Veterans would be first in line for jobs in law enforcement and firefighting under $480 million in grants proposed by President Obama Friday.
The president wants to earmark $166 million in policing grants and $320 million in fire and emergency response grants for communities that recruit and hire post-9/11 veterans to serve as police officers and firefighters, the White House announced Friday.
He is also proposing $1 billion be set aside for a Veterans Job Corps conservation program aimed at putting 20,000 veterans to work over five years. Their jobs will include restoring environmental habitats, preserving cultural resources and eradicating invasive species. Post-9/11 veterans would also help repair tribal trails, roads and other properties.
The announcement comes as the Pentagon rolls out details of , reducing military force numbers in the wake of the wind down in Iraq and Afghanistan.
Follow Camp Pendleton Patch on Twitter and like us on Facebook.
