Military2Maritime event connects veterans with employers

This week more than 400 veterans attended a Military2Maritime career fair sponsored by the American Maritime Partnership and hosted by the Port of Houston. The event was part of a national program to help connect the nation’s servicemen and women with jobs in the American maritime industry. The domestic maritime industry’s goal is to provide the more than 720,000 servicemen and women out of work with an opportunity to maximize their professional strengths.

Veterans work well in teams, they understand the chain of command, they can pass drug tests and physicals, and they can get jobs done safely, Richard Berkowitz, director of Pacific Coast operations for the Transportation Institute, a Seattle-based trade association of U.S. flag vessels, told the Houston Chronicle.

“We believe the maritime industry is an especially good fit for our nation’s veterans,” said Matt Woodruff with Houston’s Kirby Corporation. “American maritime needs the talent and expertise that current and former members of the armed forces have as the industry continues to experience steady growth. The best part about the Military2Maritime program, for many of the positions available in the industry, no prior maritime experience is necessary.”

Participants in Houston’s Military2Maritime Career Fair on September 3 had the opportunity to meet with recruiters and HR staff from more than fifty organizations large and small, as well as maritime unions and schools. They could attend seminars on marine licensing and transition, take vessel tours and visit with crewmembers and industry personnel who are veterans that have transitioned to the maritime industry.

This week's event was the maritime industry's third job fair specifically for veterans, Dean Corgey, vice president of the Gulf Coast Seafarers International Union of North America in Houston, told the Houston Chronicle. Earlier events were held in Puerto Rico and Florida, he said.

“There are many aspects of the maritime industry that relate to duties and responsibilities inside the military, which is why so many of our colleagues are veterans,” said Mike Russo, United States Marine Corps veteran and Port Agent, Port of Houston. “One of the biggest challenges is learning how to apply skills learned during our service to workplaces outside the military. For many veterans, life on the outside can feel overwhelming, especially when it comes to looking for a new job. This is why the Military2Maritime program is so important.”