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Kennametal V.P. Bernie McConnell and Institute for Veterans and Military Families Executive Director Mike Haynie on efforts to boost hiring of veteran...
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Heroes are having trouble finding work nearly a quarter of veterans are unemployed.
As a result firms and organizations across country are stepping up efforts to get -- great job -- more burning -- -- Vice president of Kennametal.
A firm hiring more -- and my -- executive director of the institute for veterans and military families as Syracuse University.
Thank you both for being here it's great to have you here.
-- you are and that you started a program to hire that's why and tell us a little bit about Kennametal tip.
Should Gerri thanks for having me I cannot -- -- the global industrial technology leader.
We deliver solutions to our customers every day.
We embarked on an exciting strategy recently called Harden our heroes for for a few key reasons first of all this -- right thing to do for our veterans and our communities.
And secondly veterans bring tremendous transferable skills to the -- place that I think a lot of employees can enjoy.
And thirdly it helps manufacturers.
Address -- skills gap with which is critical in our industry today.
-- our old address that more in just a second but.
My thirteen -- you know we hear so much about how high the unemployment levels are among our -- what are some of the biggest problems with placing veterans.
Well I think part of it goes to simply the challenge of making that transition from military life to civilian life and it's.
It's a challenge that.
And the veterans struggle where -- and you related to how do you translate those military knowledge skills and military and abilities to.
A civilian career and importantly do so in -- -- where you can articulate then to an employer.
A lot of this also falls falls on the employer -- there -- knowledge gap if you will in terms.
The ability of the employer to recognize.
The link between.
-- -- that technical skills the leadership skill -- that someone who was in the military brings Sicilian workforce and how that's gonna benefit the bottom line of a private sector business.
Very little picture of when -- -- jobs -- tell us about that I I I hear they're really.
No expert at placing -- here's the picture get there.
Absolutely they are so through our.
Hiring our heroes initiative the -- three key components which is one is recruiting which you have the picture of which sets working with the demos to junior military officers program we work with the army pace program.
To really do the job fairs and a career fair -- her outlook and for these these recruits these veterans to bring into into the company.
There's also.
A sustainability component and there's an outreach component to our program.
It's not only about getting new bets in the -- but it's also taking care of the veterans that we have today and supporting the -- are currently abroad.
So so what you have -- -- pitchers really one of our recruiting programs.
I want it talk more about this idea of manufacturing and how really fits veterans skill set.
It would take a look at these number 600000 -- manufacturing jobs going unfilled 52% of the nation's employers report trouble.
Filling open positions 82% of the nation's manufacturers report they can't find people to fill those jobs skills.
Might see you how did these two come together in the manufacturing jobs and those folks who -- unemployed.
I I think it goes back to what I what I said earlier -- on I'll I'll try to give you a practical example I've.
I've -- resonate sitting on my desk from a young Marines to.
Drove a tank in the military and it when I got I got that resume -- I had to talk to myself a little bit but the same time it was it was disheartening because.
This is a young man who.
When asked to described.
You know his prior work experience is a tank driver and you know on the resume where it says you know -- the skills and abilities -- -- drive a tank.
Six a tank.
-- -- -- And if they did the reality is that young man has highly advanced technical training on hydraulic systems radar systems electoral systems and those skills are readily transferable to the manufacturing sector and really what we just need to do is be able of one help that young -- articulate that value.
Help employers see that value and then provide additional training to in -- -- round out that package.
Well -- the two you're doing great work.
Bernie and Mike thanks for coming on tonight this is something that really needs to happen all across the country got to get -- -- back to work.
I read the something like at a million -- -- returning veterans are returning to civilian life over the next five years.
Boy we can certainly use -- on manufacturing floors all across this country thanks for coming on tonight appreciate it thank you thank you.
