Where will returning soldiers find jobs?

As PennWell Corporation's pre-OTC (Offshore Technology Conference) party in Houston was winding down late Sunday night, May 1st, we got the news: Osama Bin Laden had been shot dead by a crack team of US Navy Seals and CIA paramilitary forces in a highly secret counterterrorism operation in Pakistan. Those who remember al-Qaida's attack on America on Sept. 11, 2001, rejoiced at the news that after nearly 10 long years, the terrorist organization's leader had finally got what he deserved.

In Washington, DC, a spontaneous demonstration erupted outside the White House as mostly college-age young people poured into the streets to celebrate the death of America's long-time nemesis. Similar emotional demonstrations occurred in New York City near Ground Zero and in Times Square. It's not often one sees joyous celebrations following a person's death, but this was the rare exception. We have to believe that the world is, somehow, a bit safer now. In a way, it seemed to help bring closure to an era, although CIA Director Leon Panetta cautioned that, "Bin Laden is dead. Al-Qaida is not."

Indeed the "War on Terror" is not over and perhaps never will be. Too many ideologues believe the murder of innocent civilians helps further their cause. However, it does now appear that significant US military involvement in Afghanistan and Iraq will be coming to a close in the next year or so. For better or for worse, the civilian governments in those countries will be left to handle their own problems.

This is good news and bad news. The upside is easy to discern. It will staunch the flow of young Americans and other allied soldiers coming home in body bags or with severe physical and mental trauma. It will extract us from long, bloody, and financially draining occupations in Muslim countries where a US presence was at best tolerated and at worst openly resented.

The downside is that these young soldiers, sailors, airmen, and Marines will be coming home to a fragile economy that is being held together by bailing wire. The official national unemployment rate is over 9% but is much higher in some states and cities, and the jobless rate for those under 25 is much greater. Where will these tens of thousands of heroic young veterans find meaningful employment? They have given so much to their country — how can we let them down when they come home?

One immediate solution is for them to take advantage of the GI Bill, which helps pay for their college education. Numerous studies prove that the higher a person goes in school, the better his or her career opportunities (and income) are. Our nation needs a smart, educated workforce, so it behooves our returning veterans to take advantage of the educational opportunities afforded them through the GI Bill. It goes without saying that employers should give hiring priority to returning servicemen (and women) whenever possible. The energy industry across the country is facing workforce shortages as aging skilled workers approach retirement and fewer qualified candidates are available to replace them. A 2009 study by the Center for Energy Workforce Development (CEWD) predicted that by 2015, 46% of the existing skilled technician workforce may need to be replaced due to potential retirement or attrition. The percentage for professional engineers is even higher — 51%.

Surveyed companies reported difficulties in finding qualified applicants to fill skilled technician positions. Up to 50% of applicants fail pre-employment aptitude tests, and additional applications fall out with background and drug screening. On average, companies need to interview 30 applicants for each hire. On more skilled positions, this increases to 50 applicants interviewed for each hire.

One company, Richmond, Va.-based Dominion Energy, recently announced a pilot program to begin linking thousands of future job openings in the energy industry with troops leaving military service. The program, "Troops to Energy Jobs," is designed to establish an ongoing process of outreach, recruiting, education, and training to create a pathway to military personnel to transition from the service into civilian careers in the energy field.

The program is part of an effort to promote energy careers to all segments of the population, including young students still in high school, those who have served in the military, and others looking for challenging jobs with good pay. The Troops to Energy Jobs initiative is a great program, and we hope the oil and gas industry will view it as an opportunity to attract the talent needed to fill positions left vacant by an aging workforce. Military personnel are well trained and disciplined — important qualities for any worker, but especially in our industry.

Have an opinion about this? Visit www.ogfj.com to comment.

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