Gary Sinise’s next movie will have him co-starring with airplane engines, corporate servers and widgets from 3-D printers.
The actor and veterans advocate will narrate a short online film out next month highlighting veterans manufacturing work, as part of the ongoing Get Skills to Work initiative connecting separating military personnel with civilian manufacturing careers.
“Veterans defended this country, and in many cases are now building the equipment being used to defend this country,” Sinise said. “We need to get the word out.”
The new Built By Vets campaign was launched Tuesday at the annual Association of the U.S. Army conference, with thousands of defense contractors and vendors in attendance.
Veterans employment prospects have been a hot topic not just among those employers but also on Capitol Hill, with lawmakers worried about the rocky transition to civilian life many troops face.
In recent months, those concerns have waned somewhat. Last month, the unemployment rate for veterans in America dropped to 4.7 percent, its lowest level in six years. The jobless rate for younger veterans have seen a gradual decrease over the last two years, and has averaged around 7 percent for the past six months.
But officials from Get Skills to Work said the ongoing challenge is making sure those veterans are finding rewarding careers and a new connection to the civilian community, not just short-term paychecks.
“I don’t worry about veterans’ ability or their skills as much as the attitude of the public and businesses in accepting them,” said retired Command Sgt. Maj. Bennie Adkins, initiative spokesman and a Medal of Honor recipient for his actions in Vietnam.
The Built By Vets effort is designed to highlight veterans’ skills, enthusiasm and creativity. Organizers will use social media to collect stories and videos for the final production, featuring the tag #BuiltByVets.
Sinise, who earlier this month took part in the dedication of a new memorial for disabled veterans on the National Mall, said outreach and awareness of veterans’ transition challenges remains critical to ensure the next generation of war heroes doesn’t face long-term adjustment problems.
“We need to show how important veterans are to the economy of America,” he said.
