Members at the Veteran Connection Center, grand opening
When Kyle Estep joined the National Guard in 2002, he was unaware of the complications he would face down the road after spending nearly a year in Iraq.
“I suffered some injuries to my knees and developed severe tendonitis,” he said. “It was frustrating when I learned that the VA had a backlog, which forced me to wait almost two years before I could get my surgery done.”
And that was just the physical part of his pain. When he returned home, he had a hard time readjusting.
“One day, I was in Iraq, and, the next day, I was home,” he said. “The post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) started to set in, so I spent a lot of that summer drinking in order to cope. I found myself uncomfortable in my surroundings. Things that didn’t bother me before suddenly did, like crowds and traffic.”
Estep sought counseling at the Vet Center in Harrisburg, spending almost five years working on his issues with now-retired readjustment Counselor Thomas Murray.
“He was like a second father to me and brought me through it,” said Estep, who is now paying it forward by volunteering at the PA Veterans Chamber of Commerce (PAVCOC) Connection Center, located off the Carlisle Pike on 36th Street in Camp Hill.
PAVCOC was created to help veterans like Estep find resources that will help them succeed in civilian life. The Connection Center, which opened in November, is the nucleus of the operation. Housed on the second floor of the Shin Building, the space is comprised of four meeting rooms and a large conference area containing banks of computers where veterans can job search, update resumes and cover letters, work on school assignments and perform other tasks that will help them succeed. Currently, the Center houses 15 computers, and founder and President Robert Brandt expects that number soon to increase to 40.
Vets who need appropriate attire for upcoming interviews are invited to visit the Center and choose from among an array of suits for both men and women. “All they need to do is sign them out and bring them back, and we’ll have them cleaned,” said Brandt.
Books with such titles as “You Are Tremendous” by Charlie ‘Tremendous” Jones, “The One Minute Entrepreneur” by Kenneth Blanchard and “Leadership without Excuses” by Jim Grimshaw line the shelves of the back wall and are available as handy guides for those seeking their advice.
Help is also available for sprucing up resumes. “We help them translate their military field work into the civilian sector,” said Brandt.
Estep learned of the Connection Center when he was watching the news.
“I rarely watch the local news,” he said. “It just happened to be the day they were holding their grand opening.”
He reached out to the PAVCOC and was soon volunteering to help others like him navigate the sometimes-difficult world that awaits returning veterans. With the help of Brandt, Estep, who was unemployed at the time, found work and recently began a new job.
As more businesses are learning about the organization, they are beginning to reach out.
“Just recently, we were contacted by a delivery company that had 20 open slots they wanted to fill with veterans,” said Brandt. “They hired 12 out of 18 of our vets who applied, and they were paying between $15 and $18 an hour.”
The Center is partnering with several organizations, including the Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, the American Legion and Fort Indiantown Gap, and intends to add more to the mix as the year unfolds.
Veterans also will be invited to take advantage of workshops that will cover a wide range of topics from managing health and stress to small business development, where they can learn how to bid on federal, local and state contracts. The Center also will follow up on the careers of those they place. “We’ll offer that help, as well, and reach out to ensure that our veterans are secure in their future,” said Brandt.
Dr. Oralia Dominic is currently spearheading an effort to spread health literacy among underserved populations for Highmark.
“I was real enthused when I learned about the organization,” she said. “A person who serves our country and returns, if they are fortunate enough to make it home alive, has unique needs.”
Dominic uses her knowledge to educate veterans on nutrition and advise them on managing chronic health issues like diabetes and hypertension. In addition, she serves as president of Estamos Unidos de Pennsylvania and sits on various boards, affiliations that help the organization move forward.
As a newly formed non-profit, PAVCOC plans to add more members and services, like weekly counseling, in upcoming months. Currently, 17 businesses have signed on and 11 professional members have joined the organization, including U.S. Rep. Scott Perry and state Rep. Patty Kim.
Brandt said the entire experience has been extremely rewarding, and he is looking forward to a bright future for the organization.
“I am glad we are helping folks get a solid foothold on the life they are meant to have,” he said.
The PA Veterans Chamber of Commerce is located at 20 S. 36th St., 2nd floor, Camp Hill. For more information, visit pavcoc.org or call 717-889-1217.
