European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - November 03, 1991, Darmstadt, Hesse                                Tinti qualified military personnel who might be in hut Edward a Jones can use a wider Cross Terestea in careers As brokers. Section of the military population than just Junior Jack Cahill who handles sales and hiring for officers. Ahill said. Jones said Many of the firms most successful a military personnel w to become brokers trans employees arc former service members because their military experience makes them Ideal candidates for the company  outfit Aims to draw from military Talent by Chuck Vinch Washington Bureau the sluggish civilian Job Market May make service members think of life be. Pond the military As a great featureless void but the fact is that opportunities arc waiting out there. Knowing there Are jobs and knowing where to find them can be two different things especially since most Small companies Don t spend a lot of Money on High profile advertising. Mike Hecomovich and Todd Louden Slagor two former military officers with considerable corporate experience have been on both sides of that Fence. They re carving a Niche for themselves in helping sex service members and civilian employers connect. The duo recently launched an outfit called pathfinders. Its dedicated to Chan cling military personnel squeezed by the downsizing Effort into private Industry. Their first major client is Edward d. Jones amp co., a booming securities investment firm based in St. Louis. A the company is the seventh largest brokerage House in the country and one of Only six with More than a million clients. Its relatively unknown because most of its offices Are located in Small towns and Are operated by individual brokers. Edward d. Jones amp co. Approached Hecomovich and Louden Slagor in june with a request to a Psi Northey usually work alone we need a Good work ethic High integrity the ability to get the Job done without anyone looking Over their shoulder Quot Cahill said. A military personnel fit that Bill  the firm has grown from 3 x offices in 16s0 to More than 1,650 today. Cahill said he Hopes to hire 1,000 to 1,500 More employees Over the next few years. A we were intrigued by the company and its philosophy of building grass roots support in Small towns Quot said Hecomovich a former naval surface warfare officer with 10 years of experience in marketing sales and distribution jobs for various corporations. For Hecomovich and Louden Slagor the move to form their own company to help corporate employers like Jones is an outgrowth of what they be been doing the past few years with another Job placement company called career seminars. A career seminars specializes in contracting with private sector companies to recruit Junior officers out of the military Quot said louder Slager a former army Armor officer who has worked As a Plant manager for Jefferson smurf it a packaging manufacturer. Companies focus on Junior officers because the military gives them the personal characteristics a integrity Good work attitude loyalty a that make for successful employees yet they Are Young enough to be placed in entry level jobs Louden Slagor said. Cahill understands that reasoning. Quot someone with 20 years in the military who is used to having a great Deal of responsibility usually can t break into the private sector at the same kind of level a he said. A those jobs just Arentt  Ter at a level where their expertise and maturity kicks right in Quot he said. A we have a lot of opportunities in our company growth pattern that go beyond just Junior  Hecomovich and Louden Slagor also had been feeling the urge to broaden the scope of their own endeavours. While pathfinders will remain As a contractor to career seminars for the foreseeable future it will Branch out and seek to place not just Junior officers but also senior officers military retirees and enlisted personnel with companies that like Jones can use military personnel of various Ages and experience. Quot that process of taking military people who know they re Good but May not be sure what they a be Good at in the private sector and helping them Transfer their skills to the civilian environment is fascinating to me Quot Hecomovich said. For now their energies Are focused on Edward d. Jones. They Are taking to the Road for a series of two hour presentations at Large military bases in the United states As Well As a Stop in Frankfurt Germany. The european presentation will be from 2 . To 4 . Nov. 30 at the Marriott hotel 2-10 hamburger Allee. The presentations will offer background about Jones and the opportunities offered by the company. They also will cover general information on Job Hunting the Job interview process an overview of private Industry the mechanics of writing resumes and More. Hecomovich and Louden Slagor will set up an interview screening for anyone who attends the presentation and is interested in pursuing a Job with Jones. Pathfinders has set up a hotline for individuals interested in seeking More information about Edward d Jonos amp co. The num Ber is 612-949-9656. Information on potential Turturo of opportunities through pathfinders can be obtained by calling 612 949-9655 individuals can also write Hecomovich and Loudenslager at pathfinders  Box 664. Chanhassen. In 55317 from Png 4 the military to Tell them to get out. After 12 years in the army staff sgt. John Jordan said he is leaving now rather than take a Chance of getting booted out later. The army is cracking Down on soldiers who arc overweight and cannot pass their physical fitness test. Jordan is a Cook who has licked a past weight problem but he said he worries about the problem flaring up again because of his age. He is a 35-year-old who was assigned to the 3rd in 20th Field arty brigade in Hanau Germany before making a permanent change of station to fort drum n.y., last month. He gets out of the army March 24. Quot if you miss one it test you re out a Jordan said. A if you re overweight you Only have one Chance. I just done to want to take the Chance of staying in another six years and having them say for one reason or another a you re  a Jordan said the advantage of getting out now is being Able to prepare himself better. He has been using the army career alumni program in Hanau to help make the transition to civilian life. The Acap program helps soldiers learn How to get a Job. And Jordan has used the program to help explore the possibility of opening his of n restaurant. Quot that a w hat makes a big difference Between get Ting out and getting out and surviving a he said.  lose their Job and Are forced to look for a new Job in the United states face Tough Competition said Corrine Curtis a family member employment assistance program coordinator in Kirch Gons Germany. Curtis teaches seminars to help soldiers getting out of the army to prepare themselves for the civilian Job Market. Master sgt. James Levert is setting his sights on that Market from his position in Brussels Belgium. A a in a not sure what they Are looking for a Levert said of stateside employers. Levert a 12-year air Force Veteran with a masters degree in computer information systems has sent out Riviore than 200 resumes since july i. A you feel like you re shooting  the Job Market is especially Tough for service members overseas because of the distance it places Between them and the employers desk Levert said. A a it a almost virtually impossible to get your foot in the door a he said. A if you Haven to lived in the United states in the past two to three years you have no Points of contacts. You re just a nameless faceless piece of  High unemployment awaits service members and civilians looking for a Job in an Economy that is moving away from manufacturing and product ont Nacil on pane h Sas Chuck Sobarli pfc. Michael Vollmeyer wants to slay in Germany but he a slated for fort  3, 1991 sunday a Page