President Trump continues to show his gratitude for our Servicemembers and this time the focus is on life after the military. The transition from active-duty military to civilian life can be a challenge for servicemembers who don’t have familiarity with the private sector.
President Trump intends to sign an order on Monday that will allow veterans to apply their prior knowledge and experience working on military ships to count towards Mariner credentialing requirements. He will also waive licensing fees which often more than thousands of dollars.
The order which is known as “Supporting the Transition of Active Duty Service Members and Military Veterans into the Merchant Marine”, provides veterans with steady, fair paying employment and also alleviates concern with the shortage of applicants. Veterans will earn wages higher than that of the occupational average to conduct operations within the U.S. and in between other nations.
A merchant marine fleet carries imports and exports during peacetime and becomes a naval auxiliary during wartime to deliver troops and war material.
The shortage of mariners is not a trivial matter, Peter Navarro, director of trade and economic policy echoed the importance of having mission ready elements:
“If the U.S. entered into a large-scale conflict that required the military’s full mobilization, we would fall or could fall short of the number of Mariners needed to sustain contingency operation,” he said. “In other words, after just six months, the most powerful country in the world could find itself challenged to supply its overseas military personnel.”
President Trump continues to gain the trust and confidence of the veteran community. According to the AP VoteCast, veterans are 16% more likely to agree that President Trump has the right temperament to be president than nonveterans. Veterans are also 10% more likely than nonveterans to agree that the president is a strong leader.
President Trump continues to offer creative and necessary policy in support of the nation’s servicemembers and protecting veterans after their military service is yet another step in the right direction.