Veterans Fellowship Program

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Veterans Fellowship Program
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Program Purpose

• Military personnel departing active duty service
  have found it very difficult to transition to
  civilian employment. Service Women and Men have
  been exposed to challenging conditions or may
  have limited civilian work experience and will
  benefit from career assistance, mentoring, and
  advisement. The Port of Seattle is in a position
  to assist veterans in refining the skills and
  abilities necessary for civilian employment.

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Program Goals

• The Port of Seattle is committed to assisting
  military personnel departing active duty service
  transition to civilian employment.
• The Veterans Fellowship Program is designed to
  provide short-term (6-month) employment that will
  assist veterans selected for the program in the
  following areas
• Identifying transferable skills
• Exposure to a civilian work environment
• Career assistance
• Exposure to corporate business practices
• Mentoring
• Resume and interviewing assistance

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Program Components

• Annually hire up to 6 transitioning veterans for
  a six month fellowship in two classes of up to
  3 veterans each.
• Develop customized opportunities that match
  selected Veterans skills, experiences, and
  career interests.
• Fellowships may be available in senior, mid, and
  entry level leadership, technical/professional,
  administrative and skilled craft Positions.
  There may not be opportunities available at all
  levels at all times.
• A tailored plan will be developed to expose each
  Veterans Fellow to experiences and functions
  common in civilian employment.
• Each Veterans Fellow will receive pay
  commensurate with the work they will perform.
  Basic benefits (TBD) will also be provided.
• Each Veterans Fellow will be given 4 modules of
  career path training.

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Eligibility Requirements

• Veterans Fellowships require a minimum of 3 years
  of active duty or mobilized reserve duty service
  in a branch of the U.S. Military Service which
  includes the United States Coast Guard.
• Documentation of an honorable discharge from
  active or reserve status, or appropriate
  documentation of pending discharge while on
  terminal leave must be presented as part of the
  application process.
• Veterans Fellowship applicants must be within 120
  days of discharge to apply for a fellowship
  unless they have not worked full-time since their
  discharge and have been full-time students in a
  degree or certification program since their
  discharge.

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Group 1 Fellows

• Sebastian Hicks
• The Veterans Fellowship Program has been a
  great asset for me having a smooth transition
  into the civilian employment world. From my first
  interview, to being selected as a Maintenance
  Dispatcher, my fears that I had before retirement
  were quickly put at ease. The overall family
  environment, the responsibility and the feeling
  of being an important part of the machine that
  makes the entire Port function is a feeling that
  I can't put into words. I am truly blessed and
  thankful for this opportunity.
• Mark Stemann
• Outstanding experience in airport operations
  able to exercise and develop skills fulfill
  passion for career field. Excellent mentoring,
  networking, and training opportunities. Inspired
  to greater service by Port leaders appreciation
  and support for Veteran service Thank you!
• Jacob Richardson
• The Veterans Fellowship Program has
  allowed me to gain experience working on Police
  Department policy at Sea-Tac airport, a job that
  I really enjoy, and also make many contacts
  throughout the Port. Coming directly from the
  military, an opportunity such as this probably
  would not have been available without the
  Veterans Fellowship Program.

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2008 Group 2 Veteran Fellows

• Sara Chartrand Dock Operations / Seaport
  Cruise Industrial Properties. US Army.
  Transitioning after 10 years of service.
• James Bunn - Health Safety - Corporate Health
  Safety. Retired US Navy (E6) Corpsman after
  serving 20 years.
• Carol Jean (CJ) Mriscin - Construction Safety -
  Engineering Construction Safety. Retired Master
  Sergeant (E8) from the US Army after serving over
  22 years.