civilians avoid hiring vets?

Part of the answer can be found in your question: "1 year in Iraq as a platoon sergeant is more than enough 'experience' in a leadership position than any young buck straight out of college with no experience will ever have."

It conveys a certain amount of arrogance and cauckiness that may not always fit well in a civilian work environment. It also suggests that you may be one of those veterans that comes into a room with the attitude that "I'm the baddest a$$ in this here room, I seen the shitt, I put my life on the line so all you young college bucks could play it safe...!" That may actually be true, but it doesn't endear you to anyone who has to work with you. It also suggests you may have an attitude when it comes to working under someone who doesn't have that experience. You're also saying your one year in Iraq will give you more leadership experience than your potential civilian BOSS will ever have, and that is something a potential boss is not going to select for.

Also, while education sometimes is not a good substitute for experience, just as often experience is not a good substitute for education. I've hired a variety of people over the years, and I do feel veterans have a higher level of success in the jobs I've given them because they do generally have higher self-discipline, confidence, motivation, loyalty and a willingness to endure. But not always. It always comes down to, in fact, the person and not the experience. If given a choice between a recent inexperienced college graduate who expresses an eagerness to learn, and a veteran who conveys the attitude that he or she has seen and done it all...then guess who I'm going to pick?

I hope this gives you some insight from the hiring perspective.

EDIT: You continue to illustrate part of your problem. I'm trying to give you a reasoned and logical response as to why you're running into this obstacle...and you respond with more of the same sarcasm. That indicates that you think you DO have all the answers, and you're not willing to listen to anyone, especially someone who gives you answers you don't like. This is the sort of thing interviewers can see, and is exactly the sort of thing they want to avoid. There is a difference between "Yes I can do the job" and "Yes I can do the job if you get the phuck out of the way" and you are sort of exhibiting the latter traits.

Also, you're showing a sense of superiority over the straight-from-college kids, and no doubt you have many skills and attributes they won't have. But you must know when you mix a bunch of people together on a team, how disruptive it is if one of them feels he is superior to the others. Actually, it works AGAINST you to say things like you'll give 110% because that comes across as just gung-ho stupid. It's not that your civilian counter-parts are going to be lazy (while not as dangerous, getting a college degree was far more difficult than anything I ever did in the military), it's just that 100% by definition is ALL that a person can give. There is nothing more ultimate than "ultimate," and it is disruptive to the work environment to have someone prowling around giving a fictitious 110%...in their own mind, that is.

Look, I can relate to your frustration and I appreciate your service, but the reality is, few people are going to give you a job just because you have Iraq on your resume. In the business world it's what can you do for me now, not what did you do for me yesterday. Like I said, some veterans I've hired fit really well into the private civilian work environment. And some haven't. And I've tried to explain bluntly why those that haven't, haven't. A lot of their profile is similar to yours, in saying things that "no one straight out of college will EVER [emphasis added] match" your experience. That's very akin to telling your prospective boss (if he's not a veteran) that you're better than him, that you're better than your co-workers, that you're pretty much the dude. As a platoon sergeant, how would you react to someone under your command with that attitude towards you (his leader) or his fellow soldiers?

So these are the things that, based on your question, I'd suggest you consider as working against you. Don't forget that I recognize all the things that work FOR you. Tone some of it down a couple notches and you may find a few more doors opening for you. Or, as the other responder suggested, spend more time pursing a government job where your service gives you advantages for employment.

Good luck.

Edit 2: And somehow in spite of your statement about giving 110%, I think you also lack follow-through, which is important to employers. Like, for example, are you going to take the initiative to award a Best Answer...or leave it to the voters?

Then apply for Government jobs since Vets get extra points and disable Vets are currently in demand.

Even if government jobs have hiring Freezes there is a dispensation and immediate hire for the disabled vet