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Hiring Our Heroes job fair held in Concord

CONCORD, N.C. — Alexis Turner is a 22-year veteran of the United States Air Force. He retired in June, and for the last several months has been looking for a job as a civilian.

“In the military, there's a certain way of doing things,” Turner said. “I've been doing it since I was 18. Now, I’m 41, and I’m out here trying to push myself, introduce myself to new ways and the civilian way of doing things.”

Turner went to the Hiring Our Heroes job fair in Concord Tuesday. He said he left with some insight but no offers.

“I was hoping for a job, but the help that I received here is going to help me find a job,” he said.

Lorenzo Miller is a four-year Navy vet. He left hopeful of an interview but said the market is tough. He has been looking for full-time work since he got out in 2008.

“It's been hard, rough. Not too many jobs open, or I didn't have the right credentials at the time,” Miller said.

Their story is one organizations like Charlotte Bridge Home hear from many vets. The nonprofit works to help vets with their transition from the military.

“Our job is to help each of those veterans and their families identify and connect and navigate the myriad of resources that exist in our community,” said Frances Thompson, who works for the nonprofit.

But with North Carolina having one of the nation’s highest unemployment rates, and more troops expected into the area as the 2014 drawdown in Afghanistan continues, the market could get harder to navigate.