{"id":446036,"date":"2023-11-21T08:42:00","date_gmt":"2023-11-21T13:42:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.automoblog.com\/?p=446036"},"modified":"2023-11-20T18:03:41","modified_gmt":"2023-11-20T23:03:41","slug":"programs-give-veterans-path-to-becoming-mechanics","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.automoblog.com\/programs-give-veterans-path-to-becoming-mechanics\/","title":{"rendered":"Programs Give Veterans a Path To Becoming Auto Mechanics"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
Each year, almost 200,000 military veterans look for work upon exiting the armed forces. However, data from the Pew Research Center<\/a> shows that only one in four veterans has a civilian job lined up after leaving the service. As veterans transition to civilian life from the service, it\u2019s important that there are enough job opportunities to make the transition easier. In a 2022 interview with CBS News<\/a>, Major General Dustin \u201cDusty\u201d Shultz, a two-star general with the U.S. Army, stressed that the transition from military service to civilian life was challenging.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Service members learn specific terminology and codes of behavior that may be difficult to translate into a civilian environment. As many military members join right after graduating from high school, some find it challenging to get a job that doesn\u2019t require a four-year degree.<\/p>\n\n\n\n A report from the TechForce Foundation, a nonprofit focused on helping students recognize the value of technical education and skilled trades, says that the number of people who finish postsecondary automotive tech training has dropped by 20% since 2020<\/a>. As it stands, the need for automotive technicians \u2013 including, but not limited to, technicians trained to work on electric vehicles<\/a> \u2013 is far outpacing the number of certified mechanics joining the workforce.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Not only are people keeping their vehicles for longer, leading to more repairs, but cars themselves are becoming more sophisticated. Automakers are adding driver assistance technology like crash prevention systems, lane detection, and other kinds of automation, all of which require additional knowledge when it comes time for repairs. As the number of qualified car technicians and mechanics<\/a> dwindles, the effects ripple out. Not only do repairs take longer and cost more, but the safety of vehicles on the road is increasingly compromised.<\/p>\n\n\n\n However, this deficit leaves an opening that could solve a few problems at once. As the demand for auto mechanics rapidly increases, military members can undergo training while in the service to help them more easily land an automotive technician job once they leave.<\/p>\n\n\n\nThere\u2019s a Worsening Auto Mechanic Shortage<\/h2>\n\n\n\n