A nonprofit organization and a private company have teamed up to help military veterans find jobs when they return home to civilian life.
Suits for Soldiers and Risk Security & Investigations, both based in Rochester, are working hard to eliminate veteran unemployment by finding them positions in the growing field of private security services.
‘You’ll never end unemployment. There’s always going to be someone unemployed,? said Scott Fader, an Oxford resident who founded Suits for Soldiers in July 2013. ‘But we can keep striving to end it like (we do with) cancer or hunger or homelessness.?
‘I just want to help veterans get back to work,? said Mark Ford, owner and president of Risk Security & Investigations. ‘It’s tough out there.?
Suits for Soldiers provides veterans with business attire, resume writing assistance, access to job opportunities, mentoring, legal aid, information technology training and help obtaining government benefits.
Risk Security & Investigations provides investigative services, uniformed and plain-clothed security guards, and computer forensics. With under 20 accounts, it’s a small business that serves hotels, hospitals and other medical facilities, shopping centers, school districts, retirement centers and apartment communities.
The way the partnership works is simple.
Basically, the security company is giving Suits for Soldiers ‘first crack? at finding and referring candidates for job openings there, according to Fader.
?(Ford is) a true believer in what I’ve been doing,? he explained. ‘He’s been a big voice and advocate for us. He’s trying to push us to the next level.?
Fader, who served in the U.S. Army from 2010-13 and spent nine months in Afghanistan, said Ford is giving veterans the chance to have ‘a career rather than just a job? as his company offers higher wages than others and opportunities for internal advancement.
Ford noted he recently promoted an army veteran who served in Iraq from security guard to account manager.
‘If you take the time to volunteer and put yourself in harm’s way to defend our country, the least we can do is try and help you when you get back home,? Ford said.
One of the reasons Ford is so committed to hiring veterans is because he is one. He served in the U.S. Coast Guard from 1970-74.
Ford, who bought the company in 2004, believes veterans ‘make great employees? when it comes to security work.
‘They don’t fall asleep and these guys are used to seeing a lot tougher things than what you see as a security guard,? he said. ‘They’re able to handle certain situations much easier than a non-vet.?
‘It seems like a natural fit,? Fader said. ‘They’ve got the skills.?
Fader said military life teaches people to be on-time each and every day, complete all tasks assigned to them ‘above and beyond expectations,? take responsibility for their actions and be prepared to work long hours.
‘It’s so ingrained in you,? he said.
Risk Security & Investigations currently employs 44 people and of those, eight are veterans of the U.S. Army while one served in the U.S. Marines. ‘We hope to increase that amount as our company grows,? Ford said.
Ford noted being a veteran doesn’t automatically guarantee someone a job with his company. Applicants must still meet certain requirements including being drug-free and having no criminal record.
‘The state will not allow us to hire criminals,? he explained. ‘If you’re a felon, you cannot go to work in our industry.?
Fader hopes other private companies will ‘follow in (Risk Security & Investigations?) footsteps? by partnering with Suits for Soldiers to hire veterans whenever and wherever possible.
He also hopes more people will consider patronizing and supporting veteran-owned companies because it ultimately leads to more employment opportunities for veterans.
To learn more about Suits for Soldiers, please visit www.suitsforsoldiers.org. To learn more about Risk Security & Investigations, visit www.riskinvestigations.com.