JACKSONVILLE, N.C. – Gov. Bev Perdue today thanked North Carolina veterans at a Veterans Day Remembrance Ceremony in Jacksonville and issued a proclamation honoring the men and women who have served and sacrificed for our country.

During the ceremony, Gov. Perdue announced the creation of the “I Hire Military” campaign to encourage businesses to hire veterans and military spouses.

“The close relationship between the civilians and the military is one of the biggest reasons I’m proud to call North Carolina home,” said Gov. Perdue.  “The ‘I Hire Military’ campaign is one more example of how North Carolina is the most military-friendly state in the nation.”

To join the “I Hire Military” campaign, businesses must visit IHireMilitary.org, sign a pledge to hire veterans and military spouses whenever practical, display the “I Hire Military” decal in their establishments, and register as part of the “I Hire Military” database.

North Carolina’s military spouses and veterans – including disabled veterans – are highly trained, dedicated workers.  Their contributions can be a bonus for any North Carolina company.  Veterans and spouses looking for work can go online to IHireMilitary.org to find a list of businesses that have signed up for the “I Hire Military” pledge.

The campaign began as a partnership between the N.C. Military Business Center and the Eastern Carolina Workforce Development Board.  At present the campaign is running in four counties – Onslow, Carteret, Craven, and Wayne– and will soon expand statewide.

Scott Dorney, executive director of the North Carolina Military Business Center (NCMBC) said, “Transitioning military personnel and spouses bring tremendous skills to the North Carolina workforce.  ‘I Hire Military’ will help identify and connect our ‘military friendly employers’ to these veterans and military spouses – fueling business growth and job creation across our state.”

The “I Hire Military” campaign is part of the Gov. Perdue’s JobsNOW initiative.  Through Gov. Perdue’s JobsNOW initiative, the state will work aggressively to create jobs, train and retrain our workforce, and lay the foundation for a strong and sustainable economic future.

The two legislative leaders signed a resolution supporting the Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve Program, which helps smooth the friction between employers and employees when workers are deployed.

WASHINGTON  – The Pentagon wants more time before the ban on gays serving openly in the military is reversed.

A senior military official says that while President Barack Obama has been clear that he wants to repeal the ban, there is no specific timeline to do it. The official says that leaves room that the military wants to use to make sure the eventual change goes well.

The official spoke on condition of anonymity because the Pentagon has not begun formal planning for the repeal. The official says there is a concern the repeal could set off a polarizing debate. And that, the official says, runs the risk of placing an overstretched fighting force in the middle of a divisive policy fight.

Still, the official says the military expects the ban eventually will be repealed.

WASHINGTON- The Pentagon says it has no plans to repeal the don’t ask-don’t tell policy for gay troops.

Pentagon spokesman Geoff Morrell said Tuesday that the military’s top leaders have only had initial discussions with the White House about whether gay troops should be open about their sexuality.

Under current rules, openly gay troops can be discharged from the U.S. military.

Morrell said the White House has not asked for the 1993 policy to be scrapped.

“I do not believe there are any plans under way in this building for some expected, but not articulated, anticipation that don’t ask-don’t tell will be repealed,” Morrell told reporters at the Pentagon.

RALEIGH, N.C. — Major General William E. Ingram, Jr., Adjutant General of the North Carolina National Guard, will be the guest at the first meeting this session of the North Carolina General Assembly Military Veterans Caucus.

Gen. Ingram is scheduled to discuss the pending deployment of the North Carolina National Guard’s 30th Heavy Brigade Combat Team, based in Clinton. The meeting will be in Room 1228 of the Legislative Building at noon on April 16.

The 30th Brigade is nicknamed the Old Hickory Brigade, after President Andrew Jackson and is the largest unit in the NC National Guard with about 4,000 soldiers based in more than 40 communities across North Carolina. This will be the unit’s second deployment to Iraq. The unit was first deployed to Iraq in February 2004 and returned in early 2005. During that deployment, five of its soldiers were killed and about 100 were wounded.

The Military Veterans Caucus is a bipartisan, bicameral caucus comprised of military veterans, those who represent a district with military interest, and others with a particular interest in military affairs. The caucus steering committee includes Senator Bob Atwater, Senator Harry Brown, Senator Peter Brunstetter, Representative Larry Hall, Representative Ric Killian, and Representative Grier Martin.

First lady Michelle Obama, voyaging away from Washington to begin defining her White House role, visited with soldiers Thursday and spoke to their spouses and children.

The wife of President Barack Obama, beginning some of the advocacy she has said will be a large part of her focus, met with the military community at North Carolina’s sprawling Fort Bragg.

She hugged soldiers and posed for photos in a dining facility and then read “The Cat in the Hat” with expressive commentary in a classroom of young children, ages 3 to 5.

“What are you all dressed up for?” Mrs. Obama asked a young girl with a pink bow in her hair. “You have a special guest or something?”

Mrs. Obama kept more substantive discussions for behind closed doors in private meetings. She was scheduled to finish her afternoon speaking to military support groups nearby in Fayetteville.

Mrs. Obama has cited military families as one of the issues she wants to focus on as first lady.

Sgt. 1st Class Ashlyn Lewis, 31, of Indianapolis, said it was a remarkable experience to see the first lady at Fort Bragg. She said the Obamas have a lot of work ahead of them to shore up deficiencies in the military’s medical system.

“Right now the biggest concern would be taking care of the vets, making sure that the people that are coming home are getting the proper medical care – not just for the Iraqi or Afghanistan vets, but also, there are a lot of Vietnam vets who haven’t been receiving the proper care,” Lewis said. “I believe (the Obamas) are headed in the right direction, but it’s going to be a lot of work.”

Rep. Brad Miller (NC-13) will deliver remarks at the dedication ceremony for the new Camp Butner Barracks Facility which is part of troop training improvements for the North Carolina National Guard (NCNG).

The Congressman secured nearly $1.4 million in funding for the NCNG training site at Camp Butner in the FY09 Military Construction Appropriations Bill. Camp Butner already had a housing shortage and training at the site has quadrupled over the last five years, increasing the need. The new construction will minimize costs for the NCNG by providing economical and convenient housing for troops.

In addition to the barracks facility, a multi-phase construction project at the training site includes a dining facility, maintenance areas and logistical facilities. The improvements will also support the use of Camp Butner as an alternate Command Post in the event of a disaster or terrorist attack.  The Department of the Army has mandated that each State’s Joint Forces Headquarters develop such contingencies.

Who: Rep. Brad Miller

What: Dedication Ceremony for Camp Butner Barracks Facility

When: Monday, March 16, 10 A.M.

Where: Camp Butner, 539 Roberts Chapel Rd., Butner, NC

U.S. Senator Kay R. Hagan (D-N.C.) issued the following statement after attending President Obama’s speech today at Camp Lejeune in North Carolina:

“I am pleased that President Obama chose to come to Camp Lejeune in North Carolina to outline his plan for withdrawal from Iraq. I am proud of all the men and women who selflessly serve our country, and the Marines based at Camp Lejeune, who will be deploying shortly for Afghanistan, deserve our support while they are away from their home and their loved ones protecting our nation and our way of life.

“I have repeatedly said that it is past time that we begin a responsible withdrawal from Iraq in order to devote resources and manpower to Afghanistan and elsewhere in the world to defeat the terrorists who wish us harm. Keeping our troops in Iraq – at the expense of fighting terrorism elsewhere – is not making us any safer or more secure. While we all wish that our troops could come home as soon as possible, the most important concern is that our withdrawal from Iraq be safe, responsible, and with the least risk to our troops on the ground. President Obama consulted with his National Security Team and the generals on the ground, and if Generals Petraeus, Odierno and General Austin, a top commander in Iraq based out of Fort Bragg, are comfortable with this, then I believe we should proceed in this way.”

Of the eight counties where Barack Obama made the largest gains last year relative to John Kerry in 2004, two of them are the state’s strongest military locales, Cumberland and Onslow Counties, PPP.