Photo By Alexandra Shea | Master Sgt. Marcos Madrazo, 408th Brigade Support Battalion headquartered at Shaw Air...... read more read more
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The Soldier for Life-Transition Assistance Program hosted an Education and Career Fair Nov. 19 at Fort Jackson’s Solomon Center. The fair offered Soldiers transitioning from active-duty and their Families employment and education opportunities.
“I’m here trying to network with local employers here in Columbia,” said Master Sgt. Marcos Madrazo, 408th Brigade Support Battalion headquartered at Shaw Air Force Base, Sumter, South Carolina. “I’m going to retire in the next eight months. I think events like these are beneficial especially for Soldiers like me who are not from this area.”
Madrazo is an acquisitions and contracting specialist who has many options when it comes to employment once he retires. He said the fair offered him an opportunity to hand out his resume and discover local area companies that offer employment in his field.
Representatives of more than 50 companies and businesses manned tables offering information about their employer, what positions they have available to fill and the type of employee they are seeking to hire. For some Soldiers, talking face-to-face with potential employers in career fields they are interested in, offers them insight to training and skills needed to fill the positions.
Having university and college representative colocated at the fair offered additional options to Soldiers, civilians and their Families to start or complete a degree plan that can mean employment with preferred companies and businesses in the future. Many of the educational institutes also offered degree paths in business to help start and build a private business.
“They are working together to identify job opportunities and also let Soldiers know what they need to do to further their education if they need it,” said Carolyn Andrews, SFL-TAP Transitions services manager. “We have 20 military spouse-friendly employers here as well. We are excited to be serving both Soldiers and their Families.”
Scott Turriff, a talent accusation specialist, offered attendees manager and shift lead positions within his national pet supply distribution company. Like the other employer representatives attending the fair, Turriff had at least two open positions available for immediate hire during the fair.
Also represented during the fair were employment opportunities with first responder services such and emergency medical technicians and 911 call operators, the U.S. Department of Justice, Federal Bureau of Prisons, various technical trades and law enforcement.
“We do a variety of things like building clearing and detaining suspects so tactical skills help,” said Sgt. Donnie Ng, a recruitment and hiring officer with the Greenville, South Carolina, Police Department. “One-third of our department is either veterans or currently serving in the National Guard or Reserves.”
Ng, an Army veteran himself, said the military skills Soldiers acquire and remain proficient in throughout their military careers are valuable skills for law enforcement agencies such as his.
Employers and educational services will take all the contact information they gathered on potential hires back to their respective businesses to follow up within the coming weeks.
Andrews said the majority of employment representatives will return to Fort Jackson soon since SFL-TAP hosts hiring events about once every other month.
“This is a great opportunity to break down any employment barriers and any fears of the unknown and prepare for their departure (from the military),” Andrews said. “They know what they will need to do to be competitive. The end result is to get that Soldier and Family member meaningful employment.”
For more information about SFL-TAP services or upcoming career fairs or hiring events, call 751-4109.
| Date Taken: | 11.21.2019 |
| Date Posted: | 12.02.2019 10:16 |
| Story ID: | 353978 |
| Location: | FORT JACKSON, SC, US |
| Web Views: | 40 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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