Veterans browse at Military Career Fair

Reported by Matt O’Donnell
If you hold a job fair, they will come.

Dozens were waiting at the sign up table for the start of the Recruit Military Career Fair at Citizens Bank Park.

“It’s going to be a difficult time, that’s very clear, particularly for workers with more experience and for people who are accustomed to somewhat higher incomes,” Air Force veteran Marty Ollenschleger said.

The event was just for people who have left the military and have entered the civilian world.

Former Army infantryman Derrick Smith, an Iraq War veteran, has been out of work for two months.

“It’s been real tough, I don’t know how to explain it, it’s just been real tough, it doesn’t matter anymore, military or not military,” Smith said.

“Ambition and willing to get a better position than what I’m doing now, that’s why I’m here today,” Army veteran Eric Goodwin said.

There are post-educational opportunities, engineering, transportation, and law enforcement, all people looking to hire a few good men and women.

“People retire, they move on for their 25 years of service, so we may not hire 10 at a time in Abington, but we’ll hire one, two, three, four,” Sgt. Kelley Warner of the Abington Township Police.

Companies pay Recruit Military to help them find new employees, even in this economic downturn, when so many are already looking for work.

“We’re actually extremely busy right now helping organizations find military veterans, and what it really boils down to is finding the right person,” John McCahan of Recruit Military, LLC said.

800 people signed up for the job fair.

Click on Full Story below to watch 2 videos about this event.