Military2Maritime program recognized by White House for veteran hiring practices
As Congress considers the role the Jones Act and the American maritime industry play as part of the Keystone XL pipeline debate, the national Military2Maritime program, sponsored by the American Maritime Partnership (AMP), was recognized by the White House as part of a transportation forum on best practices to recruit, train, hire and retain veterans. The Military2Maritime program was highlighted for its work to provide opportunities for America’s veterans in the domestic maritime industry across the nation.
“Over the past year, more than a thousand veterans from across the nation have participated in Military2Maritime events, meeting with almost 200 maritime companies, trade schools, and organizations to learn more about transitioning from the military to America's vibrant and robust domestic maritime industry,” said Tom Allegretti, Chairman of AMP. “The U.S. maritime industry wants to provide our veterans with career opportunities to maximize their professional strengths with good-paying jobs that support families and build communities.”
The national Military2Maritime program is designed to help connect the nation’s servicemen and women with jobs in the nation’s thriving domestic maritime industry. Last year, the American maritime industry organized Military2Maritime events in Jacksonville, Fla., Houston, Texas and New Orleans, La. These events provided veterans from across the nation with the opportunity to meet with recruiters and staff from maritime companies, schools and shipyards; attend seminars on marine licensing and transition; and visit with crew and industry personnel who are veterans themselves and successfully made the transition to the maritime industry.
“The maritime industry is a great fit for veterans because of their unique service skills and knowledge,” said Louisiana Veterans Affairs Secretary David LaCerte at the New Orleans event last month. “Veterans learn to work as a team, operate under a chain of command, and focus on getting complex and sometimes hazardous jobs done safely and effectively.”
U.S. Department of Transportation Secretary Anthony Foxx also highlighted the Military2Maritime program today in a blog post, saying the program has “has helped usher a rising number of our nation’s veterans into the U.S. maritime industry.”
The next Military2Maritime event will be held in Norfolk, Va. on February 17, 2015 at the Port of Virginia’s Nauticus Cruise Center.