Representative Wieckert's office says the idea is to help mostly young service men and women, get a jump start on their careers.

People who work with veterans say serving overseas often means sacrificing job experience at home.

"I had to explain well this shouldn't be viewed as an employment gap in fact it's very intense employment and I learned a lot from my experiences," says Tim Moore, veterans employment coordinator with the Department of Workforce Development.

Veterans employment coordinator Tim Moore says part of the problem is businesses don't see how skills on the battlefield--like leadership and decision making-- translate to the workplace.

Moore speaks from experience. He spent a year as a Marine staff sergeant in Iraq, and then six months looking for a permanent job when he returned.

"When I looked at the newspapers there wasn't any postings for a marine infantry sergeant," says Moore.

Cliff Sorenson with Eau Claire County veteran services says helping vets helps everyone.

"We're all benefiting not only by making sure that our nation has ready, willing and able citizens to come to the table and serve whenever we need them to but secondly that the job market is enhanced for them and the unemployment is reduced," says Sorenson.

Sorenson ads hiring vets means more income tax money for the state.
Also, according to information supplied by Wieckert's office, the Department of Commerce says the program wouldn't cost the state anything more.

They say the money would come from existing state development zones which have enough money to cover the incentives.