I am a United States Air Force Veteran. I served active duty from 1983-1987 as a medic, most of my time at Wiesbaden Regional Medical Center, Wiesbaden, Germany.
In 2012, I was arrested for DUI. After serving time for that, i realized i had to address my drinking problem. I sought help at the Tucson, AZ VA Hospital.
They treated me so well, and provided me with housing, and education, and eventually let me work at the hospital as a housekeeper under the Compensated Work Therapy Program. I am still considered a patient, and by no means a Federal Employee, but it allowed me to move out on my own again, and stand on my own two feet.
I have worked very hard at this job, have never missed a day or been late in the year i have been there, and now my supervisors want to hire me full time as a government employee.
But one person, one person in the Human Resources Department has decided to play God, and deny my bosses request to hire me, simply because i do not have "VETERANS PREFENCE" meaning i wasn't in a war, or campaign...
When i joined the military, i gave uncle sam a blank check, payable to My Life! A vet is a vet in my opinion...I'm just asking for a CHANCE...thats all...a chance to start over, and i'm not too proud to be cleaning toilets to GET that chance..
There are alot of vets being discriminated against by their own VA, simply because they happened to serve in peactime..
By signing this petition, you will help me, and other peacetime vets with addiction issues a fair chance. The Compensated Work Therapy Program is only for a limited time. Mine expires on the 20th of September. We are encouraged to look for work elsewhere during our time in the program, wich i have done franticaly, but so far no call backs or interviews.
Through the grace of God, AA, and a good sponser, i have been sober 19 months. If i lose my job, and my apartment, i'm afraid i dont know how long that will last.
Please help me. God Bless
