San Antonio’s Got Your 6 was a weeklong, grassroots campaign in veteran transition assistance. The events focused on raising awareness of the number of veterans who will soon be transitioning into the civilian community, their needs, and the existing resources in San Antonio.
The Chamber’s Veterans and Families Support subcommittee, conducted a survey of the membership in early 2013 and discovered that 70% of employers are interested in hiring veterans but do not know where to find them. The committee decided to model the local Got Your 6 campaign after the national model, focusing on six pillars: employment, family, education, housing, leadership and health.
During June 1-7, each day focused on a different pillar important to transition, and featured a relevant event. Throughout the week, events garnered greater-than-anticipated attendance by veterans, veteran families and employers. The Veterans Information Program, hosted by San Antonio Coalition for Veterans & Families, was attended by SGM Shane Chapman from the Army Chief of Staff’s office at the Pentagon. Chapman is the lead on the Army’s Soldier for Life program that also addresses veteran transition assistance.
The Community Leadership Breakfast, hosted by the San Antonio Area Foundation was very successful, with a large turnout of community participants, solid feedback and helpful takeaway items. Members of the 502nd Air Base Wing were present; along with university and college officials, industry members and other non-profit partners. An end result of the breakfast was the beginning of a Military Leadership Council. At the end of the breakfast, subcommittees were developed and attendees signed up to work on future projects. This group will continue the conversation at their next meeting.
Points of Light Foundation offered two grant-funded, year-long positions solely focused on making the service-to-civilian transition process easy for veterans. Almost immediately, the Area Foundation, AACOG, Hill Bros. Construction, Frontline Support Solutions and Manpower stepped up to support the grant. The two positions will be extremely valuable to the developing Military Leadership Council and to The Chamber’s Veterans & Families Support subcommittee.
The Military Veteran Peer Network Mixer boasted a sold-out crowd at Dave & Buster’s, where families learned more about the peer-to-peer network in San Antonio. Door prizes were given out, courtesy of Grace After Fire, BEITZ and Operation Resilient Families.
“Hiring Vets Makes $en$e,” hosted by The Chamber, also received resounding feedback. A full room of hiring managers came to listen to a panel of veteran-hiring experts and learn how veterans are valuable to a company’s bottom-line.
For the education pillar, there were 3 featured events. The Education Fair, hosted by Alamo Colleges, included representatives from 16 different local colleges and universities and their veterans affairs offices. The Folds of Honor Foundation hosted a golf clinic for wounded warriors with free instruction, use and balls. Finally, the University of the Incarnate Word hosted a Lunch-n-Learn featuring discussions on veterans returning to school, transition to civilian life, academic support and successful adjustment to the university environment. Dr. Glenn James (USAF Ret.), Associate Provost, was the guest speaker.
The weeklong Got Your 6 in San Antonio was supported and embraced by the local community and by local and national military. Due to the drawdown of troops and the large number of military installations here, Texas will be affected more than any other state. Like past BRAC decisions, there is an opportunity for San Antonio to capitalize on the military talent moving into our community as permanent residents.
For more information on Got Your 6 in San Antonio and the Veterans & Families Support Subcommittee, contact Lisa O’Briant at (210)229-2190 or Lobriant@sachamber.org.