Center for Energy Workforce Development Partners with U.S. Army Reserve

Brig. Gen. William Waff, deputy commanding general, U.S. Army Human Resources Command and Ralph Izzo, head of CEWD and Chairman, President and CEO of New Jersey based PSEG paused for a moment after signing an agreement in Washington, D.C.


WASHINGTON, D.C. - The Center for Energy Workforce Development and the U.S. Army Reserve have agreed to work together to help Reserve Soldiers and returning military personnel pursue careers within the energy industry. The collaboration was made official last week with the signing of a memorandum of understanding by the leaders of the two organizations.

Ralph Izzo, head of CEWD and Chairman, President and CEO of New Jersey-based PSEG, says that the timing of the collaboration is good.

"With older workers retiring and utility work demands multiplying exponentially, opportunities for careers within the energy industry are expanding," Izzo said.

Izzo said coming retirements among high-impact utility positions – including engineers, line workers, plant operators and technicians – are going to place a premium on skilled workers like those in the reserves and those returning from military service overseas.

"We must have skilled workers for those jobs, and we know that military careers produce those workers," he said.

Skilled workers is something the Army Reserve has and can offer employers, said Lt. Gen. Jack C. Stultz, Chief, Army Reserve and Commanding General, U.S. Army Reserve Command.

"Even in the current economic situation we still have a lot of employers out there that are calling us every day. What employers are telling us is when they hire a Reserve Soldier, they don't just get an employee, they get somebody that has a great work ethic, that has integrity, that has loyalty, that has dedication, and the productivity goes up," Stultz said. "So it's a win-win situation for both of us now."

Through its Employer Partnership Initiative, the Army Reserve has been working to facilitate strategic and mutually beneficial relationships with employers and associations. Reserve members are well trained in a variety of skills critical to maintaining not only the strength and agility of the United States Army, but also the many industries and public agencies that form the backbone of the American economy.

Here is a list of jobs in the Energy Industry and how each translates into the Military Occupational Skills code.

Lineworkers

Cable Systems Installer-Maintainer = 31L
Prime Power Production Specialist = 21P

Power Plant Operators

Power Generation Equipment Repairer = 52D
Prime Power Production Specialist = 52E
Aircraft Power Plant Repairer = 15B, 15D, 68B, 68D

Technicians

Metal Workers = 44B
Senior Electronics Maintenance Chief = 35Z, 25W
Maintenance Supervisor = 63Z
Mechanical Maintenance Supervisor = 63Z
Maintenance Management = 91 B

Electricians

Electrical-Electronic Engineering Assistant = 01B
Armament/Electrical/Avionics System Repairer = 15X

Electrical and Electronics Repairers, Powerhouse

Power Generation Equipment Repairer = 52D
Electronic Maintenance Chief = 94W

Nuclear Engineering Technician

Chemical Engineering Assistant = 01G
Combat Engineering Senior Sergeant = 12Z

Pipefitters/Pipelayers

Valve and Regulator Repairers

Engineers

Prime Power Production Specialist = 21P
Power Generation Equipment Repairer = 52D
Fuel and Electrical System Repairer = 63G
Professor of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science = 47D
Environmental Engineer = 72E