile job fair.

For more information, individuals can contact Ms. Terry Pringle at the South Alabama Regional Planning Commission at (251) 652-0585, or by e-mail at tpringle@sarpc.org.

On Tuesday, April 24, Harris Arena at the Birmingham Crossplex, 2331 Bessemer Road in 5 Points West will be the site for the second hiring fair. The event will run from 1:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m.

The Birmingham event is free, but employers and job seekers should pre-register by going to www.hoh.greatjob.net. If individuals need assistance in registering, they can contact hiringourheroes@uschamber.com.

Additional sponsors for the Birmingham event include the Birmingham Business Alliance, Alabama Department of Veterans Affairs, Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve, Alabama National Guard and the U.S. Army Reserve.

The third event will be held at Fort Taylor Hardin armory, 1600 NE Bypass, in Montgomery, Thursday, April 26, from 12:30 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. This event is also free, but employers and job seekers should pre-register at www.hoh.greatjob.net.

This hiring event is being sponsored by Hero 2 Hired (H2H) along with the U.S. Department of Labor Veterans Employment and Training Services, Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve, Alabama National Guard and the U.S. Army Reserve.

The Alabama Department of Industrial Relations will have its mobile career center on site at the job fairs in Birmingham and Montgomery from 9:00 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Personnel will be available to assist service members and spouses in updating a resume or preparing a new resume.

Hiring our Heroes is an initiative that provides assistance to Veterans and members of the Guard and Reserve that are unemployed or under employed. It is also an advocate that encourages employers to hire veterans and members of the Guard and Reserve who are returning to civilian life after serving tours in Iraq, Kuwait or Afghanistan. Assistance is also provided to military spouses who may be seeking employment.