Readiness Badges Help Heroes Find Their Place in Manufacturing

Imagine leaving a life-changing experience serving in our nation’s military service… only to be faced once again with that feeling of “where do I go from here?” You know your new skills and team experiences are valuable, but finding a place to grow can seem daunting.

Heroes MAKE America builds connections between the military community and the manufacturing industry. A program within the Manufacturing Institute (MI), the initiative provides integrated certification and career-readiness training in partnership with local community colleges to prepare transitioning service members, veterans, National Guard, reservists, and military spouses for rewarding careers in manufacturing. It also provides manufacturers and supply chain companies access to a pipeline of uniquely qualified candidates to interview for potential jobs through in-person and virtual career events and onsite facility tours.

The program developed its Manufacturing Readiness Badge Series by mapping the skills from more than 300 military occupations and related military training. Each badge is aligned to the foundational skills required for manufacturing and logistics as represented by the Manufacturing Skill Standards Council (MSSC) under its Certified Production Technician (CPT) and Certified Logistics Technician (CLT) certifications.

BADGES BRIDGE THE GAP

The Manufacturing Readiness Badges system bridges the gap between military service and civilian manufacturing careers through digital credentialing, translating military skills into a language that resonates with civilian employers. This facilitates the employment of veterans in manufacturing—a sector with a critical need to fill nearly 400,000 open jobs each month.

MI’s Manufacturing Readiness Badges were created in partnership with SOLID, an employee-owned small business that delivers innovative, data-driven workforce development solutions. SOLID specializes in identifying skill gaps, expanding equitable career pathways, and developing talent management tools—especially for the military-connected community. Their deep credentialing expertise has made them national thought leaders, supporting major initiatives across government, nonprofit, and private sectors.

According to Sytease Geib, special projects manager with Heroes MAKE America, all manufacturers partnering with the initiative receive education on the Manufacturing Readiness Badges and are encouraged to integrate them into their veteran hiring practices. “The goal of the Manufacturing Readiness Badge system is to help service members and employers see how military training and experience translate into a manufacturing context,” she tells Paper360°. “Many veterans already possess the foundational skills needed to succeed in the industry—they simply may not recognize it. For employers, these badges remove the guesswork by clearly mapping military-acquired skills to in-demand manufacturing competencies.”

Ultimately, the system translates skills, equips veterans with industry-recognized signals of their capabilities, and helps employers more confidently connect veteran talent to their open roles.

For company/mill leaders who would like to participate in these programs, the best first step is to simply learn more about Heroes MAKE America and the Manufacturing Readiness Badge System and how digital credentials can support skills-based veteran hiring. (See information at the end of this article.) Geib says, “Through this program, manufacturers can access a pipeline of military talent with skills clearly aligned to in-demand manufacturing roles. Using these digital badges can help employers eliminate résumé guesswork, embrace skills-based hiring, and strengthen workforce diversity and capability.”

Currently, there are eight Manufacturing Readiness badges that address three critical areas within manufacturing facilities: Maintenance, Quality, and Safety (see Figure 1). There are also six Foundational Leadership badges and five badges in Foundational Logistics.

SUPPORTING THE TRANSITION

How can leaders in the pulp, paper, tissue, or packaging industries—or any manufacturing industry—help military personnel transition into manufacturing careers? Education and communication are key, Geib says. It is essential that service members learn about the wide range of career pathways in manufacturing.

“Many service members are unaware that the skills gained in military service—such as technical expertise, leadership, and problem-solving—often align directly with manufacturing needs,” she says. “This gap exists largely because there is no standardized approach to translating military training into industry-recognized skills. Additionally, employers are largely unaware of how military skills and training translate to their organization and often overlook highly skilled and qualified veteran candidates. Our programs seek to address this challenge by creating clear pathways from military service to manufacturing roles.”

Geib notes that about 200,000 service members transition out of active duty each year. “About one in three possess the experience required to earn a Manufacturing Readiness Badge—providing them with a competitive edge in the hiring process,” she explains. “We encourage employers to connect with MI’s Heroes MAKE America initiative to learn more about the badges and see how military training translates into the foundational skills needed for today’s in-demand manufacturing and logistics roles.”

For those seeking advanced preparation, the Heroes MAKE America initiative also offers hands-on training, career readiness support, and connections to a network of peers and employers. Its SkillBridge program partners with local technical and community colleges to provide industry-recognized certifications, ensuring that participants—whether they are transitioning service members, veterans, National Guard members, reservists, or military spouses—are ready to succeed in manufacturing. “The initiative also offers direct connection to manufacturers through virtual and in-person career fairs, onsite tours, and Heroes Connect employer spotlight events,” Geib says.

Manufacturing leaders can play a critical role by:

• Partnering with programs like Heroes MAKE America to recruit and train veterans.
• Building veteran-friendly workplace cultures and support networks within their organizations.
• Leveraging alumni and peer networks to mentor and guide newcomers.

“By investing in awareness, skills translation, and a strong support community, leaders can help ensure service members successfully transition into rewarding manufacturing careers while strengthening the industry’s workforce,” says Geib.

Paper360° thanks the Manufacturing Institute for providing the information needed for this article. Visit https://themanufacturinginstitute.org/veterans/ or contact Sytease Geib ([email protected]) to learn more and to explore partnership opportunities.