By Sylvie McCarthy
Operation New Uniform (ONU) held its graduation of Class 76 from the Career Readiness Program on Thursday, April 23 at the University of North Florida.
ONU recognized 15 graduates who successfully completed the Career Readiness Program and honored the achievements of the servicemembers and veterans as they prepare to transition into meaningful civilian careers.
The ceremony brought together a strong showing of dignitaries, community supporters, alumni, friends, and family.
The keynote address was given by Chris Budihas, U.S. Army veteran and host of the Front Line Visionaries podcast.
ONU’s program is designed to address the challenges veterans face during the transition from military to civilian life. Many veterans experience a loss of identity and uncertainty about career direction, and sometimes they have difficulty translating military experience into civilian roles. Through its comprehensive approach, ONU equips students with the tools needed to overcome these obstacles and pursue meaningful careers. Their goal is to do everything they can to assist veterans in taking the next steps in their professional journeys.
In addition to the graduation, ONU also hosted a Career & Resource Fair with more than 30 participating employers and organizations such as Wounded Warrior Project, UF Health, City of Jacksonville, ARC Shipping, Flagstar Bank, Helping Hands For Heroes, VyStar Credit Union and Hope4veterans.
This career fair provided graduates and attendees with valuable opportunities to connect with hiring partners and support services.
For more information on ONU visit their website at onuvets.org.