Senator Marco Rubio (R-FL) sent a letter to U.S. Department of Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin to encourage the employment of service members and veterans in the defense industrial base (DIB) as it has an “urgent need” for skilled labor.
The Florida senator is calling on Sec. Austin to emphasize the importance of transition assistance programs within the DIB sector. Sen. Rubio claims this emphasis would “support veterans and service members in their transition to civilian life and significantly strengthen our national security.”
Moreover, Sen. Rubio, alongside several colleagues in the upper chamber, stated that service members and veterans are “uniquely positioned” for this line of work.
“Service members and veterans are uniquely positioned to fill skilled labor needs due to their distinctive military skills and experiences,” said Sen. Rubio. “Upskilling and educating service members is a vital effort, but so is matching service members who already possess a valuable skill with job openings in the defense industrial base.”
He highlighted that some portions of the DIB industry lack the numbers to maintain its necessary workforce to provide consistent production.
“It is crucial that the DoD explore how current transition programs can be better utilized to guide service members and veterans towards careers that fill critical gaps in the defense industrial base,” said Rubio. “It is no secret that the U.S. shipbuilding industry is in a precarious position with some analysts stating U.S. ship production has reached its ‘worst state’ in decades. Even a cursory view of the skilled labor needed for a thriving shipbuilding industry reveals that shortfalls in production often stem from workforce challenges.”
Furthermore, the Florida senator added that for this system of change amongst service members and veterans to flourish, proper transition resources are required.
“Additionally, the DoD should increase the transparency of its process for identifying gaps within the defense industrial base that could benefit from service members’ and veterans’ unique skillsets, and promote such opportunities as part of current transition programs. Transitioning service members and veterans must be provided with the necessary resources to move directly from their service into skilled trade jobs that are vital to our national defense,” said Rubio.
Joining Rubio were Senators Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY), Thom Tillis (R-NC), Jacky Rosen (D-NV), John Boozman (R-AR), Mark Kelly (D-AR), Markwayne Mullin (R-OK), Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), Marsha Blackburn (R-TN), Tim Kaine (D-VA), Ted Budd (R-NC), and Kyrsten Sinema (I-AZ).
