With the new focus on going green, many people are trying to find “green collar” jobs. A number of companies have emerged to help veterans do just that.
According to an article by The New York Times, veterans who want to do green work are a benefit to both the employer and the veteran themselves. A few companies have taken note of this and begun helping veterans find green jobs. At the same time, many veterans have been touting the importance of going green.
For instance, former General Wesley Clark now serves as the co-chair for Growth Energy, an ethanol lobby group. He also recently joined the board for wind company Juhl Wind. Clark is a strong proponent of the need for energy independence and has had an influence on the military’s focus on renewable energy.
The Lucas Group is a job placement company that specializes in helping servicemen transition into civilian jobs. John Ward, who served in the Navy for 24 years, now works for Iberdola, a Spanish wind developer.
“For me, it was nice, because it’s not just a desk job, it’s a field job — and as a career naval officer, I kind of like to be out and about,” Ward said in the article, adding that he also considered management jobs at traditional power plants. “This one was just a little more exotic and a little more exciting.”
Ward found his position managing operations at a wind farm in Missouri through the Lucas Group. Many employers prefer veterans because of the military’s emphasis on safety and training.
“We love guys coming out of nuclear submarines (because of safety mindsets and equipment training),” Iberdola Spokeswoman Jan Johnson said in the article.
Veterans Green Jobs, based in Colorado, trains veterans for work in energy efficiency and other businesses. Bradley Morris is another military job-placement company that’s even planning a military hiring event specifically aimed at energy and renewables. Bill Scott, vice president of marketing at Bradley Morris, said the company also focuses on the importance of nuclear training.
“Many job seekers come out of the military with training that is directly applicable to civilian energy needs, for instance in the nuclear power sector,” Scott said in the article.
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