Skills
When you look at the modern workforce, it seems everything in flux. Work that used to get us by in the industry have become financial burdens to employers that want to honor life time service while remaining competitive in the demands with today's needed skills. It has become a world of technology, service, and competitive manufacturing. In order to stay alive, civilian companies need to know that new hires can meet the demands they are facing. They want to find a workforce that has basic skill sets, ability to train on their company's production in all areas, and be dedicated to their work.
As a veteran, you had an excellent proving ground. The military has outstanding training programs and help many of you learned above basic skill sets. The fact you made it through their training demonstrates that you ARE Trainable to achieve skills needed to perform well in a civilian environment. Unfortunately, not all of the skills you learned while in the military gave you civilian certification for the same type of work in the civilian work environment. This area of concern IS being addressed. Though not as rapid as many of us would like, change has been set in motion to help close this gap. Meanwhile we have worked on outreach as we set up this program to meet and exceed demands of the current employment force:
As a veteran, you had an excellent proving ground. The military has outstanding training programs and help many of you learned above basic skill sets. The fact you made it through their training demonstrates that you ARE Trainable to achieve skills needed to perform well in a civilian environment. Unfortunately, not all of the skills you learned while in the military gave you civilian certification for the same type of work in the civilian work environment. This area of concern IS being addressed. Though not as rapid as many of us would like, change has been set in motion to help close this gap. Meanwhile we have worked on outreach as we set up this program to meet and exceed demands of the current employment force:
- Connected with the industry to discover skills from the military that are being certified with minimum training and/or testing.
- Followed the alliances of government and business to help the "military" friendly employers find employees from among the veteran ranks.
- Connected with grants and job training programs that help you find employment in new fields.
- And finally, we are working with leaders in the employment industry to help you gain the skills that will set you in a class above the average job applicant.
Washington State Legislation regarding matching military skills with civilian certifications:
April 2011 - Summary of Bill:
Military training or experience is considered to satisfy training and experience requirements
of certain professional licenses unless the Department or other regulatory body determines
that the training and experience is not substantially equivalent to the standards of the state.
The designated professions are architects, cosmetologists, barbers, manicurists, estheticians,
engineers, land surveyors, security guards, auctioneers, embalmers and funeral directors, real
estate brokers and managing brokers, landscape architects, appraisers, court reporters, private
investigators, bail bond agents, on-site wastewater treatment system designers, geologists,
home inspectors, body piercing and tattooing licensees, camping resort salespersons, notaries
public, driver training school instructors, timeshare salespersons, and professional athletic
licensees. House Bill Report HB 1418
Military training or experience is considered to satisfy training and experience requirements
of certain professional licenses unless the Department or other regulatory body determines
that the training and experience is not substantially equivalent to the standards of the state.
The designated professions are architects, cosmetologists, barbers, manicurists, estheticians,
engineers, land surveyors, security guards, auctioneers, embalmers and funeral directors, real
estate brokers and managing brokers, landscape architects, appraisers, court reporters, private
investigators, bail bond agents, on-site wastewater treatment system designers, geologists,
home inspectors, body piercing and tattooing licensees, camping resort salespersons, notaries
public, driver training school instructors, timeshare salespersons, and professional athletic
licensees. House Bill Report HB 1418