According to a recent News
OK article, about 11,000 soldiers transition into
civilian life out of Fort Hood every year. And many may not be prepared
to find a civilian career. That is until now thanks to Col. Matt Elledge’s meeting
with the Greater Austin Chamber of Commerce in
which he pitched the creation of a
program that will place soldiers into intensive, 13-week fellowship programs
with local companies. Called the Heroes Corporate Fellowship Academy, Elledge
explains "If we can get the transitioning soldier into a company … they'll
like what that soldier brings to the table."
Austin-based Mike Starich, CEO
of Orion International, weighed in on the issue and explained that soldiers
with technical and management skills often fare better as they transition.
According to Starich, Oftentimes, those without directly translatable skills
may “see these jobs at the Wal-Marts of the world or retail jobs as lower
paying and they say, 'I'm better off taking the GI Bill and going to school or
taking unemployment.'"
To overcome this gap, Elledge
is calling for the military to get better at helping corporate America
understand what soldiers bring to the table. And, according to News
OK article, companies in Central Texas are listening. He has helped establish joint programs with the Austin chamber, work
with several job-training organizations and bring local business leaders on
post for job fairs and "a day in the life of a soldier" events.
Soldiers with fewer key skills
might attend multiple job fairs on base and find few, good-paying options
available to them. For these soldiers, without hard technical skills, there are
an increasing number of options ranging from Austin Community College and
Skillpoint Alliance. "There's a broad spectrum of support out there,"
concludes Starich. "But it all boils down to giving the person the skill
sets to get a decent-paying job they'll be motivated to take instead of just
accepting."
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