On Veterans Day, as our troops return from Afghanistan and Iraq, many organizations and individuals in Iowa want to honor the brave men and women who served us in the past few years.

What most of these veterans want is to return to their families, reconnect with their communities and friends and then get back to work. Unfortunately, even though many were promised jobs when they returned, some positions are no longer available. Even if there is a job, it may not be what the returning veteran expects or needs. There are at least 600 veterans in Iowa without jobs, and this number is growing.

Fortunately, many companies are stepping up to help with hiring programs and assistance. Recent job fairs, such as “Hiring Our Heroes,” are designed to connect veterans directly with companies that want to hire them. But these efforts only place about 10-15 percent of the candidates who participate, and many of these are the crème de la crème who probably would have found jobs on their own. What about the other 85-90 percent?

Recently, the Technology Association of Iowa (TAI), under the leadership of Leann Jacobsen, met with a group of concerned members and organizations to try to attack this problem.

As it turns out, in Iowa today there are hundreds of open technology positions just waiting for candidates to apply. The challenge is that these positions have certain programming or technical requirements. Most of these organizations would hire veterans if they met these requirements.

TAI steps in by polling its member organizations to identify what types of technical skills are needed. It then uses training companies and educational institutions to provide courses to certify veterans in these skill areas. Then the Iowa Department of Education assists veterans with the cost through programs such as the GI Bill.

Next, other TAI member companies that provide career coaching and recruitment step in to help veterans assess their career goals, build career campaigns and polish their resumes, then coach and advise them through this program.

Finally, the hiring organizations select and recruit the ones who meet their job requirements. These companies can also offer on-the-job training programs or internships to speed up the process.

Voila – TAI can help solve two huge problems with one program. It places Iowa veterans in sustainable careers and builds the state’s reputation as an oasis for technology companies and start-ups.

By creatively combining the energies of the private sector, government, education and trade associations, we all can help address this problem. This model could apply to other industries, too.

So, this Veterans Day, let’s do something really bold in Iowa to say, “Thank you!” Let’s support these types of programs and help all of our veterans find employment.

Frank Russell is the CEO of West Des Moines-based Prositions Inc.