"Safety Bob" Emery starts internship
to get disabled vets into new careers
HOUSTON – (July 3, 2007) – When he heard that disabled veterans were having a hard time finding jobs in Houston, Robert Emery, Dr.P.H., assistant vice president for safety, health, environment & risk management for The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, attacked the problem with his typical energy and creativity.
Former Marine Gunnery Sergeant Tony Pitts, left,
and
Airman Joe Robertson were among the first to
enlist in a
new UT-Houston internship program for
disabled vets.
(Photo by Rob Cahill.)
Emery contacted the employment coordinator at the U.S. Department of Veteran Affairs office in Houston, met with a focus group of disabled soldiers and started looking for resources for whatever program he came up with.
Almost 11,000 Texas service-connected, disabled veterans participated in the Department of Veterans Affairs vocational rehabilitation and employment program during a recent 12-month period, the VA told Emery.
"Shifting from the military environment to the civilian environment is already a challenge, but the shift can be more challenging when it involves a disability," said Emery, an associate professor of occupational health in The University of Texas School of Public Health.
The result of Emery’s efforts is a four-and-a-half month internship program designed to introduce disabled vets to career opportunities in health and safety, as well as in emergency preparedness. These are burgeoning areas that employ thousands nationwide, said Emery, who has 25-plus years of experience in the field and has master degrees in health physics and environmental sciences.
Emery’s initial recruits include two four-year veterans of the U.S. Air Force – Joe Robertson and Jake Clay – and a Marine of 20 years’ service, Tony Pitts. No longer able to serve in rigorous military positions, they’re making the transition to less physically demanding jobs.
During UT Health Science Center internships that run through August 15, they are gaining daily work experience, attending weekly educational sessions and networking with potential employers.
Robertson, 29, said he suffered a fall while serving as a firefighter in the Air Force and can no longer carry the 80 or so pounds of firefighting gear. He would like to put his firefighting experience to use in the field of fire safety. "Dr. Emery has introduced us to a lot of people," said Robertson, who was stationed in Minot, N.D., between 1996 and 2000.
Combatants aren’t the only ones injured in the military, Emery said. In fact, for every soldier injured in combat, many others are injured behind the lines while repairing tanks, driving trucks and performing other support functions. "I learned that work in the military is inherently dangerous, even when not on the front lines, because there is close contact with fuel, ammunition, and explosives – so safety is woven into every job," he said.
From left: Robert "Safety Bob" Emery, Dr.P.H., discusses fire safety procedures with interns in the UT-Houston program for disabled vets: Joseph Robertson, Jake Clay and Anthony Pitts. (Photo by Rob Cahill)
Pitts, 43, a gunnery sergeant in the United States Marine Corps, maintained aircraft engines until injuries sidetracked him. He’s hoping to use the internship as a springboard to a risk management or insurance career. Pitts, who served in Operation Desert Storm, said he has been impressed by "the caliber of the individuals" he has met at the UT Health Science Center.
Both Robertson and Pitts are enrolled in online college programs and are working toward degrees in management and accounting, respectively.
The veterans, who have been assisting with the UT-Houston Environmental Health and Safety program, bring a lot of experience to the table. "In the services, you’re taught a lot about safety," said Pitts, who served on the USS Enterprise and USS Tarawa.
Clay, 31, served as a senior airman at Brooks Air Force Base in San Antonio and was injured while on duty. He is looking for an opportunity in environmental health and safety. “The program is perfect for creating that transition from military life to civilian life,” he said.
The UT-Houston Disabled Veterans Training Program is a pilot project, according to Emery, and will be evaluated at the completion of the first session. "The veterans demonstrate strong discipline and work ethic – very attractive features for employers. One thing, though – I can't seem to get them to stop calling me ’Sir!’" said Emery, who is known on campus simply as "Safety Bob."