Adam Arvizu
Air Force veteran Adam Arvizu at Kirkuk Regional Air Base during a deployment to Iraq, 2005–2006. (Courtesy photo)

Air Force veteran’s struggle to find a job ends thanks to a DAV/RecruitMilitary virtual job fair

The 9/11 terrorist attack was a defining moment in U.S. history, and for many Americans of a certain generation, it was also a call to arms. Adam Arvizu was a high school senior at the time, and with a family history of military service—including his father and two older brothers—the decision to join the Air Force was easy.

From Iraq to Afghanistan and Qatar to Korea, Arvizu’s five years in uniform as an air transportation journeyman included special duties as a postal service clerk and honor guardsman responsible for dignified transfers and military honors. But after deploying to these hostile environments, he realized he had changed and felt lost when transitioning back into the civilian world.

“I was struggling to find a job that met my skills and the rewarding passion I had longed for after separating from the military—be resilient, be respectful and be confident,” said Arvizu.

That changed when Arvizu took part in a DAV RecruitMilitary virtual job fair, which presented an easy way for him to connect with employers looking for the very skills he had to offer.

“Upload your resume, edit or update it before the career fair, and DAV’s [network] will put your skills out for possible future job opportunities,” said Arvizu.

Thanks to the experience, Arvizu landed a position as a behavioral health technician for the Air Force’s Air Education and Training Command, where he implements individual behavior plans, records patient behavior, and provides a safe and supportive environment for patients.

DAV’s Employment Program aims to help veterans who may be struggling to obtain gainful and meaningful employment during their transition back to civilian life. Since 2014, veterans and their families have received more than 151,000 job offers through DAV RecruitMilitary job fairs, and many virtual job fair attendees have seen nearly instant responses from employers.

Now, Arvizu wants other veterans to know that DAV provides an efficient and productive way to find that next great job.

“It definitely felt like my service ties were stronger than ever, even though my time as an active-duty member has passed,” said Arvizu. “I’m part of a brotherhood that has my back.”