Eric Bernal was sitting at home, unemployed and depressed.
After 13 years of proud service, including six sea deployments, the San Diego sailor was pushed out in April as the Navy trims its ranks.
“I went from providing for my family to this,” said Bernal, 31, who eventually overruled his pride and filed for unemployment benefits.
He has never had a real job besides military service. Losing the uniform, “it’s like severing a limb,” Bernal said.
Unemployment is a chief problem facing the United States as it attempts to avoid mistakes of the Vietnam War era and ensure that post-9/11 veterans readjust to civilian life successfully.
All levels of government — and a growing number of for-profit and nonprofit organizations — are trying to help former service members move from boots into suits.