Guardsmen turn up for New Jersey job fair

Last week, the Legion’s Department of New Jersey hosted its 12th Hiring Our Heroes career fair for veterans, servicemembers and their family members. Around 80 employers attended the event, which was held Sept. 12 in Lawrenceville, N.J., at the Department of Military and Veterans Affairs (DMAVA) headquarters.

Also in attendance were New Jersey Lt. Governor Kim Guadagno and Department Commander Jim Amos. The U.S. Chamber of Commerce, DMAVA and many other organizations helped organize and cohost the event.

Specifically, the job fair catered to members of the Army National Guard’s 50th Infantry Brigade Combat Team, which is headquartered at nearby Lawrenceville Armory. Since the beginning of current conflicts overseas, the infantry unit has deployed about 4,000 soldiers overseas.

The event was the fifth Hiring Our Heroes career fair that the Department of New Jersey has hosted this year. Earlier this summer, the Department took over MetLife Stadium, home of the NFL’s New York Giants, for a job fair that welcomed around 400 veterans and servicemembers. The Meadowlands proved to be the perfect backdrop for the event, as numerous attendees received on-the-spot job offers.

As clean-up efforts still persist after last year’s Hurricane Sandy, the Department of New Jersey has turned its focus to the Seaside Heights area that was ravaged by the storm. Efforts to host additional job fairs in the area are currently underway.