The
nation’s oldest and largest major combat veterans’ organization is calling
President Obama’s new “We Can’t Wait” initiative an extremely positive
step that will help thousands of service members with manufacturing and other high-demand
skills receive civilian credentials and licenses.
Today’s announcement tasks the Defense Department’s new
Military Credentialing and Licensing Task Force to focus on industries and
career fields that have an identified need for more skilled workers, such as in
manufacturing, emergency response, healthcare, information technology,
transportation and logistics. Within a year, the Task Force will identify
military specialties that can readily transfer to these high-demand jobs; work
with civilian credentialing and licensing associations to address gaps between
military training programs and civilian credentialing and licensing
requirements; and provide service members with greater access to necessary
certification and licensing exams.
“This
will be extremely beneficial for transitioning service members and hopefully
their spouses, too,” said Richard L. DeNoyer, a retired Marine and Vietnam
combat veteran, who leads the 2 million-member Veterans of Foreign Wars of the
U.S. and its Auxiliaries.
All
military lawyers, doctors and chaplains must first be civilian-licensed or
certified. DeNoyer said it just makes sense that specialized military training
should also meet private-sector standards, such as in the career fields of
machinists, welders, plumbers, engineers and logistics specialists, as well as
commercial vehicle drivers, paramedics, and airframe and powerplant
technicians. With industry now involved in military training standards, the VFW
hopes all the states will soon ease their restrictions regarding the
portability of licensing and certifications and academic credit.
“DOD
paid more than $1 billion in unemployment compensation last year to former
servicemen and women who were unable to find work,” said the VFW national
commander. “This new initiative will help ensure their specialized military
training meets civilian standards for credentialing and licensing, which will
save the government money and provide industry with a fully qualified and
job-ready workforce. It’s a win-win for everyone.”
Read
more about the new White House initiative in a report prepared by the
President’s Council of Economic Advisers and the National Economic Council. The
“Military
Skills for America’s Future: Leveraging Military Service and Experience to Put
Veterans and Military Spouses Back to Work” report analyzes the
labor market situation of America’s veterans, and discusses the challenges that
returning veterans and military spouses face as they seek to enter or re-enter
civilian employment.