Jerry Welsh ⋅ Middleville, MI Master Military Transition Advisor/HPS GPO ⋅ 30 years experience

Erika,
I used to do a lot of TAP in MN, but like Michigan it had no active duty bases-so it lacked a an understand of military past the average lack of understanding. With only 0.5% of our population serving in the military there is a huge disconnect between the professional world the military has built and the civilian's understanding. Civilians only see in movies or other media worlds what the military does. I always told the classes no one is going to make a movie about HR or supply chain or IT etc. 90% of the positions in the military serve the tactical part of the military, where the action is. Anything that provides the civilian market with an idea about what level of people our military produces today, will help greatly. The Army only takes 9 out of every 10 that apply and that is when the standards are the lowest! Civilians simply do not understand and what the do not understand they do not hire! Thanks for your service and God Bless.

James Watters ⋅ Norman, OK Business Consultant, retired ⋅ 17 years experience

Colonel Cashin - In many of the smaller Oklahoma communities, a devastating trend has been the loss of their young people. High school seniors go off to college and many never return but for holidays or vacations. They seek their futures elsewhere and hometowns are left with smaller economic bases.

Solutions:
Of course, an effective tourism program helps many communities improve local business and often aids in the recruitment of people and new companies. Tourism that focuses on historic preservation, art and cultural assets are magnets to out-of-towners.

Regarding those lost teenagers, perhaps a community program that offers to pay tuition costs with the understanding that the college graduate returns to their community for a specified time.

Thanks for your service and good luck.