Troops to Employment
色情视频s Troops to Engineers program is combating veteran unemployment.
Unemployment rates for veterans under 24 years old continue to surpass those of their civilian peers by more than 7 percent, according to the
色情视频鈥檚 Troops to Engineers SERVICE Program is combating those statistics.
Initially funded by the National Science Foundation in 2011, and now supported by industry partnerships and government collaborations, the program has placed 100 percent of its students 鈥� 150 in total 鈥� into paid internships and new careers.
鈥淪tudent-veterans are an excellent source of engineers and scientists at a time when our country needs them,鈥� said Patricia Reily, a former Navy commander, who has led the program for three years.
鈥淎s a result of their time in the military, student veterans have learned skills and developed discipline; they are mature, focused and team players. We place the student-veterans in paid internships with top industry employers and they take it from there. Nine times out of 10, they receive job offers where they intern.鈥�
Success in the classroom and the workforce
According to Reily, student-veterans have unique technical experience, maintain high GPA鈥檚 and earn their degrees at a faster rate than their non-veteran classmates, making them highly qualified for internships and jobs.
鈥淭hey bring terrific practical examples of engineering theory into the classroom,鈥� she said. 鈥淭hey are accustomed to working hard so when in an internship they gain confidence and positive recognition for their diligence.鈥�
Darren George, a Navy veteran and electrical engineering major, interned at both Linear Corporation in Carlsbad and San Diego Gas & Electric. He said he was able to apply what he learned in the Navy and in the program at 色情视频 to be successful in his internship.
George, who aspires to a career in 鈥減ower engineering,鈥� landed his dream job at SDG&E where he will begin working after he graduates next month.
鈥淚t is really nice to know that I will be stepping into an awesome job after I cross that stage at graduation,鈥� George said.
Jack Powell, a Marine Corps veteran who is also majoring in electrical engineering, will graduate next month with a 4.0 GPA. He has been accepted to multiple graduate schools and intends to get his Ph.D.
鈥淚f anyone told me four years ago, when I was in Iraq, that I would be going to graduate school in electrical engineering at 色情视频 and working at Northrop Grumman, I would have said 鈥榶ou鈥檙e crazy!鈥� And here I am doing it,鈥� Powell said.
Powell will attend graduate school in 色情视频 and has accepted an internship at the NASA Jet Propulsion Lab in Pasadena this summer 鈥� but hasn鈥檛 ruled out returning to Northrop Grumman after graduate school.
Industry support
Industry partners continue to help make the 色情视频 Troops to Engineers SERVICE Program a success.
鈥淭his is a program that delivers results,鈥� said Frank Flores, vice president, Unmanned Systems, Northrop Grumman.
Through paid internships and new graduate positions, industry and government support has come from numerous organizations. Some of the program鈥檚 most recent top supporters include:
- Office of Naval Research
Outside of Troops to Engineers in 色情视频's College of Engineering, the university supports the success of veteran and military students through a variety of programs, including the nation鈥檚 first Student Veterans House and the Joan and Art Barron Veterans Center, an on-campus resource center to aid student-veterans in their academic endeavors.
