Rail industry goal: 5,000 jobs for vets this year

The freight railroads, intercity passenger and commuter railroads, and 
rail supply companies of the United States expect to hire more than 5,000
 veterans in 2012.



AAR President and CEO Edward R. Hamberger joined U.S. Secretary of
Transportation Ray LaHood and White House Joining Forces Initiative
 Executive Director Captain Bradley Cooper at a press event to announce the
 commitment. “The commitment from AAR and companies in the railway industry to veteran 
hiring is exactly the type of effort we hoped to see when the First Lady and
 Dr. Jill Biden launched Joining Forces last year—companies stepping up to hire 
our nation’s veterans. The railway industry clearly recognizes that hiring
 veterans is good for their companies’ bottom line and we are appreciative of
 their efforts to serve veterans and well as they have served this country,” 
Cooper said.



“We’re proud to be able to offer military men and women with not only jobs,
 but true potential careers in jobs that are a great fit with the skills
 they’ve acquired while serving our country,” Hamberger said.



“Veterans are unequaled examples of commitment, reliability, and leadership. That combination makes them ideal candidates for railroad employment, and
 the short line industry is proud to be a part of this veteran recruitment 
program,” said American Short Line and Regional Railroad Association President and retired Army Lt. General Richard F. Timmons.



The nation’s commuter railroads are honored to join forces and hire
 veterans, thus benefitting from their valued leadership, technical, and 
teamwork skills,” said Michael P. Melaniphy, President and CEO of the
American Public Transportation Association.



Amtrak noted that it currently employs more than 1,500 military veterans and is a member of the Employer Partnership of the Armed Forces program, recruiting at numerous military job fairs across the country. Since January 2012, more than 14% of Amtrak new hires have been veterans.