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New Department of Energy program hires veterans

  • Published
  • By Brandice J. O'Brien
  • Tinker Public Affairs
TINKER AIR FORCE BASE, Okla. --  While many families struggle with the uncertainty of the economy, the Department of Energy recently introduced a program that reinstates hope. "Troops to Energy Jobs" is a nationwide effort to hire veterans into energy-related jobs.

Because many veterans already have necessary skills and knowledge acquired through their military experience, officials have said they are a good fit for energy-related positions.

Veterans who apply for the "Troops to Energy Jobs" program will be granted accelerated job training and hiring. Five companies are piloting the program and one of them - American Electric Power - services Oklahoma.

"Our troops are the right people to put into these jobs," said Britton Young, Tinker's Energy Team point-of-contact in the 72nd Air Base Wing Civil Engineer Directorate. "They're well trained, adaptable, good leaders, are used to changing conditions and are focused on safety."

Through the program, a variety of positions - including engineers, line workers, plant operators, technicians, pipefitters, pipe layers, welders and security officers - are open. There are three components to the program, each designed to support the incoming employee's education, career development and advancement.

Should an individual want to pursue one of these jobs, an Associate's degree is the minimum requirement, but the Center for Energy Workforce Development, which manages the program, will help a prospective candidate obtain the necessary education.

Ms. Young said in the next five years it is anticipated 40 percent of the workforce will retire. Additionally, approximately 200,000 energy-related jobs are expected to open in the next 10 years.

Furthermore, veterans have an unemployment rate of 11.5 percent, which is two percentage points higher than the national average.

"It's a win-win," Ms. Young said. "This is an industry that will keep growing; traditional energy sources will continue, but we're also diversifying bringing in renewable energy and all these jobs are going to need skilled workers.

For all the sacrifices that they've made for us, it's good to know our government is trying to do something to remedy that and it's good for the economy."

For more information, go to http://www.cewd.org/troops/FINAL_troopstojobs_handout.pdf