Iowa has taken big steps to help veterans transition to civilian life with education and training that can move them quickly into the workforce. These efforts are opportunities to honor those who served and to strengthen our economy with workers who know the importance of hard work, teamwork and discipline.
A new Home Base Iowa Certified Higher Academic Military Partner (CHAMP) program allows Iowa colleges and universities to become “CHAMP certified” for their ability to educate and assist veterans on campus. The certification will help attract veterans to Iowa and help academic institutions market their campus to veterans and their families.
CHAMP helps service members transition to civilian life with the educational resources they need in Iowa. To become a Home Base Iowa CHAMP campus, colleges and universities must offer on-campus veterans resources, help those transitioning to civilian life and take into account a vet’s financial circumstances.
Another program, Get Skills to Work, helps veterans get job-specific training or transition their military experience into jobs in manufacturing. This program will help local manufacturers connect with skilled veterans ready to enter the civilian workforce. It aims to train military veterans for advanced manufacturing careers, bolster the talent pipeline and enhance our competitiveness.
A partnership among The Manufacturing Institute, Home Base Iowa, the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation and other organizations has made Iowa the third state to join the national Get Skills to Work coalition. Get Skills to Work, founded in 2012, joins major manufacturers and educators to prepare and place veterans in long-term careers. The initiative has set the goal of closing the skills gap in our workforce by reaching 100,000 veterans by 2015.
For more information on Get Skills to Work, visit www.getskillstowork.org