Joining Forces to Connect Veterans with Opportunity

In one of the most powerful lines of his 2015 State of the Union address on Jan. 20, President Barack Obama said, "If you want somebody who's going to get the job done -- and done right -- hire a veteran."

With veterans accounting for more than a quarter of our workforce at the Department of Transportation, we're already familiar with our returning troops' strong professional skills and work ethic. But that doesn't mean we're not taking the president's message to heart.

Helping our nation's veterans transition to civilian careers remains a top priority for the DoT and for America's transportation industry. And this morning, I joined the first and second ladies of the United States at the Joining Forces Forum on Veterans Hiring in Transportation to keep the ball rolling on this issue and renew the call to connect veterans with promising careers supporting our nation's transportation.

Joining Forces has helped nearly 700,000 veterans and military spouses gain employment. And we at the department have been busy ourselves with a number of successful -- and growing -- initiatives dedicated to the same honorable purpose.

One of these initiatives is Military2Maritime, which enjoys the continued support of our Maritime Administration (MARAD). Through involvement with the American Maritime Partnership-headed Military2Maritime initiative, MARAD has helped usher a rising number of our nation's veterans into the U.S. maritime industry.

Matthew Perkins, formerly with the U.S. Navy, is one of those veterans now working in maritime. As Perkins' tour with the Navy came to a close, he began seeking employment that would not only be a good use of his skill set, but would also allow him to be near a family member in Houston who required his support.

This was a difficult process -- made tougher by the fact that he was living in San Diego at the time.

Thankfully, opportunity came knocking for Perkins -- in the form of a Military2Maritime career event in Houston. He made the trip from San Diego and joined dozens of other job-seeking veterans at the event. There, MARAD Executive Director Joel Szabat outlined the ins and outs of transitioning from military service to working in America's robust domestic maritime industry. After the information session, Perkins met with representatives from almost 200 maritime companies -- each looking to recruit veterans.

Speaking with MARAD officials recently, Perkins called the Military2Maritime program a "life-changing resource," and I can see why.

Today, Perkins is a full-time employee at Houston-area Kirby Inland Marine.

I'm honored that MARAD and the DoT played a role in helping Perkins write the next chapter in his life. But as I said this morning, we must continue connecting veterans like him with the jobs they need, and where they can continue to serve.

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