Army Career and Alumni Program (ACAP)

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Army Career and Alumni Program (ACAP)
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What is ACAP

• Primary Mission
• Assist Soldiers in Making Appropriate Career and
  Transition Decisions
• Prepare Transitioning Soldiers and Families for a
  Successful Career Change
• Associated Priorities
• Connect Soldiers to Job Opportunities
• Offer Soldiers Opportunities to Network with
  Private Sector Employers

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Current Conditions

• Extremely Competitive Job Market
• National Jobless Rate 9.1
• West has Highest Unemployment Rate 10.4
• There are 4.2 Unemployed Workers for every Job
  Opening
• Employment Rates for Veterans are Higher than the
  National Average
• Young Veterans Aged 18-24 Returning from Iraq
  Afghanistan have an Unemployment Rate of 22
• Economic News Release Regional and State
  Employment and Unemployment Summary (October
  2011)

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Challenges for VeteransTrying to Compete

• Translating Extensive Military Experience into
  Understandable Civilian Resume
• Lack of Educational Degrees, Certifications or
  Minor Requirements for Position even though they
  Posses the Skills
• Networking Skills What is that??
• Interviewing Skills How to Talk Effectively
• Educational Background Undergraduate Degrees
  and/or Beyond
• Military Language Barriers
• Individual Expectations

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Unique Talent Pool

• Approximately 6,000 Soldiers Transition out of
  the Army from JBLM each Year
• In General, Employers Agree on the Top Qualities
  Soldiers Offer to the Workplace
• Self Discipline
• Teamwork
• Leadership
• Problem Solving Skills
• Code of Ethics / Integrity

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Unique Talent Pool

• Military Training Prepares Soldiers with Unique
  Skills
• Security Clearance
• Highly Specialized Skill Training
• Technical Training
• Proven Success
• Longer Retention Rates
• Efficient Performance Under Pressure
• Triumph Over Diversity

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Federal Legislation

• VOW to Hire Heroes Act of 2011
• Expands Education Training Opportunities
• Improvement of Transition Assistance Program
  (TAP)
• Acquiring Veterans Preference Earlier
• Translating Military Skills and Training
• Tax credits for Companies that Hire Veterans
• Up to 9,600 for Hiring an Unemployed Veteran
  With Service Connected Disabilities
• Up to 5,600 for Hiring an Unemployed Veteran
• VOW to Hire Heroes Act of 2011 House Committee
  on Veterans Affairs

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VOW TO HIRE HEROES - 5 Best Practices -

• ?GET THE WORD OUT
• educate human resources teams about the benefits
  of hiring veterans (Amazon), and
• Figure out how skills learned in the military
  translate to the work a company does (Boeing)
• Hire or designate a military/veteran recruiter
  and/or outreach person (Microsoft)
• Include a veteran working in your company on your
  interview/hiring panels (General Plastics)  
• ?PROVIDE JOB TRAINING RESOURCES
• Target transitioning service members
• capitalize on skills developed during military
  service and incorporate on-the-job training
• Partner with a local community college/university
  who can help supplement training
• Help a veteran employee create a career
  development plan with your company that
  incorporates potential use of their GI Bill
  benefits
• ?TARGET YOUR JOBS TO VETERANS
• Publicize job openings with Veterans Service
  Organizations (VFW, American Legion, DAV)
• Develop relationships with the local military
  bases to help connect veterans with jobs (JBLM
  NBK, NSE),
• work with local One-Stop Career Centers (Work
  Source).
• ?INTERNAL MENTORSHIP PROGRAMS
• develop an internal veterans group within your
  company to mentor recently discharged veterans,
• ?CREATE A PIPELINE
• reach out to local community colleges and
  universities to help develop a pipeline of the
  many, many veterans that are using GI bill
  benefits to gain employment in your particular
  area (Clover Park)
• Reach out to local military installations and let
  them know what you need in employees (PSNS
  Olympic College)

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WA State Legislation

• HB 1432 (Washington State)
• Allows Corporate Veterans Preference Program
• Currently, Washington is the Only State
  Allowing/Encouraging Private Companies to
  Advertise and Hire Based on Veterans Preference

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Improved Transition Process

• Begins 18 months From Separation Date With
  Counseling from Unit Career Counselor Followed By
  at Least 5 More Individual Counseling
• At 12 Months From Separation Date Service Member
  Must Begin Transition Process by Attending TAP
  Class and Counseling with Transition Counselor
• There are Four Tracks For Service Members to
  Proceed With
• Education Track
• Standard Track
• Apprenticeship/Trade Track
• Small Business Track

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JBLM ACAP on Facebook
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JBLM ACAP on LinkedIn
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Hero 2 Hiredhttps//h2h.jobs
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Veterans Mobile Application (VAPP)
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ACAP Workshops

• Transition Assistance Program (TAP) - Mandatory
• VA Benefits Briefing - Mandatory
• Advanced Resume Writing
• Interviewing Workshop
• WA State Application Seminar
• Federal Application Workshop
• Disabled Transition Assistance Program (DTAP)
• Small Business Administration (SBA) Course
• Introduction to Trades Information Session
• VA Disability Claims Session

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Other Ways ACAP Helps

• Mentorship/Job Shadowing Opportunities
• Hire Americas Heroes
• Boots to Shoes
• Networking Venues
• Employment /Employer Events
• Brown Bag Presentations at TAP Class
• Job Posting Opportunities in Computer Lab and on
  Social Media Sites
• Employer Specific Career Day at ACAP Center

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How to Connect with Soldiers (1 of 2)

• Participate in or sponsor a networking event
• 1st Wednesday of the month in Seattle with Marine
  For Life next one 1 August, 11-2 at Fados
  Irish Pub
• 3rd Thursday of the month in Pierce County with
  ACAP next one 21 June, 2-5 _at_ the Great American
  Casino
• Brown Bag lunch network event during Transition
  Assistance Program workshops every Wednesday at
  ACAP Center

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How to Connect with Soldiers (2 of 2)

• Conduct workshops for transitioning Soldiers
• How to Interview/ Write a Resume/ Network
• Provide Mentorship/ Job Shadow Opportunity
• Employment /Employer Events
• ACAP Center Employer Events (Monthly)
• ACAP Employment Fairs ( 2-4 per year) next one
  8 NOV at Camp Murray
• Company Interview/Hiring Event (As requested)
• List employment opportunity
• ACAP Center/ACAP Facebook page
• H2H.jobs
• Present Company and/or opportunity brief to
  Career Counselors

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Key Points Of Contact
Robin Baker Transition Services Manager Email
robin.baker_at_us.army.mil phone
253-967-1808, BB 253-686-0105 Leadership Group
Email jblmimcomdhracap_at_conus.army.mil Job Fair
Team email jblmimcomdhracapjobfairteam_at_conus.arm
y.mil Website http//www.lewis-mcchord.army.mil/a
cap/
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Questions