From Service to Skilled
Trades BY DR. ROSE VAN ALSTINE
America’ s most overlooked workforce pipeline
For many U. S. military veterans, finding stable, well-paying civilian employment is a
12 • 800-247-2000 • October 2026 challenge after their military contract ends. In a study produced by the Wounded Warrior Project, about a third of veterans have difficulty finding full-time employment after their contract ends, and if they do gain employment, it’ s jobs below their skill level. The skilled trades are a viable, but often overlooked,