Over one-third of the water and wastewater utility workforce will be eligible to retire in the next 5-10 years. Veterans transitioning into the civilian workforce may offer water and wastewater utilities with a recruitment opportunity. In addition to skills and training which can be directly transferable to careers in the water sector, prior military experience gives Veterans a distinctive understanding of leadership, teamwork, personal accountability and public service.
In an effort to partner with the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) and to promote programs aimed to prepare Veterans for water sector careers, the CT Department of Public Health, Drinking Water Section has taken steps towards considering military experience, associated with water related job titles, towards meeting minimum the requirements for Connecticut certification exams.
Other potential benefits available to the water Industry include VA sponsored On the Job Training program, Non-Paid work experience, and Special Employer Incentive programs.
For more information about how these programs can be accessed to help recruit and train veterans for your utility, see “Recruiting & Training Veterans for Careers in the Water Sector” on the Work for Water website at http://www.workforwater.org
Contacts and resources:
- Fact sheet for utilities on Recruiting and Training Veterans for Careers in the Water Sector, developed with Veterans Affairs and Department of Labor is available at: http://www.workforwater.org/WorkArea/linkit.aspx?LinkIdentifier=id&ItemID=2147483686
- Find your local VA VetSuccess contacts on the National VetSuccess Employment Coordinators List at: http://www.vetsuccess.gov/assets/VR&E_Employment_Coordinators_list.xls
- Find your local State Approving Agency through the National Association of State Approving Agencies at:http://www.nasaa-vetseducation.com/contacts/default.aspx