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Scott’s first transition summit a success

  • Published
  • By Staff Sgt. Jodi Martinez
  • 375th Air Mobility Wing Public Affairs
SCOTT AIR FORCE BASE, Ill. --  

Scott Air Force Base’s first transition summit and education fair was such a success that Hiring Our Heroes is looking to set a date for another event in 2017. The two-day transition summit attracted more than 1,000 attendees and included a total of 108 exhibitors.

Overall, 173 individuals attended the networking reception, which featured five industry briefs as well as two town hall-style panel discussions with top transition experts and industry employers.

“I feel the summit was a huge success, considering this was the first ever for an Air Force installation.

“We are proud to have set the bar of excellence for all Air Force installations,” said Scott Raether, 375th Force Support Squadron community readiness specialist.

The event offered transitioning, hiring, and educational knowledge for those who attended.

“It presented an awesome opportunity for me to think ahead,” said Tech. Sgt. Vincent Billyk, 375th Air Mobility Wing flight safety.

“I’m two years from separating. Having the advantage of knowing what’s out there and who’s looking helps me make a smoother transition.”

In previous years, statistics have shown that the national rate of unemployment for veterans has been higher than the national average, but in recent months, that rate has dropped.

“Last month the unemployment rate was just 3.4 percent,” said Mark Toal, National Veterans employment manager.

One reason for the lower unemployment rate is the recent efforts to assist service members in connecting their unique skills to a civilian workforce that can benefit from these abilities.

“The military is able to fill the work force skills gap,” said Dr. Susan Kelly, director of the Transition to Veterans program office.

“We are filling a true crisis in the work force skills gap that the nation is facing. And who better than the military?”

For those who want to enter a field entirely different than their military specialty code, they are not alone.

“More than half of the service members don’t want to work in their same military job field, so it’s completely common,” said Kelly.

One helpful resource Kelly advocates for is My Next Move. It’s a site that “drills down to the city where you and your family want to relocate to,” she said.

“It will show you what the labor market looks like and what the requirements are for entry level, mid-level, and executive level careers.

“It also tells you what is going to be in demand five years from now and 10 years from now. You need to know that because you don’t want just a job, you want a career path.“

Those who have been injured while in the military have additional obstacles to face while transitioning.

Lavor D. White Sr., 54, a former Army medic who served for 23 years, attended the transition summit after being out of work for over a decade due to injuries suffered while serving in the military.

For him, the transition summit is a way to be independent again.

“I just wanted to find resources to help me get where I need to be. I am willing to try anything,” White said. “I just want to get off the couch and live again.”

Corliss De La Garza, an officer for the Veteran Affairs’ Vocational Rehabilitation and Employment program, says her resource is perfect for veterans who have service-connected disabilities.

“If entitled to the program, they will be assigned a counselor from day one,” said Garza. “That counselor will stay with them all the way into the employment phase—all the way until they find a job.”

For those who may have received an other-than-honorable discharge, they face a unique set of challenges that often go unnoticed.

Transition experts urge leaders not to disregard those service members and get them to the resources they need.

“Those service members should be getting a warm hand-over to the Department of Labor,” said Kelly.

“They are American citizens. And believe me, they are the ones who need the help when they transition.

“They are able to get services they need from the DOL. There is a legal and moral obligation that every service member gets what they need.”

James Butler, a former Navy service member, is one of those members who received a general discharge and faces hurdles to find a job.

“I just hope others don’t scoff at the member who was generally discharged,” said Butler. “I thought I was going to stay in for life, but troubles with alcohol cut that path short. My girlfriend told me about this transition summit, and I am hoping to find a job that can help others who might be struggling too. I’m not eligible to reenlist, but if I can find a job to help others in the military, it is my duty to do just that.”