Whitridge Government Solutions is a proud advocate and employer of US veterans. Over 90% of our current employees on consulting assignments are veterans and many of them recently transitioned to civilian positions with the assistance of the Whitridge team.

Transitioning veterans often struggle to effectively market themselves for civilian jobs due to lack of coaching and mentoring.  Whitridge helps candidates understand the transitional value of the experiences, skills, discipline and clearances they acquired while serving in the military.  Hiring veterans is a proven investment for businesses. Veterans’ skills are particularly meaningful within the defense & intelligence contracting domains, and can support rapid acceptance and advancement of veterans on mission critical programs and projects across the federal community.

Military jargon translates well to federal programs’ terminology and presents an opportunity to position a veteran to start a civilian career in a situation where they can fluently speak the language. Clearances have an economic value and are highly sought after as mandatory passports for entry to cleared programs. The information technology systems, products, and security protocols the military uses are frequently synonymous with those used in the federal IT contracting community.

A veteran’s transition strategy should include an evaluation of their current skills/expertise and how it can be leveraged to advance their career in a desired field.  They must have the answer to the question: what are the career(s) that would truly get the best of what you have to offer and provide the gratification and financial reward necessary to make it a meaningful opportunity?  Ideally, jobs you are seeking should leverage the skills you immediately bring to the position, while challenging you to acquire new skills & certifications for advancement. Program/project, position, longevity and stability should be of particular concern when weighing an opportunity with Government Contractors. 

Bear in mind IT Staffing is an effective transitional tool to locating the correct long term employer rather than just jumping at the first full time employment opportunity you see. Many IT Staffing firms utilize the “try before you buy” method in conjunction with their client where the person is an employee of the IT Staffing company for a period of time and then, if it is mutually acceptable, they become an employee of the client with full benefits. Consider aspects such as: How long is the contract funded, and when is the next re-bid? The landscape of Government Contractors is in a state of flux today where contract cuts, consolidations, re-competition and contested awards are commonplace. Fully funded multi-year contracts with high value contractors who have a history with the customer - those are the programs/projects you want to be a part of.

Additionally, geography should be part of your transition strategy as much as the position and the contractor; the location is equally important not only for the suitability to your tastes but also the additional opportunities that may be available in the future. Many parts of the country are losing program market share, or are not geographic hot-beds for Federal contracting activity. Positioning yourself in an area where you have employer and program choice and contingency is critical to ensuring a stable future.

The challenge of transition from military to civilian service is a daunting one that requires a willingness to reach out for help. Providing that help is Whitridge’s intention and should be a focus for all employers, especially for IT Staffing and Government Contractors...

Thank you all for your service!


According to an article posted on clearancejobs.com July 30th, 2013…

Take a look at these five metropolitan areas where the economy is healthy, opportunities are vast and having a clearance matters.

HAMPTON ROADS, VA. (VIRGINIA BEACH, NEWPORT NEWS, NORFOLK)
This region reads like a story book for cleared veterans.   Hampton Roads is essentially the east coast’s military hub.  Civilian jobs requiring clearances extend across major naval installations, three Army bases, Defense Department agencies and seven of the top 10 defense contractors.  The state reports that Hampton Roads now has the fastest growing per capita personal income among peer metropolitan areas.  In addition, the region has a strong VA health care presence.

SAN DIEGO-CARLSBAD-SAN MARCOS, CALIF.
Already home to the largest population of veterans in America, San Diego released a report in January, claiming the city is now number one for veterans returning from Iraq and Afghanistan.  The bulk of cleared jobs within the military community are spread across seven major Navy and Marine Corps bases in an area housing the largest naval fleet in the world.
San Diego is a leader in the biotechnology industry, where demand for security clearances continues to grow. More than 100 biotech and pharmaceutical companies increasingly rely on IT security professionals. 

DALLAS-FORT WORTH-ARLINGTON, TEXAS
While this part of Texas is not military heavy, what’s heavy is the amount of federal contract dollars flowing into the region.  Despite defense cuts that may negatively affect the defense industry, major contractors like Lockheed Martin, Raytheon and Bell Helicopter continue to hire cleared veterans.
More than 10,000 corporations are headquartered in the DFW Metroplex, representing oil, gas, manufacturing, aviation and energy, all of which value a clearance.  The unemployment rate for veterans is low, and the same is true for cost of living. 

TUCSON, ARIZ.
Two major military installations offer opportunities for cleared job seekers; Davis-Monthan Air Force Base and Fort Huachuca.  But you may want to also consider a high tech industry that’s only getting bigger.  Close to 100 defense contractors operate here.  Raytheon tops the list, followed by Boeing, Honeywell and General Dynamics.

HUNTSVILLE, ALA.
They don’t call it Rocket City for nothing. Huntsville continues to be a haven for all things aerospace.  Redstone Arsenal has more than 60 federal agencies and organizations providing technology development for defense, space, missile and aviation programs. 


Whitridge welcomes an opportunity to continue assisting our veterans in identifying meaningful civilian careers and opportunities for advancement. Please reach out to us to discuss opportunities today!