Does your buddy live near a military installation? Does he have a profile with http://www.military.com? Is he enrolled in the Veterans Administration? Has he seen a local veterans representative? Does he have profiles created with www.indeed.com and www.simplyhired.com? There are job fairs specifically for veterans all over the country in every state. Unlike vietnam era and earlier veterans, we have access to an endless supply of information available at our fingertips. If we want to put food on the table, then we have to be fully engaged. Leave no stone unturned. I know what is available, because I have had to use those resources. Is it always easy? No. Can it be intimidating? Yes. Stay hopeful for your friend and be a pillar of support in his time of need.
He is just done with the rat race of it all. While we have it better its still not great