Bridging the Gap: Hiring Events Link Military Talent with Career Opportunities

JOINT BASE MYER-HENDERSON HALL, Va. – In an ongoing effort to support transitioning service members, veterans, and military spouses, Joint Base Myer-Henderson Hall (JBM-HH) recently co-hosted two networking and hiring events through its Transition Assistance Program (TAP) on the installation.

The two events, one on Mar. 6 and the other on Mar. 20, welcomed over 400 job seekers collectively, a significant increase to prior hiring fairs, and included such prominent companies as the Virginia Department of Transportation, Peraton, and Leidos.

According to Carlos Rodriguez, JBM-HH Transition Services Manager, all soldiers are required to complete TAP before separation from active duty. This mandatory program strives to provide soldiers ample opportunities for immediate success in their civilian lives.

“I want our transitioning service members to know they are not alone in the process,” he said. “TAP and the associated partners are here to go the extra mile for them to succeed after the military.”

These events help bridge the gap between military and civilian careers, provide valuable resources, and give those transitioning direct access to potential employers, Rodriguez added.

“Having a dedicated forum with employers seeking military talent provides an environment that is less stressful for troops to test the waters for their next phase. Our main objective is for service members to have jobs before going home,” he said.

For the Mar. 6 hiring event, JBM-HH TAP partnered with Recruit Military, a recruiting company whose sole mission is connecting transitioning service members, spouses and veterans with employment opportunities.

“Companies are excited to be here,” said Chris Stevens, Senior Vice President of Recruit Military. “We have 27 companies and over 540 pre-registered veterans, service members, and spouses for this event.”

Recruit Military partners with Army transition programs at venues across the country to host hiring and recruitment events to give service members a head start before beginning civilian life.

“We do 120 of these events per year,” said Stevens. “It’s important to help transitioning military members; I was one of them. We want to make positive connections for separating service members, retirees and spouses.”

In addition to hiring fairs and career opportunities, TAP provides resume writing courses, higher education and business workshops, VA benefits classes, and financial coaching.

“As service members come through TAP, they are walked through an individual path based on their needs,” said Rodriguez. “It touches the opportunities available to them to enhance their prospects for a successful transition.”

Rodriguez said his best advice for transitioning service members is to start the TAP process early and go often.

“It’s time to take care of yourself after serving the nation selflessly.”

For more information about JBM-HH’s Transition Assistance Program, reach out to the team at 520-687-4983.