Industry Spotlight: Aerospace & Defense

This article kicks off a monthly Industry Spotlight feature where we will spotlight a different industry in which veterans are highly successful. This month, we'll start with Aerospace & Defense.

It is a very easy transition for Veterans to move into the Aerospace & Defense Industry, since they have worked on similar, if not the same, equipment, projects or programs in their military careers.

Some of the position types that Veterans are a great match for include:

Engineering
Systems Engineer
Manufacturing Engineer
Software Engineer
Safety Engineer
Design Engineer
QA Engineer

Today’s military professionals receive practical application and schooling in six sigma and lean manufacturing principles, and have a solid foundation of engineering skills. They have advanced degrees and the experience necessary to immediately contribute to an organization’s bottom line. This background, combined with leadership skills and unlimited potential, gives a company great flexibility in using our Engineers in a variety of capacities.

Operations / Management
Program Manager
Project Manager
Technical Manager
Production Planner

Veterans have plenty of experience juggling the demands of complex programs and projects. Throughout their military career, they have balanced human capital, critical resources, and time constraints to meet organizational goals. Their leadership skills allow them to form and motivate diverse teams to ensure the project is done on time and above standard. Veterans have an easy transition from the military to programs supporting the military - they are subject matter experts and proven transformational leaders.

Sales
New Business Development Representative
Territory Manager
Regional Manager

Understanding the structure of the Department of Defense allows our candidates to use their contacts and networks in order to find key personnel and opportunities necessary to generate new business. That ability, combined with their determination and knowledge, ensures success in securing those necessary contracts. Many Veterans currently understand, and are proficient in, the RFP and Bid Processes.

Technical
Electrician
Field Service Technician
Maintenance Technician
Reliability Technician

Military technicians represent some of the best electrical, mechanical, and electronic talent anywhere. Technically trained with real world experience, they frequently work on the same equipment they worked on in the military. With a greatly reduced learning curve and solid fundamentals, military technicians are able to work on the most complex of equipment. Furthermore, their excellent communication skills, professional presentation, and maturity guarantee success onsite at a client’s location.

Learn more about Veterans in the Aerospace & Defense Industry

Top 10 Reasons to Hire Veterans

The Dept of Labor Hire Vets First initiative identifies the Top 10 Reasons to Hire Veterans:

1. Accelerated Learning Curve
Veterans have the proven ability to learn new skills and concepts. In addition, they can enter your workforce with identifiable and transferable skills, proven in real-world situations. This background can enhance your organization's productivity.

2. Leadership
The military trains people to lead by example as well as through direction, delegation, motivation, and inspiration. Veterans understand the practical ways to manage behaviors for results, even in the most trying circumstances. They also know the dynamics of leadership as part of both hierarchical and peer structures.

3. Teamwork
Veterans understand how genuine teamwork grows out of a responsibility to one's colleagues. Military duties involve a blend of individual and group productivity. They also necessitate a perception of how groups of all sizes relate to each other and an overarching objective.

4. Diversity and Inclusion in Action
Veterans have learned to work side by side with individuals regardless of diverse race, gender, geographic origin, ethnic background, religion, and economic status as well as mental, physical, and attitudinal capabilities. They have the sensitivity to cooperate with many different types of individuals.

5. Efficient Performance Under Pressure
Veterans understand the rigors of tight schedules and limited resources. They have developed the capacity to know how to accomplish priorities on time, in spite of tremendous stress. They know the critical importance of staying with a task until it is done right.

6. Respect for Procedures
Veterans have gained a unique perspective on the value of accountability. They can grasp their place within an organizational framework, becoming responsible for subordinates' actions to higher supervisory levels. They know how policies and procedures enable an organization to exist.

7. Technology and Globalization
Because of their experiences in the service, veterans are usually aware of international and technical trends pertinent to business and industry. They can bring the kind of global outlook and technological savvy that all enterprises of any size need to succeed.

8. Integrity
Veterans know what it means to do "an honest day's work." Prospective employers can take advantage of a track record of integrity, often including security clearances. This integrity translates into qualities of sincerity and trustworthiness.

9. Conscious of Health and Safety Standards
Thanks to extensive training, veterans are aware of health and safety protocols both for themselves and the welfare of others. Individually, they represent a drug-free workforce that is cognizant of maintaining personal health and fitness. On a company level, their awareness and conscientiousness translate into protection of employees, property, and materials.

10. Triumph Over Adversity
In addition to dealing positively with the typical issues of personal maturity, veterans have frequently triumphed over great adversity. They likely have proven their mettle in mission critical situations demanding endurance, stamina, and flexibility. They may have overcome personal disabilities through strength and determination.

Do you agree? What have you seen as the top benefits to hiring veterans in your organization?

West Point – America’s Best College

According to Forbes Magazine, West Point beats out the Ivy League as the best college in America. West Point ranks ahead of other schools in terms of their graduation rate, Rhodes and Gates scholars, class size, and that fact that the Army picks up all of the cost of attending.

According to students, alumni, faculty and higher education experts, the undergraduate experience at West Point
and the other service academies is defined by an intense work ethic and a drive to succeed on all fronts. "We face challenges and obstacles that not every college student has to face, but we are able to be competitive in all the different areas, from sports to academics," Vetter says.

No alcohol is allowed in the dorms and freshmen are
given only one weekend leave per semester. That rigor, combined with the virtue of a free education, has made West Point tops in FORBES' list of the best colleges in the country, up from sixth place last year.

Read the article here and come back to leave a comment and tell us what you think!

Tax Credits for Hiring Veterans

The passing of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 has expanded the Work Opportunity Tax Credit Program to include new provisions for hiring veterans, so that employers can earn a tax credit of up to $2400 or $4800, for each eligible veteran hired in 2009 and 2010.

What is an eligible veteran?

There are 2 categories of eligible veterans:

Unemployed Veterans

• Veteran must have served on Active Duty, with an honorable discharge, and be hired within 5 years of their separation date.


• Veteran must have received unemployment compensation for a minimum of 4 weeks within the previous one-year period.


• Your organization can claim a one year tax credit of 40% of up to the first $6,000 in wages, or $2400.

Disabled Unemployed Veterans

• Veteran must have a greater than 10% service connected disability, and be hired within 1 year of their military discharge date.


• Veteran must have aggregate period of unemployment within the previous one-year period that equal or exceed 6 months.


• Your organization can claim a one year tax credit of 40% of up to the first $12,000 in wages, or $4800.

What should you do to file for the credit?

IRS 8850 (Pre-Screening Notice and Certification Request for the Work Opportunity Credit) - The applicant must complete page 1 prior to hire, and the employer must complete page 2 once the applicant has been hired. This form must be postmarked within 28 days of hiring the veteran.

ETA 9061 (US Department of Labor, Individual Characteristics Form) - When completing this form, if you are filing for the Unemployed Veterans credit, use the notation “UV” in Box 20. If filing for the Disabled Unemployed Veterans Credit, use the notation “DV” in Box 20. This form should accompany IRS 8850.

You will need to mail both forms to the WOTC Coordinator within your State Workforce Agency (do not mail to the IRS). For the name and contact information of the WOTC Coordinator for your state, click here.

Have you taken advantage of the tax credit for hiring a veteran this year? Do you plan to for 2010? Leave a comment to join the discussion!

PLEASE NOTE: Hire a Hero, Hire a Vet is not in the business of providing tax or legal advice to any taxpayer. This content is for informational purposes only, and not intended or written to be used without advice of the taxpayer's independent tax advisor.