According to the Department of Labor, about 200,000 men and women exit one of the branches of the United States military annually, which is called the “military to civilian transition.” Upon returning to civilian life, these individuals find themselves in need of employment. Many veterans are turning to the manufacturing sector, particularly in the electric vehicle (EV) supply chain.
Manufacturing, In General
On its own, the American manufacturing sector represents the seventh-largest global economy, adding $2.60 trillion in value in 2022, placing it behind the gross domestic product (GDP) of only six countries.
According to the National Association of Manufacturers (NAM), there were 506,000 manufacturing job openings available in the U.S. this past August, up from an average of 432,000 between 2017 and 2019, before the COVID-19 pandemic.
Plus, according to Deloitte, the country could need 3.8 million more manufacturing jobs by 2033, in addition to the 13 million that existed as of August 2024.
Photo Courtesy The Manufacturing Institute
Veterans Are A Unique Fit
Veterans are uniquely qualified to fill these manufacturing roles. First, the sector provides its employees with a mission similar to the one the military offers for its service members. Baked into the manufacturing sector is the goal of producing something for the common good. For the EV sector, in particular, to participate in one of the biggest and most environmentally friendly changes the automotive industry has ever seen.
“Mission-focused, adaptable, strong work ethic, ability to work under pressure and overcome adversity,” Jamie Hall, manufacturing team lead at Toyota North America, told Bloomberg. “These folks have a lot of training and are prepared for those things.”
The values between the sectors are also aligned. Hugo Hinojosa, who served in the Army for 22 years before getting hired by WestRock Company, noted to the Manufacturing Institute that “Everywhere I go, I’m a steward of the Army. I’m working in a place where the values are in line with what I was brought up within the military — integrity, respect, accountability, and excellence.”
The cultures, too, share a common resemblance that can help ease the transition to civilian life.
Jason Gustine served in the Army for 11 years before becoming an area manager at the Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company in Topeka, Kansas.
“I was worried it would be a culture shock, and I wasn’t going to fit in,” Gustine said to the Manufacturing Institute. “But going into a manufacturing facility, it fits exactly with the military mindset. That was the biggest surprise — how easy that transition was.”
Photo Courtesy The Manufacturing Institute
Additionally, veterans typically have a lot of experience working with complex technological systems, which not only involve general maintenance and operations but also troubleshooting problems.
They both learn a way of thinking and obtain specific hard skills.
“The military mindset pays off,” Arthur Patterson, who started his military career as a cavalry scout in the Minnesota National Guard at age 17 and then joined the Army, told Military.com. “You need to have attention to detail, precision, problem-solving skills, and the ability to think spatially.”
Marsalis Leonard was a helicopter mechanic in the Army for eight years. “The Army was my introduction to mechanics,” he told The Manufacturing Institute. “It taught me how different machines and processes work together, but it also taught me how to grasp hands-on knowledge and put it to use.”
As Justin Henderson, senior vice president of sales at Recruit Military, explained to Manufacturing Dive, “[The military is] kind of that leading trade school.”
This training and the resulting skills translate well into manufacturing roles. For example, as Babs Chase, vice president of military and veterans programs at The Manufacturing Institute, put it to Military.com, “Veterans are accustomed to working in teams toward a common goal. They are on time, disciplined, and adaptable.”
“The military offers diverse talent, very diverse,” Maj. Gen. Kris A. Belanger, commanding general of the 99th Readiness Division, Army Reserve, elaborated at the Manufacturing Institute’s annual Workforce Summit last year. “There are lots of ways that our training, roles, and responsibilities overlap with those in manufacturing. Hiring military talent is a win-win situation.”
Photo Courtesy The Manufacturing Institute
Programs Aid Veterans’ Transitions
There are already initiatives in place connecting veterans to manufacturing roles. The Manufacturing Institute, focused on building this workforce, has launched numerous such resources.
One, the Heroes MAKE America training program, enables transitioning service members in their final 180 days of service — honorably discharged veterans, National Guard Reservists, and spouses of active duty service members — to train to acquire skills and certifications for manufacturing careers. The program’s graduates have a 90% placement rate.
Meanwhile, Rockwell Automation and ManpowerGroup joined forces in 2017 to co-create the Academy of Advanced Manufacturing.
The free training program for veterans offers complimentary food and housing while they learn advanced manufacturing skills in classrooms and labs. The program has an 80% placement rate.
Jackson Henderson, who was honorably discharged from the Air Force in 2018, graduated from the program and was hired as a machine technician for Owens Corning.
“I see my future as wide open,” Henderson told The International Manufacturing Technology Show Powered by the Association for Manufacturing Technology. “Possible promotion opportunities include technology leader, capital engineer, plant leader, regional controls technician, and more. I think this may be the wave of the future to be trained in a field where there are many employment opportunities waiting. Three months of training and I entered a career field, not just a job.”
Photo Courtesy Heroes Make America
In our next piece, we will analyze the specific opportunities in the EV supply chain that offer veterans a new mission.
