It’s a group that once faced an unemployment rate of 38%- but now returning Florida Guardsmen are getting to work.

“We’re gunna be able to look at where our greatest population of individuals are and kind of focus on some specialty hiring events,” says Florida National Guard Deployment Cycle Support Chief Major Sarah McLevy.

The Florida Guard Family Career Connection has placed 436 Guardsmen in meaningful employment in the last year alone.  McLevy says the program started around August 2010 when unemployment seemed to be reaching record levels.

The program creates a database where servicemen are listed with specialized skills and interests.  The program then works with employers who are specifically interested in hiring from the military to find the guardsmen who are specifically suited for the positions.

“We eliminate any duplication of effort and also make it just very easy, almost like a one-stop-shop for our service members to get what they needed,” she says.

There are many events still scheduled for this year, and she says the program has a great working relationship with Jacksonville- having already placed several servicemen with area employers.