Fort Hood hosts job fair for officers

Photo By Sgt. 1st Class Tomora Nance | Maj. John Glasco, a deputy officer with the Combat Training Center Directorate at Fort Leavenworth, looks for a copy of his resume to hand to Target representative during a Military Officer Career Connection job fair Sept. 23 at Fort Hood’s Oveta Culp Hobby. Glasco said, he thought the job fair was well organized. (Photo by: Staff Sgt Tomora Clark, 13th Public Affairs Detachment)  

FORT HOOD, TX, UNITED STATES

09.23.2014

Story by Staff Sgt. Tomora Nance 

13th Public Affairs Detachment

FORT HOOD, Texas - The Transition Assistance Program held a Military Officer Career Connection job fair for retiring or separating officers Sept. 23 at Fort Hood’s Oveta Culp Hobby. The event gave several local and national employers an opportunity to inform officers on their companies’ openings, history and level of expertise needed to fill a position.

“This was the second time we held an event like this at Fort Hood,” said Robert C. Schumacher, the marketing coordinator and counselor for Fort Hood Soldier’s TAP center, in reference to the one held on Aug. 5.

With the current drawdown of the military, several officers were selected for the Officers Selection Board and were forced out on early separation or retirement.

“Many officers didn’t know what they were going to do once they transitioned, so we (TAP) organized the job fairs,” Schumacher said.

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, veterans accounted for 9 percent of the unemployment rate in 2013, and each year the military separates between 240,000 and 360,000 service members.

This job fair provided officers with an opportunity to cushion their transition to civilian life, said Schumacher.

Ralph Chalfant, a priority placement program coordinator and recruiter with Central Personal Advisor Center, informed several attendees about possible jobs available to them.

“I think it’s important that service members are armed with the knowledge of available job opportunities before they transition out of the military, so they can better prepare themselves,” Chalfant said. “I’m glad that I can assist them in their transition and hopefully make it as smooth as possible."

From 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. more than 40 commissioned and warrant officers gathered inside Oveta Culp Hobby’s conference room, where they networked with several hiring employers, such as Kraft and Target.

“Today has provided me with some valuable insight into the Texas job market that I couldn’t get in Kansas by allowing me a chance to network with some of the local employers,” said Maj. John Glasco, a deputy officer with the Combat Training Center Directorate at Fort Leavenworth.

Glasco, a San Antonio native, is retiring at the beginning of 2015 with hopes of moving back to Texas.

Although the event was geared toward commissioned and warrant officers, a few senior noncommissioned officers attended the job fair.

“We really wanted to target a specific audience, but NCOs were more than welcomed to attend,” said Schumacher.

By having this job fair on base, it gives military members a chance to talk to different employers without having to compete with the civilian population, said Glasco.

“This job fair means a lot to me,” said Schumacher. “As a retired service member, I am grateful I can help others transition out of the military with a tool for success.”

The passage from army life to working in the civilian sector can be a difficult transition for some, but Glasco feels that today’s job fair helped what might otherwise be a bumpy road.

“I think today was a success; I now feel better prepared for my transition out of the Army,” Glasco said.

• Date Taken: 09.23.2014
• Date Posted: 09.25.2014 15:31
• Story ID: 143313
• Location: FORT HOOD, TX, US
• Hometown: SAN ANTONIO, TX, US