Fort Drum— Home Depot has over 60,000 veterans that work for their company. The local Watertown, New York Home Depot and select Home Depot’s around the nation are holding a “Mission Transition” workshop nation wide for military soldiers transitioning out of the military. The workshop will teach the military community, comprehensive job search strategies in order to better transition into this challenging economy.
According to the office of actuary within the Department of Defense (DoD)- Watertown, New York and surrounding North Country areas have an estimated 2,353 retirees from all branches of service that reside in the area. ABC50 spoke with 15-year Home Depot employee and now District Manager- John Romeu, who is also a retired Army Infantry Captain once deployed to Israel and Egypt in 1991.
Romeu spoke passionately about Home Depot’s mission to assist military soldiers transitioning out of the military emphasizing that, “It is very difficult to transition out of the military if you do not know what resources are available to you, where to look, and where to even begin.” Jessie Scheer- recent Army veteran served in Egypt, Iraq, and Afghanistan twice totaling 4 deployments and has been with Home Depot for 6 months. Scheer was one soldier that reached out to Home Depot for employment after he transitioned out of the Army.
The latest 2011 economic impact survey stated that, Fort Drum was awarded the 2011 Army Communities of Excellence “Silver” star winner. Home of the 10th Mountain Division, which is crowned the highest deployed division in the entire United States. With the steady economic recession most of the country has been feeling, North Country civilians are grateful for Fort Drum. Because, Fort Drum is the largest employer in Northern New York. Just last year, there were a total of 4,614 civilian workers and 19,978 soldiers employed at Drum. The payroll amount including contractors and tenants totaled $1,012,895,645 for soldiers and $204,183,368 for civilians.
Fort Drum is also one the top places retired military families and soldiers live after they retire and transition out of the military. The Home Depot is well known around the nation as the “go to” place for home improvements. But, what most people do not know is how dedicated the company is in supporting military men and women that serve. The Home Depot Foundation has committed a total of $80 million to support veterans’ housing initiative, which assists veterans and disabled veterans with free home improvements.
Those interested in this “Mission Transition” seminar can register online at www.careers.homedepot.com/military.
The event will be at the Watertown, New York Home Depot.
The Home Depot
Saturday October 27,2012
From 2:00 pm - 5:00 pm.
391 College Heights Watertown, NY 13601
(315) 788-8539
