Ohio Supports Job Opportunities for Veterans and Their Families
As we celebrate Veterans Day weekend, I am reminded of my fellow servicemen and women who bravely answered the call to serve in our armed forces. Ohio is home to the country’s sixth-largest military service population, with more than 800,000 veterans and military retirees, active-duty personnel, reservists, and National Guard members. As Chairman of the House Armed Forces and Veterans Affairs Committee, I want to make sure those who served our nation have ample access to career opportunities, so they and their families can grow and thrive.
I encourage military members to visit OhioMeansJobs.com to utilize the unique tools the jobs page has to offer. With over 8,000 employers designated as military-friendly in Ohio, this extensive list includes employers across the state that recognize the valuable skillsets a servicemember can bring to their workforce.
If you’re unsure what skills from your military occupational specialty (MOS) would apply to a civilian job, there is a military skills translator hosted on the website. There, you can enter your branch of service and your MOS, and it will generate equivalent civilian jobs. If the jobs listed aren’t the next step for your career, earning additional certifications or going back to school might be right for you. When deciding to further your education, be sure to get in contact with your local county veterans service office to see what benefits you qualify for. Oftentimes, military members are unaware of the full scope of benefits they have earned. Don’t miss out on the military benefits you are entitled to through your service!
We know that military families face additional challenges when they transition between duty stations or are activated from the National Guard or Reserves. The Buckeye State is proud to support the careers of active-duty personnel and military spouses who move to Ohio on assignment. To help military members and their spouses find new jobs with the certifications they are already licensed for in another state, Ohio is proud to be a part of a compact that honors license reciprocity. This partnership allows military members and their families to practice in-demand licensed occupations like teaching, occupational therapy, nursing, speech pathology, and specified medical professions without having to go through recertification. Requirements to practice in Ohio are unique to each career path. Still, they can include direct reciprocity or the recognition of existing out-of-state qualifications and specially tailored competency evaluation programs to expedite Ohio's licensing process.
Taking care of our service members, veterans, and their families has always been a top priority for Ohio. Ensuring they have access to employment after their service is one small way we can say “thank you.” I will continue my work as a legislator and an Air Force veteran to help make Ohio the best place in the nation for military members and their families.