Gov. Nathan Deal gathered with leaders of the Georgia National Guard on Monday to celebrate the organization’s prestigious award — and then he gave them a gift of his own.
After he praised the Guard for receiving the “Army Communities of Excellence” award, which honored the group as the top National Guard in the nation, Deal signed legislation that would make it easier for discharged military to get business licenses to work in high-needs professions.
The measure, House Bill 188, was the first piece of legislation Deal has signed since the end of the 40-day session last month. He has until early May to sign or veto the remaining legislation. Anything he doesn’t sign or veto in that window automatically becomes law.
The legislation creates a committee that will determine whether to speed up the licensing process for veterans based on their military skills and training who work as plumbers, electrical workers, commercial contractors, utility foremen and air conditioning specialists. The panel also will decide whether veterans’ spouses can more quickly receive licenses in those fields.
Deal said economists project the state to have more than 60,000 job vacancies in those fields by 2020. And there are between 60,000 and 80,000 military veterans returning to civilian life in Georgia over the next few years.
“We must help those men and women ease the transition for those leaving military life and going back to their communities,” he said.
State Sen. Hunter Hill, R-Smyrna, said the program could be the start of a wider effort to help veterans land jobs in key professions.
“It can be a great learning opportunity for us to see when this is successful whether we can expand it,” Hill said.
The bill signing was a sideshow to the awards ceremony held in a hangar at the Clay National Guard Center in Marietta.
The arduous process put Georgia up against 53 other state and territory National Guard organizations, including an intensive weeklong vetting process where military officials interviewed dozens of people and delved into every area of the organization. Along with bragging rights, the Georgia National Guard also will get $300,000 for upgrades at the Marietta base.
It was a particularly proud moment for Adjutant Gen. Jim Butterworth, a former Republican state senator who once flew bomber jets for the Georgia Air National Guard. After Deal announced in September 2011 that Butterworth would replace a 40-year military veteran, several retired generals raised concerns about Butterworth’s experience.
“I am honored and thrilled,” Butterworth told the dozens of soldiers at the announcement. “We have the momentum. And once you have the momentum, you can’t lose it. Let’s keep charging.”
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