Army Veteran Sgt. Mary Sawyer of Fort Campbell, Kentucky Warrior Transition Battalion participated in the Career and Education Readiness and Career Skills Programs, whereby she returned to school and immediately found a job within the plumbing trade ...

While recovering at the Fort Campbell Warrior Transition Battalion, Sgt. Mary Sawyer began taking college courses with the ultimate goal of obtaining a degree in project management. Like most Army sergeants, she possesses superb leadership skills and is well-practiced at planning, managing and executing projects.

Sawyer participated in the Career and Education Readiness program and took advantage of the Education and Employment Initiative. E2I is a collaborative effort with the Departments of Labor and Veterans Affairs that assists wounded, ill and injured service members early in their recovery process to identify their skills and match them with education and career opportunities to help them successfully transition to a career in the civilian sector.

Sawyer also participated in the Career Skills Program that she used to receive hands-on experience at a local plumbing, heating and air conditioning firm. CSP is an element of the Transition Soldier-Life-Cycle that encourages Soldiers to capitalize on training opportunities to advance their military skills into post-service careers.

Upon completing the course, the owners of the plumbing firm were so impressed with the feedback in regards to Sawyer's performance that they offered her a job immediately upon graduation. By participating in the CER program and obtaining a job one week after completing her military obligation, Sawyer is clearly a success story for a Soldier in transition.