VECTR Center partners with national organization to offer free career transition services

WARNER ROBINS — The Georgia Veterans Education Career Transition Resource Center announced their new partnership with Still Serving Veterans on Tuesday. The partnership aims to strengthen free career transition services to veterans, service members and military spouses.

Still Serving Veterans is a national organization based in Huntsville, Ala. 

Chief Operating Officer of the VECTR Center Don Layne met Dave Lakin, Director of Veteran Career Transitions at SSV, during an event in Columbus, Ga. After having a conversation together, Layne realized they had the same goals. They then started planning to offer SSV offices at the center. The partnership was then born.

“[Still Serving Veterans’] whole goal is to help that transitioning active duty person or a veteran that is job searching [to] find that job that’s right for them,” Layne said. “Find the job that they need to fill and can help support their life or their family.”

The event highlighted services offered by SSV including resume development, military-to-civilian skill translation, interview preparation and job search strategy, while the VECTR Center offers training and developing skills. 

The center has also offered resume classes, but with the SSV taking over those services, there will be an improvement and will allow the center to focus more on workforce development. 

“We still focus on workforce development for the high needs of Middle Georgia [and] the jobs that need to be filled in Middle Georgia. Marrying those two together is just perfect,” he said. 

Layne shared at VECTR they train people in welding, HVAC repair, Artificial Intelligence, robotics and manufacturing. There are approximately 16 Department of War Skillbridge programs, and 11 of those are taught regularly. 

“That’s our goal, workforce development, by getting these veterans and active duty service members jobs,” he said. 

During their cohorts, students will be encouraged to visit one of the SSV offices to further help their transition into civilian life. There will also be counselors available, who are veterans as well. 

Layne believes the SSV being a national organization is a benefit because most of the retiring active duty members are not staying in the area. Therefore, they will still have connections to their services. 

Lakin shared his excitement about the partnership and to offer their services to those who need it. 

“The work that we do, our mission meshes so well with what the VECTR Center does. We’re glad that they accepted us to be partners here. It was space to do what we do,” he said. 

As a veteran, Layne shared getting out of active duty can be one of the scariest times in their life. He said no matter their career, success level or training, it is still “nerve wracking.”

Lakin said people are usually nervous about the job search, especially in the current job market. 

“Those are all things that we get. The best thing is the opportunity to take that weight off your shoulders,” he said. 

Layne said the military does not train active duty members for a civilian job or how to find a job. However, the VECTR Center and SSV will give them the skills needed to navigate the transition into civilian life. 

“That’s what we’re here to do,” he said. 

The VECTR Center is located at 1001 South Armed Forces Boulevard. To find out more, visit their website.