GOODFELLOW AIR FORCE BASE, Texas -- The 17th Training Wing received the “We Hire Vets” award during the Texas Conference for Employers in Midland, Texas, May 5.
The award honors Texas employers whose workforce consists of at least 10% military veterans. While employers can apply for this recognition, Goodfellow Air Force Base was nominated for its outstanding veteran community partnership, with veterans making up 65% of the base's total workforce.
“When you hire a veteran, you also hire all the things they learned in the military,” expressed Col. Eugene Moore, 17th Mission Support Group commander. “They bring the military’s core values, responsibility, and accountability to the table. They understand the importance of leadership and followership. We truly wouldn’t be able to do our mission without our veterans on base.”
Texas is home to approximately 20,000 service members adapting from a military environment to civilian life. “We Hire Vets” is a component of the Texas Workforce Commission’s Texas Operation Welcome Home initiative, which was created under Governor Gregory Abbott’s charge to identify gaps in services to Texas service members transitioning into civilian life.
“When most veterans get out, they tend to look for work with the military or government in general because it’s what they know and are comfortable with,” said Texas Workforce Commission veterans resource coordinator, Luis Martinez III. “It’s important to recognize these employers who understand that veterans are phenomenal employees because without them we’d have more veterans in the community struggling.”