How these agencies are helping South Carolina veterans find jobs

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The military has a huge presence in South Carolina, which is home to eight different military installations. Consequently, the state also is home to a large number of veterans — more than 397,649 across 46 counties, according to 2022 estimates from the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs.

The largest population of veterans is in Richland County, with 36,792 veterans in residence. Charleston County has the second highest population at 35,141, while Greenville County is third with 30,014.

One of the biggest challenges for those who work with veteran populations in the state is helping those men and women find employment after they either retire from the military or transition out of service after their enlistments are complete.

Officials from both the South Carolina Department of Veterans Affairs and the South Carolina Department of Employment and Workforce have a number of programs in place to help those who have served their country to find success in the workforce — and hopefully do so while remaining in the state.

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One of the biggest goals — and challenges — is helping veterans find work that will bring them the same type of satisfaction they experienced while in the military.

“What I see with veterans — and I can speak to this because I’m also one of those veterans — is the biggest challenge is finding something that is just as rewarding as military service and gives them both the responsibility they want and the compensation they need,” said Al Taylor, senior operations coordinator for the South Carolina Department of Veterans Affairs. “Our goal is to help them find what we call both suitable and sustainable employment.”

Taylor, who retired from the U.S. Army after 22 years of service, works on a daily basis to form a network of employers across the state who are looking to hire veterans. He talks with employers about the benefits of hiring veterans and also communicates regularly with veterans to find out what kind of employment needs they have — “whether they are looking for just a job or seeking employment and a career to sustain yourself and your family,” he said.

Taylor hosts monthly employment and workforce development meetings with members from the South Carolina Chamber of Commerce, the South Carolina Department of Employment and Workforce and the South Carolina Department of Labor to discuss workforce development for veterans. Each week, he also posts what he calls the “Elite Eight” on the SCDVA’s website, highlighting two companies from each region in the state who are actively seeking to hire veterans.

He said DVA also runs Transition Centers around the state that offer assistance to service members and their families as they transition out of military service into civilian life.

Employers such as Lockheed Martin, Boeing, South Carolina Beer Wholesalers, BMW, Goodwill Industries, and Palmetto Armory are among those that have been most responsive in hiring veterans, Taylor said.

A number of industries lend themselves to the skills veterans bring to the workforce from military service. Taylor said manufacturing, mechanics, aerospace, distribution and logistics and information technology jobs all lend themselves to what the veteran jobseeker has to offer. Many property management companies also actively seek out veterans, he said.

“A lot of our employers are already veteran friendly, and we want to try to make them even more so,” Taylor said.

A big part of veteran workforce development is letting prospective employers know the benefits of hiring veterans.

“Hiring veterans can be a great asset for any business,” said Marlin Bodison, veteran services director for the South Carolina Department of Employment and Workforce. “Not only do veterans bring a wealth of skills and experience to the table, but they also bring a strong work ethic, discipline and leadership abilities.”

Many veterans also have experience in multiple fields, not just what they specialized in while in service. During a stint in the military, many service members work across several sectors and pick up skills along the way.

He offers his own experience in the military as an example.

“During my time in the military I was an armor officer, and I also did battalion maintenance, operations, ship loading and railroad loading,” Bodison said. “Many veterans possess multiple skills and the good thing about them is they are also quick learners.”

The Department of Employment and Workforce has a number of programs available to help veterans transition into the workforce system, he said.

Staff members from DEW participate in transition assistance briefings at each of the state’s military installations monthly. Through DEW’s SC Works system, veterans can get assistance with resume writing, career planning, job development and, if eligible, classroom or on the job training. Many of the SC Works programs for veterans are available both on-site and in hybrid formats so people from across the state can access programs without having to travel long distances.

“If I’m a veteran in Myrtle Beach, I can access a statewide resume workshop through an online platform,” he said.

The department also partners with federal and state entities such as the state’s Department of Veterans Affairs, the U.S. Veterans Administration Health Care System and the Veterans Administration Vocational Readiness and Employment program. He said DEW also partners with a number of community based organizations around the state to help address other needs for veterans unrelated to employment.

Bodison said one of the biggest challenges for veterans is helping veterans translate their military skills to what he calls “civilian language.” That means helping veterans figure out what fields their military occupational skill, or MOS, has best prepared them for.

Through DEW’s SC Works Online Services program, veterans can access a special portal that allows them to enter their branch of service, rank and their MOS.

“Once they enter that information, the system then searches for a job opening that fits with the skill they performed in the military,” Bodison said. That interchange between military and civilian jobs is referred to in the department as a “military occupational crosswalk.”

Bodison noted that hiring veterans brings additional benefits to businesses along with those strong employee character traits. Business owners that hire certain groups, including veterans, can be eligible for the Work Opportunity Tax Credit.

Through all of their programs, both the Department of Veterans Affairs and DEW have a core mission —getting as many veterans as possible to stay in South Carolina for work after service.