No Result
View All Results
Reserve & National Guard
SUBSCRIBE FREE
No Result
View All Results
Reserve & National Guard
SUBSCRIBE FREE
Reserve & National Guard

Meet the Army Reserve career counselor helping soldiers in military, civilian life

Sgt. 1st Class Edwin Mickel develops plan for employment, resource referral services

Allison Churchill
by Allison Churchill
September 23, 2022
Career

It seems contradictory: An Army Reserve career counselor helping soldiers find civilian jobs.

But Sgt. 1st Class Edwin Mickel, of Area 3, Battalion 1, Army Reserve Career Group, which covers the Bronx, Manhattan, Queens and Westchester County, noticed that struggles in his clients’ civilian lives affected their ability to serve.

“We have soldiers living in storage units,” he said, “and they’re expected to come in here on a weekend.” 

Last January, he developed a plan to help. Mickel is a member of Mu Beta Phi Military Fraternity Inc., founded in 2017 with a mission of strengthening the veteran community, restoring faith in the larger community and broadening veterans’ knowledge.

He took a plan for an employment and resource referral service to the organization’s president, Navy veteran Jayson Williams, which became the Liberty Work Program. 

“As long as it’s logical and makes sense, I’ll green light it,” Williams said. “This is a no-brainer.” 

In addition to the career and job placement services, which are boosted by partnerships with Hire Heroes USA and Amazon, the Liberty Work Program helps service members and veterans find benefits and resources, such as assistance getting food, clothing, child care or housing. That’s one reason Mickel and his team are giving the service such a long testing period in the New York and New Jersey area.

RELATED: Technical, trade school certifications make service members ‘more valuable’ 

“There’s no standard across the country on benefits,” Mickel said. “It’s state by state, county by county.” 

Another reason to test the strategy on his home turf is the several veteran service organizations, such as Wounded Warrior Project and Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America, in New York City.

“This is where the checks get signed,” he said. 

Mickel has used his background in civil affairs and undergraduate studies in leadership to make connections with those other organizations through networking, and is already building templates to help other Mu Beta Phi chapters get off the ground when the time is right. 

“I believe patience is a virtue,” Williams said. “It’s not happening as fast as they want to be. But I know it’s good that they’ve taken steps and made adjustments and are continuing to develop the program in the right way.” 

Membership in Mu Beta Phi isn’t required to receive services from the Liberty Work Program; Mickel said they’re ready to assist service members, their families, and even civilians when appropriate. 

One client, Pfc. Ricardo Flores, reached out to Mickel after separating from the reserves. They had met while serving in the 411th Civil Affairs Battalion, based in Danbury, Connecticut. 

Flores left the Army Reserve after six years to address mental health issues, but in the year he was out he lost his job. He recently rejoined, this time assigned to the 237th Support Maintenance Company out of Queens, New York, with hopes of going active duty in a year and reclassifying in military intelligence.

To prepare, he’s taking information technology certification courses either for free or with vouchers provided by Liberty Work Program partners.

To ensure he lands a job after finishing those classes, Flores received assistance in better translating his military experience on his résumé and setting up a LinkedIn account. The program also introduced him to someone in IT for a coaching session.

“Just getting help increased my morale,” Flores said. “Definitely better having a support system.” 

Mickel said he’s looking forward to rolling out the program in military-heavy states like Texas and California, where clients might not be able to get to a VA or vet center easily. But above all, he wants service members to get the resources they need to stay in uniform as long as they want.

“We can better assist our soldiers while they’re still serving,” he said.

Read comments
Tags: 237th Support Maintenance Company411th Civil Affairs BattalionArmy ReserveLiberty Work ProgramLinkedInMu Beta Phi
Allison Churchill

Allison Churchill

Allison Churchill is an Army public affairs veteran who has also written for the Mineral Daily News-Tribune, Scholastic's math magazines, Business Insider, and Guideposts. She received her bachelor's from West Virginia University and master's from New York University. Allison was a press operations volunteer at the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. She is the first person who comes to mind when her friends discover new products that sparkle.

Related Posts

Harvard Law airman lauds ‘best-kept secret’ for accessible education

by Nikki Davidson
2 days ago
0
Modern States

Air National Guard 1st Lt. Logan Lathrop says the Modern States program is the "best kept secret" to achieving educational...

Read more

5 ways I balance being a reservist and a mom

by Emily Solberg
3 weeks ago
0
balance

As both a mother and an Army reservist, I'm always striving to find balance between each role. And sometimes that...

Read more

Army Reserve Chief focuses on readiness during senior-leader summit

by AmeriForce Exclusive
3 weeks ago
0
Army Reserve

Chief of Army Reserve Lt. Gen. Jody J. Daniels recently hosted the Army Reserve's Yearly Training Brief at Joint Base...

Read more

Should civilian and private employers provide paid military leave?

by Nikki Davidson
1 month ago
0
Military leave

Several guardsmen and reservists who missed work due to military leave have launched a new mission – convince a jury...

Read more

Army Reserve officer teaches others to step in the arena

by Bianca Strzalkowski
1 month ago
0
Lisa Jaster

Lt. Col. Lisa Jaster made history after being one of the first women to graduate Ranger School is encouraging others...

Read more

JROTC cadet chosen for Million Girls Moonshot

by Crystal Kupper
2 months ago
0
STEM

A youth ambassador program that encourages future STEM leaders announced its next Flight Crew of 43 girls, including a Navy...

Read more

Ads

Let's get social

The RNG Drill

News delivered directly to your inbox

Let's connect!

ABOUT US

  • OUR STORY
  • OUR TEAM
  • OUR WRITERS

MAGAZINE

  • GET PRINT
  • GET DIGITAL
  • GET THE NEWSLETTER

ADVERTISE

  • GET OUR MEDIA KIT
  • PUBLISHER’S STATEMENT

SUBMISSIONS

  • PITCH US
  • SUBMIT YOUR STORY

Never miss out on the latest stories.

© 2021 Reserve & National Guard by AmeriForce. Privacy Policy | Terms | Site by Swiss Commerce

Thank you for your interest in The Reserve & National Guard Magazine!

Thank you for your interest in The Reserve & National Guard Magazine!

No Result
View All Results
  • NEWS
  • YOUR CAREER
    • UNIT TRAINING
    • DEPLOYMENT
    • PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT
    • RECRUITING & RETENTION
    • ENTREPRENEUR
    • TRANSITION
  • EDUCATION
  • MILITARY LIFE
    • MILITARY SPOUSES
    • MILITARY KIDS
    • PARENTING
  • OFF DUTY
    • ENTERTAINMENT
    • TRAVEL
  • HEALTH
    • FITNESS
    • MEDICINE
    • MENTAL HEALTH
  • SPORTS
  • OPINION
  • HISTORY
  • MONEY
    • PERSONAL FINANCE
    • BENEFITS
  • GET THE MAGAZINE
    • PRINT MAGAZINES
    • DIGITAL MAGAZINES
    • GET THE NEWSLETTER
  • ABOUT US
    • MEET OUR TEAM
    • OUR AUTHORS
    • ADVERTISE WITH US
    • SUBMIT YOUR STORY
    • PITCH US
    • CONTACT

© 2022 Reserve & National Guard by AmeriForce. Site by SCBW