With the nation’s highest per capita percentage of residents in the military, there is no doubt West Virginians have answered the call to serve and defend our country for generations. During my 2015 State of the State address, I highlighted the efforts of our state’s hardworking service men and women who are making a difference in our state, including Retired United States Army Captain James L. McCormick of New Haven.
One of our state’s Silver Star recipients, the nation’s third-highest honor for valor in combat, James’ commitment to serving his country has continued long past his military service. In fact, he’s helped thousands of homeless veterans find jobs and housing through his non-profit organization, Raising Cane Farms, which employs combat-wounded veterans who have returned home and are adjusting to civilian life.
Through a partnership with the West Virginia Department of Agriculture, James serves as the director of the Veterans and Warriors to Agriculture project, the first program of its kind that directly assists veterans in becoming agribusiness owners. The West Virginia program has grown and currently serves as the model program for states across the country. To date, the Veterans and Warriors to Agriculture project has helped recruit more than 100 West Virginia veterans to become farmers or agribusiness owners.
Farming is just one of the many opportunities for our state’s veterans. As we continue to expand our efforts to give our country’s servicemen and women the help they need when they return home, we’re providing the resources they need to become business owners and part of our state’s active workforce.
Making the transition back to civilian life and work environments after serving in the field can be a difficult challenge. Our nation’s military is the best-trained workforce in the world, and these men and women are equipped with skills learned during tours of duty that can translate into virtually any career. That’s why when our soldiers return home, we stand ready to help them in their efforts to find their place here in the Mountain State.
By logging on to www.wvmilitaryconnection.org, veterans can find links to services for employment, health care, training and education programs and a number of family resources, as well as local contacts and information on benefits veterans may not realize they’re eligible to receive.
This month, Hilton Worldwide and WorkForce West Virginia announced “Operation Opportunity Initiative,” a program designed to provide hotel room assistance to veterans with job interviews, skills training, housing searches and any employment testing that would make travel a necessity during a job search. The rooms are provided to veterans at no charge, and WorkForce West Virginia offers support with the application process at local office across the state.
In addition to helping with interview skills and resumes, this program serves as one more way West Virginia is working to assist current service members, veterans, and their spouses find jobs faster and more easily than ever before.
Our veterans, like Capt. McCormick, are involved in their communities and are creating a vision for the future – one that would not be possible without their selfless sacrifice and service. I’m proud of the work we’ve done to create an environment that tells our veterans – when you come home, West Virginia will be waiting for you.
To learn more about opportunities available to veterans through Workforce West Virginia, visit www.workforcewv.org, stop by a local WorkForce West Virginia office or call 1-800-252-JOBS.
