Washington, D.C. - U.S. Office of Personnel Management (OPM) Director Linda M. Springer and U.S. Army Colonel Eugene B. Smith, Fort Carson garrison commander, today announced the opening of OPM's newest Veterans' Outreach Office at Fort Carson, an important military post located south of Colorado Springs, CO. The new office will provide service members separating from the military with information on training and civilian employment opportunities within the Federal civil service. Col. Smith was joined today in an open house ceremony celebrating the facility's opening by OPM representative Anita Hanson, the agency's Veterans' Outreach Program manager.

"Working together with Fort Carson, this new facility helps to meet the goal by President Bush to ensure the men and women of our armed forces are able to reenter civilian life with the tools they need to succeed and possibly continue their national service as members of the Federal civil service," Director Springer said. "Our veterans possess skills and competencies essential in many mission-critical occupations within the Federal government, and we need them now more than ever."

"This is one more avenue for our brave heroes to make the transition to civilian life easier," said Col. Smith. "We appreciate what OPM is doing to assist America's sons and daughters in their future endeavors."

The Veterans' Outreach Office at Fort Carson will be staffed by a well-trained OPM representative. The Office will provide the following services:

· Working directly with veterans and their families to hear their needs and concerns first-hand;

· Providing information on Federal employment opportunities directly to veterans, and assist with their job search and application process;

· Working directly with Federal agencies to recruit qualified veterans from Fort Carson, many of whom will possess the competencies Federal agencies need to close mission-critical staffing gaps;

· Promoting www.USAJOBS.gov as the Federal government's one-stop employment information system; and,

· Coordinating outreach activities with Fort Carson Employment Transition Assistance program staff.

OPM has experienced tremendous success with its outreach offices at Walter Reed Army Medical Center in Washington, D.C. and Brooke Army Medical Center in San Antonio, TX. Thousands of military personnel and their families have received services and information at these facilities since the first office opened in December 2005.

Our mission is to ensure the Federal Government has an effective civilian workforce. OPM supports U.S. agencies with personnel services and policy leadership including staffing tools, guidance on labor-management relations and programs to improve work force performance.