Newswise — Piscataway, N.J.—Unemployment and under-employment are the most critical concerns facing returning military personnel, according to NJ Vet2Vet, a 24/7 helpline for New Jersey veterans directed by University Behavioral HealthCare at the University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey.

To assist those who have served in the U.S. military as well as the New Jersey National Guard and Reserve, the New Jersey/New York Hazardous Materials Worker Training Center at the UMDNJ–School of Public Health (UMDNJ–SPH) has announced the launch of the NJ Jobs4Vets training program. Dr. Bernard Goldstein, Chair of the Center’s Advisory Board, noted that “the program will assist veterans who want to gain employment in the fields of environmental remediation and restoration, disaster preparedness, and construction.”

“There is a need for veterans to be trained in an area that has potential jobs that are critical for the State,” says Dr. Audrey Gotsch, the Center’s director and professor of health education and behavioral science at UMDNJ-SPH, who notes that the program will also assist veterans with their job search upon completion of the five-week training program. Gotsch adds, “Military service has instilled these veterans with skills, discipline and a work ethic that make them especially strong candidates for these important jobs. We encourage businesses to contact those who have completed the program to recruit them for employment.”

“It is unacceptable that so many of our veterans struggle to find jobs when they return home from service,” says Senator Frank R. Lautenberg (D-NJ), an Army veteran who has worked to expand NJ Vet2Vet nationwide. “NJ Jobs4Vets will lend a critical hand to the men and women who have sacrificed so much for our country, and I am pleased NJ Vet2Vet will be helping with this important effort. Putting veterans to work making our communities cleaner, safer and healthier places to live is a win-win. I will continue working in Congress to ensure our service members have the support they need when they return home, including education and job opportunities.”

Enrollment has begun for the five-week program, which will commence in November 2012 and train 25 military personnel through courses provided by UMDNJ and the New York City District Council of Carpenters. UMDNJ courses will include an Introduction to the Program (8 hours), Hazardous Waste Site Training (40 hours), Asbestos Worker Training (32 hours), Lead Abatement Program (32 hours), Construction Safety Course (30-hours), and Disaster Site Worker courses (16 hours). The New York City District Council of Carpenters will provide the 40-hour Construction Skills course at its New York City site, teaching hands-on skills in carpentry and other trades. Participants will be prepared to apply for asbestos and lead abatement licenses through the State of New Jersey at the conclusion of the five-week training program.

Major General Maria Falca-Dodson, Director of UMDNJ’s NJ Vet2Vet and national Vets4Warriors helpline programs, stated that “NJ Jobs4Vets builds upon an existing NJ Vet2Vet initiative to assist veterans in obtaining civilian employment. UMDNJ-SPH will collaborate with NJ Vet2Vet to recruit veterans who qualify.”

Those who have served in the U.S. military, the National Guard or Military Reserve and are interested in this training program can call NJ Vet2Vet toll-free for more information: 866-VETS-NJ4 (866-838-7654). Twenty-five stipends will be provided to veterans who qualify for this program, covering all costs for the five-week training program as well as the application fees to apply for NJ state licenses in asbestos and lead abatement.

The project described is supported by Award Number U455ES006179 from the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences. The content is solely the responsibility of the sponsoring agencies and does not necessarily represent the official views of the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences or the National Institutes of Health.

About the UMDNJ-School of Public HealthThe UMDNJ-School of Public Health (SPH) (sph.umdnj.edu) is sponsored by the University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey in cooperation with Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey and New Jersey Institute of Technology. As the eighth school of UMDNJ, the SPH serves a vital function in New Jersey. The SPH offers the MPH degree, Certificate programs, the MS in Biostatistics degree and PhD and DrPH degrees as well as a number of dual degree opportunities. With educational opportunities offered in Piscataway/New Brunswick, Newark and Stratford/Camden, the SPH is conveniently accessible from across the state. Numerous continuing education opportunities are also available at the school. SPH students have opportunities to participate in leading public health research and access to resources of UMDNJ, RU and NJIT. Plus, students can put their public health education into practice through participating in our international health or community service projects. Follow UMDNJ-SPH on Facebook at www.facebook.com/sph.umdnj.

About the University of Medicine and Dentistry of New JerseyThe University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey (UMDNJ) is New Jersey’s only health sciences university with more than 6,000 students on five campuses attending three medical schools, the State’s only dental school, a graduate school of biomedical sciences, a school of health related professions, a school of nursing and New Jersey’s only school of public health. UMDNJ operates University Hospital, a Level I Trauma Center in Newark, and University Behavioral HealthCare, which provides a continuum of healthcare services with multiple locations throughout the State.