Nearly 150 veterans, National Guard, reserve and transitioning service members and military spouses attended a hiring fair and employment workshop May 26 at the Pensacola State College Lou Ross Center in Pensacola, Florida.

The 2016 Hiring Our Heroes hiring fair, a national event sponsored by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation and local partners including the Pensacola Chamber of Commerce, Pensacola State College and CareerSource Escarosa, is designed to connect military job seekers with employers.

Center for Naval Aviation Technical Training (CNATT) Civilian Manpower Supervisor Richard Knutson said events such as this six-hour hiring fair can serve as a conduit for ensuring the right potential employee has information and establishes connections to find employment.

"We [CNATT] have a significant presence in the local [Pensacola] area, as well as across the United States," Knutson said. "The Heroes for Hire hiring fair is an excellent resource for individuals who often have critical aviation technical skills we -- as well as other employers -- need, and being part of events like this helps us continue our trend of hiring qualified personnel as well as get information to veterans and military personnel."

Since 2011, Heroes for Hire has hosted hundreds of hiring events in cities across the country, connecting military job seekers with employers who were looking for the talents they possessed. According to Heroes for Hire, more than 28,200 military veteran and spouses have been hired from these events by companies of all sizes.

"Opportunities for veterans outreach initiatives and other veteran related activities tap into the veteran-rich job seeker environment," said Knutson. "We can potentially fill vacant positions, inform and educate veterans on opportunities and hiring authorities that can be used for employment with the federal service."

CNATT is the technical training agent for the Naval Aviation Enterprise, an organization designed to advance and sustain naval aviation warfighting capabilities at an affordable cost, and is the largest training center under the Naval Education and Training Command.

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