Solving the Skills Gap with Soldiers

Heroes MAKE America program expands to Fort Hood.

The National Association of Manufacturers’ (NAM) Manufacturing Institute is addressing the impending skills gap head-on by expanding its service member training program into Fort Hood, one of the world’s largest military installations.

According to NAM, 80 percent of manufacturers report difficulty filling open positions. Yet more than 200,000 service members return to civilian life each year in search of a new career. The Heroes MAKE America program aims to connect these individuals to modern manufacturing by providing training and helping them find a job. Over 85 percent of Heroes MAKE America graduates have been placed successfully into jobs after completing the program.

“Heroes MAKE America is more than just a game-changer for an industry in need of skilled workers—it’s an important way to give back to dedicated men and women who have lived a life of service in uniform,” said Carolyn Lee, Manufacturing Institute Executive Director. “Heroes has helped provide pathways to well-paying and high-skill careers for several classes of returning soldiers at Fort Riley, already and I believe it will continue to do so at Fort Hood today. We are grateful for the generous support of our sponsors who continue to make this important program possible.”

Heroes MAKE America was launched in Fort Riley, Kansas, at the beginning of 2018.

For more information, visit The Manufacturing Institute website.

Written by

Ian Wright

Ian is a senior editor at engineering.com, covering additive manufacturing and 3D printing, artificial intelligence, and advanced manufacturing. Ian holds bachelors and masters degrees in philosophy from McMaster University and spent six years pursuing a doctoral degree at York University before withdrawing in good standing.