Employer's Day looks to connect Soldiers with jobs

The Fort Jackson Soldier for Life Transition Assistance Program held its second Employer's Day of the year March 1.

Employer's Day events are typically held each quarter, but may be held more often when employers need to fill vacant positions, SFL-TAP officials said.

"The purpose of Employer's Day is to assist transitioning Soldiers and Family members in finding meaningful and immediate employment;" said Carolyn Andrews, manager of Fort Jackson's Soldier for Life Transition Assistance Program Transition Service. "By meaningful we mean, employment that uses the skills the Soldier or Family member already has and pays a wage comparable to what they bring home now."

Employers wanting to attend Employer's Day are required to submit current vacancies and salaries, to Andrews to ensure the program's goal of meaningful employment opportunities are met, she said

The eight employers at the event were seeking to fill at least 20 positions each.

Gore Bolton Vice President of the U.S. Eastern Region for a surveying and mapping company had 150 vacancies available for field and office positions in traditional surveying geospatial mapping and traditional cartography.

"We have a lot of technical jobs, about half the company goes outside to work every day," Bolton said. "We have found that the transitioning Soldiers have a lot of the skill sets that are transferrable to our industry; they like working outside, with technology and are very good at being able to follow through on systems and procedures for high-tech work."

For Bolton the unique skill set veteran's and transitioning Soldiers have isn't the only reason his company attends Employer's Day.

"I've always found through my career and as an employer that prior military just ended up being great employees," he said.

Spc. Andrew Manyen, a transitioning Soldier from Shaw Air Force base, attended the event in hopes of connecting with an employer.

"These events help us that are transitioning out of the military to connect with local employers who are veteran friendly and help us build our network and connections in the community to find a job."

Manyen said he attends Employer's Day events within his local community as often as he can.

The next Employer's Day will be held from 10 a.m. to noon March 22 at the Army Continuing Education System Center, at 4600 Strom Thurmond Blvd. This event is free to veterans, transitioning service members, retirees and spouses. For more information call 751-4109.