For veterans of our nation’s armed forces, adjusting to civilian life can be a challenge. Military life, with its rigid structure and non-negotiable expectations, doesn’t leave much time to consider a post-military career or what vocational skills may be in demand after discharge. This can be a great source of apprehension for many entering the workforce after service.

“For me, at least, it’s the actual transition,” says Sgt. Willie Peguero. “It’s having to move your family, find a job, those type of things to get into the rhythm.”

Solar Ready Vets

Luckily for soldiers like Peguero, new resources for veterans and a push for sustainable energy generation have converged to create an array of career-specific training programs. These programs provide vets the experience they need to work in the growing field of solar power. One such initiative is the “Solar Ready Vets” program, which Sgt. Peguero has enrolled in at his own base in Fort Drum, New York as part of the Soldier For Life program.

The program connects veterans like Peguero with the training they need to pursue careers as solar photovoltaic (PV) system installers, sales representatives, system inspectors, and other solar-related occupations — all tuition free. Enabled by the U.S. Department of Defense’s SkillBridge initiative, soldiers are allowed to pursue “civilian job training, employment skills training, apprenticeships, and internships up to six months prior to their separation,” according to the Solar Ready Vets website.  

A Place to Land

This will presumably aid soldiers in translating the discipline and training they acquired during their service into direct experience and authority, helping them avoid entry-level positions. With 60 to 70 percent of those trained in renewable energy jobs seeing their training turn into full-time, permanent positions, the solar energy field is the perfect place to break into a booming industry.

“What we want to do is sell those skills to our employers in the civilian sector so they can see,” explained Soldier for Life’s Transition Services Manager, Lorrie Guler to Time Warner Cable News. “We’ve actually had employers come in and do tours on the installation, and they’re pretty impressed.”

Another major incentive to strengthen the program is the high cost of unemployment of veterans: At Fort Drum alone,hundreds of thousands of dollars are spent each year on unemployment for veterans, with nearly $1 billion spent nationwide. This expense eats away at already strained military budgets, and could potentially be mitigated by better training and job placements for vets.

The First Class and the Future

The first class of 19 soldiers trained in the Solar Ready Vets program, including Sgt. Peguero, recently graduated at Fort Drum. With certifications in hand, recruits reported feeling excited about their employment prospects as solar providers. Moreover, they realized the growing cultural and economic significance of seeking renewable energy sources for a sustainable future.

“After all these years, I’ve realized fossil fuels won’t be around forever,” said Sgt. 1st Class Eric Long, who was looking for a career change after 24 years in army-related fueling jobs. “It’s a totally new field.”

Through the combination of expert training and a growing consensus that solar is what is needed to strengthen economies as well as the environment, this first class of graduates represents an important first step. As more of our nation’s military heroes are given the resources they need to succeed, the promise of a better future through solar grows brighter.

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