By Earl Ray Tomblin
As West Virginia’s military men and women return home from serving across the country and around the world, West Virginians stand together to welcome them with open arms and warm hearts. We all want to do everything we can to support those who sacrifice so much to serve our country and keep us safe.
As our state’s veterans finish their military service and return to civilian life, they are often faced with a number of challenges and life-changing decisions. And at times, the transition from serving our country to returning home can be extremely difficult.
Upon returning home, many of our service men and women choose to continue their education or find a new career path with the help of our state’s colleges, universities and community and technical colleges. Our military members aren’t just strong soldiers – they are also accomplished and disciplined students. And the results speak for themselves. With their strong work ethic and military training, our veterans are among the best and brightest students in our state’s higher education system. These strengths, coupled with a degree or certificate, can lay the foundation for both a successful career and fulfilling life.
Over the next few years, West Virginia will see an increase in high-skill, good-paying jobs in the energy, advanced manufacturing and information technology sectors. Throughout their military duties, our service men and women have learned and put into practice many of the high-demand skills necessary to support today’s employers. While these applicable skills are a solid start, many West Virginia employers prefer candidates who have completed additional, college-level training in order to successfully fulfill the requirements of these in-demand jobs. In fact, by 2020, 51 percent of all jobs in West Virginia will require at least a two-year degree.
Our colleges and universities are working hard to help veterans achieve their educational goals. In West Virginia, we recognize that college-level learning can, and often times does, happen outside the classroom, which is why we are working to ensure our veterans receive college credit for their eligible military training. Upon returning home from combat, one veteran at New River Community and Technical College recently discovered he was just a semester shy of earning his bachelor’s degree, thanks to his involvement and service with the armed forces. Our institutions also provide support for veteran students through vet-specific programs, such as pairing them with other veteran students through career advising and student organizations.
This week, veterans, active military members and their families can learn more about these educational opportunities at the Veterans Education Fair, December 4, 2014, at the Advanced Technology Center in South Charleston, hosted by the Community and Technical College System of West Virginia and Veterans Upward Bound.
Representatives from our state’s two-and four-year institutions will be on-site to speak with guests about programs, courses, tuition and financial aid. Veterans Upward Bound staff will also be available to answer questions about applying for GI Bill benefits, as well as test preparation and tutoring. The GI Bill program offers financial assistance for college, technical training and apprenticeships to service members, veterans and their dependents.
Our veterans serve our country, our state and each of us throughout their military service. We can do our part to serve them when they return home by ensuring they have access to high-quality and affordable education options. Through available resources and our continued support, we can help ease the transition as they return home, benefiting each of our service men and women, our employers and our entire state.
