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U.S. Veterans Accessibility to Civilian Aircraft Maintenance Jobs

With the veteran’s unemployment rate higher than the national average, it’s imperative for U.S. veterans to find work when they return back from duty. According to an article in The Army Times, there could be employment opportunity for specially trained veterans in the field of aviation.

Over the next 10 years, approximately 21,000 new workers will be needed in the field of aviation maintenance jobs. Therefore, Sen. Maria Cantwell (D-Wash.) is proposing the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), the Department of Defense (DoD), and the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) to work together to open up employment opportunities for skilled U.S. veterans.

There’s a much defined transitional path from the military to civilian employment for military pilots. Sen. Cantwell wants the VA, DoD, and FAA to create a similar path for veterans who maintained military aircraft to walk into commercial aircraft maintenance jobs upon their separation from the military.

According to Sen. Cantwell, there are currently “barriers preventing enlisted maintenance crews from” walking into civilian employment. One of the ways this path could become more clearly defined is by making FAA certification faster, simpler, and less expensive for veterans.

Further, the DoD has the ability to change DD 214s to more clearly define the skills veterans learned by maintaining airframes and powerplants.

Finally, the DoD could promote those in this field to participate in FAA-approved correspondence courses that would allow them to obtain their airframe and powerplant licenses when they leave the service.

If you are a disabled veteran who has been denied disability compensation or have not yet applied for benefits from the VA, a South Florida disability attorney from LaVan & Neidenberg is ready to help. To learn if you are entitled to certain programs and benefits contact our veteran’s disability rights firm today – 1-888-234-5758.