 In 2010, the Department of the Navy created the Wounded Warrior Hiring and Support Initiative to coordinate Wounded Warrior Employment efforts and ultimately increase Wounded Warrior Employability by ensuring they have access to education, training, and employment opportunities. The Wounded Warrior Conference stemmed from this initiative, and I'm proud to say the conference is now in its third year. Since last year's Wounded Warrior Conference, the Department of the Navy has hired 9,478 veterans to include 1,647 returning service members with 30 percent or higher disability ratings. We want to continue this trend. For the very first time, this year's Wounded Warrior Conference will also feature a two-day career fair with workshops for wounded, ill, and injured service members and disabled veterans. More than 50 private sector businesses and federal government agencies, including the Department of the Navy, are hosting both and will be accepting resumes at the career fair. Support organizations like Navy Safe Harbor will also be at the career fair, ready to advise and assist wounded warriors. Career workshops for conference participants will focus on building practical, essential skills for employment and how to navigate systems like the federal hiring programs that exist to give wounded warriors and veterans a competitive edge. We'll have professionals on hand to provide support on resume writing and ensuring that the skills you learned and were trained with in the military translate into terms that private sector employers can understand and seek out. We'll have professionals on hand to help with interview practice and a set of skills that you may not have had the opportunity to hone while you're in uniform. And even other critical tips like what to wear to a private sector interview. Our goal is to connect wounded warriors with Navy commands and employers so that we can build a diverse workforce, inclusive of wounded warriors, ensuring they have secure, competitive jobs and are able to continue to serve their country. I'll be there, and I hope to see you there, too.