As part of the solar industry’s job report, SEIA always mentions the number of U.S. veterans the industry plans to employ. We reported this week that veterans now comprise 8 percent of the total workforce, but that number looks to increase now that the Department of Energy’s Solar Ready Vets job training program is producing its first graduates.
From the NPR affiliate in Utah:
“It was a great course. It was tough at times, but the way that it was taught it was very beneficial to me and a lot of my classmates.”
That’s Senior Airman Clarence Gleton. He gets out of the Air Force in August and says he hopes to use the certificate as a springboard to a career.
“I did it because I thought it would be a great opportunity, especially to be one of the first to go through the class. I’m looking for something better outside of the military.”
The program lasted eight weeks and took place at Salt Lake Community College, including training in solar systems management and installation. The Department of Energy, the Department of Defense and SLCC will now evaluate what they learned from the first course as they implement the program at other military bases across the country.
For more on the program, watch the video below.
— Solar Builder magazine
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