A Veteran’s Call to Contractors

“Integrity first, service before self, and excellence in all we do!” As a young Air Force cadet, I vividly remember shouting those words each time I entered the chow hall at field training. At the time, those words were merely my ticket to eat. However, those routine recitations would soon become the principles by which I conducted myself in the military and as a veteran.

Like myself, many veterans uphold those principles after transitioning out the military. Veterans, nevertheless, experience circumstantial and systemic challenges when reintegrating with civilian life after military service. According to the Federal Bureau of Labor Statistics’ July 2016 report, the unemployment rate for post-9/11 veterans is 5.9% (0.6% higher than the general unemployment rate).[1] In Ohio, there are approximately 80,000 post-911 veterans.[2] If consistent with national rates, Ohio would have upwards to 4,720 unemployed, post-9/11 veterans. For veterans who made countless sacrifices to family, friends, and country, we must do more to not only facilitate their transition to civilian work but also to utilize their exceptional skillsets and experiences. Few private industries provide such ample opportunity for or stand to gain as much from the employment of veterans as the construction industry does.

Contractors benefit from not only veterans’ tangible skills (i.e. civil and developmental engineers, electricians, mechanics, computer technicians, administrative assistants, contract specialists, project managers, etc.) but also their intangible skills. Veterans exit a profession that prioritizes integrity whereby service men and women must daily put in an honest day’s work. Is it not comforting to trust that employees will turn in honest time cards? Veterans’ mobility exemplifies their service before self mentality. Need an employee who is not only willing to travel for work but who also knows how to do so efficiently? Lastly, the military cultivates a standard of excellence whereby soldiers, sailors, and airmen take on initiatives. How invaluable is a motivated employee?

Employers likely do not disagree with the value veterans bring. Many claim that they would higher such qualified employees if they could only find them. Luckily, there are numerous ways. State programs like OhioMeansJobs and private organizations like Helmets to Hardhats provide employer-veteran employee matching services. For an employer, all it takes is a few seconds to create an account with one of the programs in order for them to send you potential applicants. To create an employer account with the OhioMeansJobs, following the easy step-by-step instructions.For Helmets to Hardhats, go to the following employer account guide. These programs have provided veterans with great jobs and employers with excellent employees.

I encourage employers in the construction industry to consider veteran employment. Coupled with the benefit employers stand to gain, employing veterans is arguably the most direct support our community can provide them after they serve.

So on this Veterans Day, I call on employers to support veterans who hold integrity first, service before self, and excellence in all they do.

– Christian H. Robertson II

[1] http://www.military.com/daily-news/2016/08/05/post-911-veteran-unemployment-rates-spike.html

[2] http://www.mydaytondailynews.com/news/news/local-military/veteran-unemployment-lowest-on-record/nqzsr/