Boeing has partnered with the Commonwealth of Virginia and Virginia Tech to establish The Boeing Center for Veteran Transition & Military Families. According to the company, the center will offer resources and employment opportunities for veterans along with providing support for military families during the transition to civilian life. It will be located on Virginia Tech’s Innovation Campus in Alexandria, Virginia.
“Boeing has a long, proud history of supporting veterans and their families during and after their service,” said Boeing President and CEO Dave Calhoun. “So we’re honored to join Virginia and Virginia Tech to build on Boeing’s commitment to veterans with this Center for Veteran Transition & Military Families. This initiative will unlock new career opportunities for veterans and their families and help develop leading technical talent while affirming our continued investment in Northern Virginia.”
Boeing noted that the Center for Veteran Transition & Military Families will use a portion of the company’s recent $50 million investment in Virginia Tech’s Innovation Campus. The veterans center will operate in coordination with a planned Virginia Tech services center designed to “serve as a support center for current and prospective students interested in participating in Innovation Campus programs.” As previously reported by AVweb, Boeing announced in May that it was relocating its global headquarters to Virginia.
Why?
Most “verterans” never saw combat, never defended freedom, never were under fire. Most were in it for a sweet retirement and free training. They should give more to only those who ACTUALLY fought, not the majority that got free training and stayed stateside.
YGBSM. Really? You can’t even spell “veterans” correctly. Have any statistics, studies, or other reliable documents that show that “most were in it for a sweet retirement and free training”?
Kudos to Boeing. They clearly recognize that veterans are a valuable source of good, hard-working, reliable employees with proven leadership abilities.
I’m not against benefits for those that have FOUGHT in a war; but gee wizz we need to differentiate between fighing members and the vast majority who only were in support roles in the states and abroad. Sitting in offices or fueling airplanes or just riding on a ship is neither heroic nor uncommon.
Tell that to the military crash-fire rescue and medical responders who respond to aircraft and other mishaps. Tell that to the admin Marine who goes out on patrols, mans a defensive perimeter, and does other infantry-related tasks…yes, every Marine a rifleman, every Marine must graduate from the School of Infantry before going to their MOS schools). Tell that to aircraft carrier flight deck crewmen who risk getting blown overboard, run over, or sucked into jet intakes while working 16-hour days. Tell that to my friend from the Air Guard who was at the air base that the Taliban invaded (several Harriers were blown up…he responded and was on the defensive perimeter). Tell that to the Air Force PJs who help with rescuing civilians in peacetime as well as their fellow warriors during combat. Tell that to the Coast Guardsmen who battle the worst elements Mother Nature can throw at them while rescuing those who are in distress at sea. Tell that to all of the service members who regularly spend extended overseas deployments, separated from their families and performing all of the above highly hazardous tasks and many more.
By the way, have you figured out yet how to spell “veterans?”
I can’t remember the last time I logged in to make or respond to a comment in this forum. But your ignorant and insulting comment sure prompted me to do that. Every veteran who raised their hand and swore an oath was prepared to go anywhere on a moments notice to defend you and your ilk, and maybe even die on your behalf. The fact that some number of us never saw, or may never see, combat is irrelevant to the effort that Boeing is making. You owe a lot of people apology (I’ll take a wild guess that won’t happen).
Thank you, John L and Bob L!
I once employed a young Germany accountant married to a member of the 82nd Airborne. I was trying to explain to her and others why our small company could not offer the very generous medical insurance the US military families receive, Tri-Care. She was covered through her military husband. She was dumbfounded what people outside the government pay for medical care and insurance. I asked her why she thought most people joined the military. She said “the benefits”. Not the job, not the adventure, not the challenge. No wonder so many military retirees seek other government employment. They just can’t separate themselves from job security and the big government feed trough. As far as dangers are concerned, the US Bureau of Labor Statistics lists the top 25 most dangerous jobs based on injury statistics. The military doesn’t make it on the list at all. https://advisorsmith.com/data/most-dangerous-jobs/
I’m not anti-military but the benefits they receive while employed by the government and the cushy deals many land afterwards in other businesses related to the government seem to be plenty. I live next to Ft.Bragg, home to JSOC, special operations and the 82nd Airborne. Military families live VERY well these days. The housing support they receive is so generous these days, many are buying multiple homes and earning great additional income from rent. Their Tri-Care medical insurance is beyond belief for those of us slugs in the private sector who create all the real wealth that funds the entire government. When I go to Lowe’s or other stores I’m asked if I’m active or retired military as they give discounts to them. This shifts higher costs to those who did not wear a federal uniform. This nation is $30T in the hole but there are millions such people in the “protected class” who are shielded from the disastrous consequences of a government that refuses to live within its means. How much longer will people in the private sector toil into their 80s to fund the bloated pensions and benefits of government retirees? This includes the military, police, fire, teachers, etc. There will be no sacred cows left when the fiscal collapse comes.
You’re delusional. About 52% of the military is made up of pay grades E-1 through E-4. So try looking at a military pay scale chart. Yes, some of the benefits are generous, to compensate for the low pay, especially for the lower enlisted and officer ranks. A Marine Corporal (E-4) with 4 years of service makes $2,786/mo base pay (about 33K a year). Subsistence is about $280/mo, (not paid if you have to eat in the mess hall. If you’re eating government-provided chow, that allowance stops…even if you’re eating T-rats or MREs). Housing allowance is based on where you live and pays about 95% of the average cost of housing in the area you live. You don’t get that allowance if you live in base housing (wait lists for base housing in high-cost areas can be years-long). Oh, and if you have to live out in town, the government doesn’t give you any $ for the inevitable deposit and and/or final payment in advance, if you’re renting. Want to buy? No help with closing costs, plus you’ll lose money on selling if you get transferred in 2-3 years (more or less typical tour length.
Retirement? Mine at retirement was about 1/3 of my total pay package (it was based on base pay only, not allowances) and is indexed to the rate of inflation. That plus what I made in my first post-retirement job didn’t come close to matching what I was making on active duty. That’s pretty typical for the substantial majority of military retirees of my era. It’s now a “High 36”, where an E-7 (Marine Gunnery Sergeant, a senior NCO) will get about $2,000/month after 20 years. Bloated pension? Really? Obviously you didn’t bother to do any real research on the subject. “Protected classes”? And you’re lumping police/fire/teachers into that pile without actually looking at the numbers? You’ve obviously never looked into what police, fire, and teachers are paid these days or make in retirement. Just ask them how much their total compensation has been cut through increased health care premiums, pension cuts, and other cost-saving measures. “Protected classes”? Get real. Shame on you.
As for the discounts – ask Home Depot or Lowe’s if they shift the cost of the discounts to other people. That’s pure nonsensical speculation on your part and I bet I know what they’d say – they give discounts to other customers (for example, contractors who are steady customers). They eat the discounts as a part of doing business. So don’t give us that nonsense.
Good for Boeing. Those who chose to be in the military do so knowing they could be called to defend this country at any time, anywhere. I got my experience needed for my A+P from a retired Army helicopter mechanic and crew chief. He never saw any combat action but was in the Army for over 20 years. He was stationed in Europe, Korea, and Alaska. My two nephews served in the Navy, the oldest aboard ship for 2 cruises. He served for 8 years. I did not serve in the military, my choice. I have never asked for or accepted any veteran discount or benefit. I think the comments by those who believe that those military persons who never fired a gun in combat don’t deserve those benefits are completely out of line.
I can see additional benefits for those who were drafted against their will, but NOT for those today who volunteer. They already get enumeral benefits and re-up bonuses. When was the last time your employer gave you an extra $30K to stay another few years?
Boeing is free to do what it wants. Personally I don’t want “military style” leadership in a civillian boss. I’ve had 2 like that in the past and both were a word that I cannot use on this forum.
You really honestly don’t know what you’re talking about. First off, the draft ended shortly after the Vietnam war ended. There are NO draftees in military service. Second – most MOSs (military occupational specialties) get a minimal bonus (if any) for re-enlisting. $30K is NOT the norm, unless you’re in an MOS that is short-staffed.
As for “military style” leadership – ask any employer who seeks out and hires veterans. Many will tell you that they’d rather take a veteran and hire them for their work ethic and leadership skills, and train them to do a job, rather than the other way around.
Sounds to me like you have a problem with working for authority. People with military leadership skills tend to be forthright, direct, and honest when they’re directing and evaluating their people. Perhaps the ones you worked for were telling you what you NEEDED to hear, rather than WHAT you needed to hear.
Obviously you’ve never served, and it’s likely just as well. The military regularly boots people who can’t handle being part of a team, doing what they’re told, exercising leadership and initiative, and taking responsibility for their actions. Undoubtedly we would have wasted our time trying to get you up to standards.
I think AJF is a pseudonym for an AvWeb staffer just trying to “stir the pot”. He is the same guy that categorically stated C 172 fuel selector is either on or off then later admitted he didn’t know and to not having flown one in over 40 odd years. Not to mention his efforts to politicize threads.
Yep, I think AJF is a “plant”.
When seeing someone else receiving something you don’t, it’s quite natural to feel jealousy, and to cover that through denigration. Still, it is good to be honest with oneself about why you too don’t receive whatever it is.
In the case of the military, the retirement pension & continuing medical insurance plan is available to almost everyone, all it takes is twenty or more years of your life going where they send you and doing what they want done, at considerably lower pay than they would have to pay a civilian. Not for you, you say? Well then…..
My heart is a bit lighter today, Flag Day, after reading most comments here are supportive of veterans and their unique roles in our society. And congrats to Boeing for stepping up for them, too.