The crux of the American Legion National Credentialing Summit held the last week of August in Indianapolis comes down to this: standards matter.

The Summit, attended by Dixon Center for Military and Veterans Services Vice President Sam Whitehurst, brought together experts from the private and non-profit sectors, the armed forces and federal agencies to share best practices for credentialing and enhancing career prospects for veterans, service members and military spouses.

About 200,000 veterans enter the workforce annually, and while many leave the military with experience and military credentials, they must often secure civilian credentials to be competitive in the workforce. Eliminating barriers to civilian credentials is a goal of interested parties in this space, including Dixon Center.

During the Summit, Dixon Center met with ABF Freight, a leader in the transportation industry and a long-time partner with the Teamster’s Military Assistance Program. The TMAP program works to secure commercial driver’s licenses for service members prior to their leaving the service. TMAP and ABF Freight, with support from the Dixon Center, are a great example of the synergy that is achieved when the private sector, organized labor, and non-profits come together to assist service members, veterans, and their families.  

Expanding on programs such as this will help break down barriers to meaningful employment that affect veterans and the military community. For more information on Dixon Center’s efforts in workforce development and career placement, please contact Sam Whitehurst: swhitehurst@dixoncenter.org.