Men and women in desert fatigues wandered around the Hawai'i Convention Center looking for opportunities yesterday at the Yellow Ribbon Reintegration program.

They heard about home loans and medical benefits. They learned about jobs, and they learned about the new GI Bill and how they could get an education with the government's help.

In all, about 1,500 men and women in the 29th Infantry Brigade Combat Team, who had returned home last month from their tour of duty, attended the mandatory program. The goal is to bring the services to one place for soldiers to make it easier to get help — either medical or financial — from the Veterans Administration.

Sgt. Willie J. Ray, a full-time member of the Hawai'i Army National Guard and member of Bravo Company of the 777th Aviation Support Battalion, has gone to other reintegration events, but this one was different: There were more than 80 schools and businesses represented.

"I liked hearing about the college information," Ray said. "I think I'm gonna take a night class. It was a benefit. I got a lot of information."

Ray served two tours in 2003 and 2007 as an aircraft mechanic.

"I told some of the guys who work for me part time that they can get something out of this, like tuition assistance."

The Yellow Ribbon Reintegration Program is held 30, 60 and 90 days after redeployed soldiers return home, said Lt. Col. Chuck Anthony, National Guard spokesman.

"Every time a unit comes back from deployment, we give them the information on the services available to them," Anthony said. "This is supplemental today, offering the job fair, because many companies have downsized while they were deployed."

The National Guard will hold a similar reintegration program next weekend on the Big Island in Waikoloa and two others the weekend after on Maui and Kaua'i, said Army Maj. Gen. Robert G.F. Lee, state adjutant general.

Adding the job fair to the regular program is timely, Lee said, because many who were deployed were laid off through no fault of their own. Companies, by law, are not allowed to fire employees who are deployed, Lee said.

"While the financial meltdown was occurring, many got 'Dear John' letters from their employers and we felt it was important to provide information on education opportunities and on the new GI Bill that makes it a good time to change careers," Lee said. "This is the first time we have included a job fair. We tailor to the needs of our community and the needs of the family."

Sgt. Joseph Doctolero, 38, who had returned a year ago from his tour in the Middle East, said the job and education fair was helpful as he learned about what the VA had to offer in terms of home loans.

He also learned about the new rules affecting the GI Bill, which went into effect last month and will pay a share of higher education costs.

"I learned more about stuff I didn't know," Doctolero said. "Each time I go to one of these, I learn some more stuff."