Workforce development: Discovering the amazing knowledge and talents of veterans
Maine’s labor shortage has been well documented and it shows no signs of abating.
While most people recognize the service and sacrifices that our military and veterans have made, many have no idea about the immense amount of education and training that they have accumulated and what that means for businesses in this state.
When people enter the military, they receive ongoing training and education. Some of the training involves specific military-specific technical skills like physical training and how to use weapons. However, other training revolves around what are also business-related skills.
In our interviews with veterans who served in Iraq and Afghanistan, we were impressed with their accounts of this continual education. The military uses a rotation system to send people to different units in different locations, which enables service members to gain skills and knowledge from different perspectives. Service members have the opportunity to attend both military and non-military schools to learn about information technology, manufacturing, maintenance, logistics, management and leadership.
Veterans have acquired the valuable “soft skills” of teamwork, leadership and communications. Their disciplined training in the military also makes them wonderful associates, who are dependable and skilled in time management, planning and organization.
Many employers are not aware of the vast knowledge that our veterans hold. Interestingly, many veterans do not even recognize the valuable knowledge and skills that they have developed over their tenure in the military.
Nory B. Jones and John F. Mahon, authors of "Knowledge Transfer and Innovation," Maine Business School, University of Maine
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