Organization Founded to Help Increase Veteran Hiring in the MEP Trades

Chaunté Hall, a 15-year USAF veteran and co-founder and CEO of the Centurion Military Alliance — an organization that facilitates the transition from active duty service to civilian life — has partnered with employers, training programs, and veteran groups to form the Victory Trades Alliance (VTA) to increase veteran hiring in the mechanical, electrical, and plumbing (MEP) trades.

In recent years, the MEP trades have experienced significant demand for skilled tradesmen, and this demand is expected to continue for the foreseeable future. This shortage of workers has persisted despite average salaries in the trades that are above those of college-educated workers of similar ages.

“The whole purpose of the Victory Trades Alliance is to debunk the myths that are associated with the trades,” says Hall. “There are over 200 skilled trades within the construction, transportation, manufacturing, and mechanical sectors that need well-trained workers. What we’re doing with the Victory Trades Alliance is a win-win for everyone involved. Employers have access to a pool of dedicated, disciplined, skilled tradesmen. Veterans and transitioning military personnel have a clear pathway to good jobs that will allow them to support themselves and their families. Training programs can enroll, train, and place graduates in good positions across the country.”

For more information about the Victory Trades Alliance, visit www.victorytradesalliance.com.