Washington, D.C. - U.S. Office of Personnel Management (OPM) Director Linda M. Springer and the Brooke Army Medical Center (BAMC) at Fort Sam Houston in San Antonio, TX today announced an agreement to open a part-time veterans' outreach office designed to provide veterans with information on training and civilian employment opportunities with the Federal government. A similar, OPM-staffed outreach office opened at the Walter Reed Army Medical Center in Washington, D.C. in 2005.

"We are proud and honored to help those who fought and sacrificed on the battlefields of Iraq and Afghanistan to find opportunities in the Federal civilian workforce," Director Springer said. "These individuals represent the finest Americans of this generation, and we will work diligently to ensure they are informed of every opportunity available to continue serving their country in a civilian capacity."

The commander of Brooke Army Medical Center, Brigadier Gen. James Gilman, said the hospital looks forward to partnering with OPM to assist wounded warriors and veterans.

"Wounded warriors want to ensure they find meaningful work and are able to support themselves and their families," Gilman said. "The Federal government is a major employer in many segments of this nation. This office will ease the transition to civilian life for many injured."

The Veteran Outreach center at BAMC will be staffed for two to three days each week by an OPM official, providing the following services:

• Working directly with veterans and their families to hear their needs and concerns first-hand;
• Providing information on Federal employment opportunities directly to veterans, and assist with their job search and application process;
• Working directly with Federal agencies to recruit qualified veterans from Brooke, many of whom will possess the competencies Federal agencies need to close mission critical staffing gaps;
• Promoting www.USAJOBS.gov as the Federal government's one-stop employment information system; and,
• Coordinating outreach activities with the BAMC Employment Transition Assistance program staff.

Brooke Army Medical Center (BAMC) was chosen to be the site of the new Outreach office because it is one of the top military hospitals serving wounded veterans of the United States Armed Forces. BAMC is the U.S. Army's only level-one trauma center (the highest certification attainable) and only burn center for military personnel recovering from combat wounds. BAMC is also the only other Army amputee center other than Walter Reed.

Through the agreement, BAMC will provide office space to OPM for the aforementioned services to veterans. This new outreach office realizes an important strategic goal contained within OPM's Strategic and Operational Plan, calling for the opening of additional post-service employment assistance offices in both 2006 and 2007. A third location is expected to be opened next year at a location to be determined.