N.Y. veterans foundation unveils plans to create job opportunities
Veterans, community members and local government officials hear VetEx Foundation Inc.'s plan to create job opportunities for veterans during a gathering at the Newburgh Armory Unity Center in New York, April 15. (Photo by Andrea Dickerson)

N.Y. veterans foundation unveils plans to create job opportunities

Dozens of veterans, community members and local government officials gathered at the Newburgh Armory Unity Center in New York April 15 to discuss future job opportunities for veterans. The VetEx Foundation Inc. and other community sponsors presented detailed plans to bolster the economy of Newburgh, a small rural city with tight-knit constituents located near the U.S. Military Academy at West Point.

"Through partnerships dedicated to helping veterans we could create up to 500 jobs,"said Steve Neuhaus, County Executive for Orange Co., N.Y. "I don't care if it's 500 jobs or 5 jobs. It's worth it to me. We have 23,000 veterans in Orange County. That is a very disproportionately high amount of veterans. We all know that they make up one of the largest groups in unemployment for people between the ages of 20 and 40. That's a serious concern to us."

The foundation, in conjunction with VetEx Cargo Limited Liability Company, plans to provide truck driver training, licensing and credentialing to veterans - regardless of their discharge status or date - who are seeking careers in transportation and logistics. VetEx carefully formulated a six-month program designed to give the potential drivers all the tools and certifications they need to drive various tractor trailers, said Nick Di iorio, VetEx vice president. "It is a comprehensive, full-immersion program that not only trains veterans and gives them a skill, it gives him or her the life stability they seek after getting out of the military or facing unemployment for an extended period," he said.

Through the initial training program, which will take place in Newburgh starting in June, veterans will have the opportunity to take advantage of cost-free housing and one-on-one mentoring with a fellow veteran. Upon completion of the program, those who successfully pass will be offered employment with VetEx Cargo, which hopes to secured very promising contracts with major couriers.

The foundation removed numerous barriers, including travel and housing costs, that would otherwise prevent unemployed veterans from attending the training, said Davy Leghorn, assistant director of The American Legion's Veteran Employment and Education Division.

Leghorn added that the Legion and VetEx's coupled commitment to providing once-in-a-lifetime opportunities will benefit all veterans.

During the event, The American Legion, along with the mayor's and governor's offices, pledged their support. "We are grateful for the support of The American Legion both here and in Washington," said Di iorio. "We are looking forward to working with them in the future."

Howard B. Heyel, vice commander of the Department of New York, fully supports the program and looks forward to pooling resources with VetEx to impact the lives of Legionnaires and veterans. "Our veterans that are coming home need jobs," he said. "Oftentimes they don't know where to turn. We are hoping through The American Legion we can offer them an opportunity to give them help and assistance to get into the program, and make them aware of (the opportunity). We want to make the whole country aware of what is going on here in Newburgh."

If it wasn't apparent from the get-go, by the conclusion of the event it was very clear that everyone in attendance shared the same sentiments.

"We want to make sure that we are attracting companies and opportunities like this, to make sure that our men and women find some opportunities and get the help they need," Neuhaus. "I've never seen anything with an opportunity this big."