ROCK ISLAND ARSENAL, Ill. (Sept. 13, 2013) -- Rock Island Arsenal's Employment and educational event provided one-stop shop for Soldiers and veterans looking for new opportunities in the Quad Cities on Sept. 4.
"This time we combined our education and employment events, instead of having two separate events," said Ethel Robinson, human resources specialist, Rock Island Arsenal Garrison. "We thought it beneficial to combine the two and it is turning out very well."
"It looks likes it worked pretty well combining the two events. Both sides of the hall seem to have better participation," said Renee Michl, director of human resources.
"I think the plan from now on is to combine the two events," said Robinson. "It provides more choices for the Soldiers and they can take advantage of the educational and employment opportunities at the same time. We have Veteran Affairs and other education councilors to provide information on the GI Bill. We have a good mixture of people; we have representation from the VA, as well as employment and we wanted to focus more on our Reserve and National Guard Soldiers. We have good representation for the Reserves, our Heroes to Hire folks are here, it is bringing a full variety of information to the Soldiers and their family members in every category."
Rock Island Arsenal Garrison Commander Col. Elmer Speights Jr., gave a short speech opening the event, thanking the service members and veterans for attending.
"I would like to welcome all the potential employees, employers, educators and everybody that came in to do a booth, I appreciate your time," said Speights. "This is important for this area, and for the (Rock Island Arsenal) Garrison itself. There are many employers on the post and outside in the local community. We pride ourselves on the (Arsenal) Island that we contribute to the entire QC area. That means we are responsible for being a source of commerce in this area and we are proud of that."
All together, there were 43 employers and 20 educators that attended the event, with 30 on-the-spot interviews, four on-the-spot job offers and 40 potential employments with interviews scheduled later, Robinson added.
"This event is associated with the Veterans Opportunity to Work to Hire Heroes Act of 2011, or VOW Act, Helmets to Hardhats program and the revamping of the Army Career and Alumni Program and transition assistance at USAG-RIA," Robinson said. "It is new and part of the new Transition Assistance Program. This is part of the mandatory transition program to ensure that Soldiers have access to the resources that they need for employment, education, technical training and starting a business, helping them to better transition into civilian life. There is a great need recently, with the big influx of Soldiers and their families leaving the military, to help them make a smooth transition back to civilian life. Be it education, employment, starting a new business or technical training."
The Employment Event originated with the U.S. Army Installation Management Command and is driven by the VOW Act. The target audience is service members, veterans, family members and civilian employees on Arsenal Island, added Michl.
"Each garrison is required to support the Act in some way," said Michl. "I am not sure that IMCOM was aware of how aggressive the Arsenal would be in supporting it. We recognize the potential benefit to the military community and are very interested in making this a success. We did not receive any extra resources or staffing to accomplish this, I have a really dedicated staff."
"This time we have a combined education and employment event, instead of having two separate events," said Robinson. "Setting it up like this is beneficial, because when a Soldier is getting ready to transition they will follow a series of tracks. If they meet career readiness standards, by the new procedures under the VOW Act, they enter an employment track, education track, business or entrepreneurial or a trade-school apprenticeship track."
"I had a very good transition out of the military through the ACAP in the (Rock Island Arsenal) Garrison with Ethel Robinson, and the Army Community Services office," said Blakely Green, Allsteel group lead production manager. "I had no break in employment. I went from Soldier to civilian life on the job within my transition time. What really helped was the ACAP itself, making sure my resume translated from Army to civilian terminology. They looked over my resume several times and gave me different pointers and different websites, all the information I needed going into transition and coming out of the Army. This was May 25 and I had a job offer June 20."
"We are putting resources into place to be a fully functioning ACAP," said Robinson. "Right now we have pre-separation counseling services in place and I have been designated to take the lead. I get at least 15 people, Soldiers and family members, come for pre-separation counseling, assistance with transitioning and to find out how to use the online ACAP and resources there. Nothing really replaces being there in a physical setting attending a TAP workshop."
"We have been in touch with our regional people in Chicago, from Department of Labor and we know who the VA briefer is going to be," Robinson said. "I do the Department of Defense part; we have our financial planner counselor coming from our ACS. We have all of those designated resources, we just have to get a little more online capabilities as far as having access to Soldier reporting to higher headquarters and that is pending. Right now with the resources we have, we plan to have our first ACAP, TAP workshop in November. We are working hard to meet that timeframe, working with our higher headquarters and coordinating with the local briefers getting the word out in the installation, command briefings and senior leader briefings, getting a roster of Soldiers that are separating so that we can organize our first formal ACAP briefing."
"It is very helpful and very successful," said Green. "If Soldiers listen and really apply themselves and listen to what Miss Robinson tells you to do, you will be very successful. They set you up to be very successful when you transition out of the Army. Be flexible; do not assume that when you get out that you will be making what you think you are worth. Not saying it will not happen, but be prepared. The biggest thing is the translation of your military experience into civilian terminology and experience, you do this, and you will be very successful. I have had a great experience with transitioning out of the military. You hear so many horror stories, but there are companies looking for and are hiring veterans."
"We had more Soldiers volunteer and help this time," said Michl. "First Army, Army Sustainment Command, Army Contracting Command all lent Soldiers to assist. We had a higher number of employers show up this time. By the time we took out the no shows, we had 35 employers in April, for this event we had 48 sign up and eight no shows, but two employers who did not make reservations did show up."
"I greet everyone as soon as they come into the door," said Sgt. John Gaines, ASC automated logistical specialist. "I let them know the whole overall perspective of the event and then direct them to registration."
"It has been a joint effort on everybody's part," said Robinson. "To succeed you must have a partner or a team. We work closely with the QC Chamber of Commerce. They help us; lend a hand collaborating with us, and getting the word out to the employers. They have been doing a great job. The VSO's, veteran service organizations, have been a big help. They have been getting the information posted in the local libraries and employment offices, the VA centers, clinics; they have been effective getting the word out to the local populations and Soldiers."
"I think it is just a great thing for the surrounding communities, so many Soldiers come to Rock Island as their last post and they get out from here. Finding them a job in the community or getting them tagged into an educational opportunity in the community is just going to improve our whole economy. I think it is a great thing," Michl said.
"This is definitely a good thing," said Gaines. "It is always good seeing business and contractors hiring veterans."
"The next educational and employment event that we hold we want to coordinate with the Warrior Transition Unit," said Michl. "To make sure we catch those folks from the surrounding geographic area. It is our intention to continue this combination employment/educational event. We hope that it will just get bigger, once the employers get used to coming, understand what is going on, and see that we have good candidates available. Our goal is to hold this event quarterly."
"We are in the process of confirming dates for 2014, probably the same time frame in April and September," said Robinson.
The non-profit organization EARTHONAUT donated posters, banners, and fees for the location for the event.
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