DUVAL COUNTY, Fla. – Twenty-three military veterans graduated from Operation New Uniform’s career readiness program Friday at Florida Blue’s Deerwood Campus in Jacksonville, marking the organization’s 78th graduating class.
The program equips veterans, service members and military spouses with classes and networking events designed to build civilian skills that translate into new careers.
Among the graduates is a Navy lieutenant stationed at Naval Station Mayport who has served eight years in the Navy. Ryan Donlon says his last day of service is in November.
“We had to learn how to create a brag sheet, you know, sell ourselves,” he said. “And that was the biggest skill that takeaway is, your success is on you. You’re not gonna be given it. Everybody’s told as you’re getting out of the military, ‘Oh, everybody wants to give a veteran a job.’ That’s not necessarily the case. You have to earn it. You have to sell yourself. You have to demilitarize yourself so that you can be an asset to the civilian sector.”
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, more than 50% of veterans face unemployment for up to four months or longer after leaving the military.
The graduation ceremony began at 8:30 a.m., with Wounded Warrior Project CEO Walt Piatt serving as keynote speaker. Piatt addressed the graduating class and offered words of encouragement as the new graduates prepare to enter the civilian workforce.