The organization, known as Operation Must Do and created to aid veterans find employment in the air freight industry, has begun its first class to train for one of the most important and sensitive segments of air cargo; security screening. The classroom is housed in the Los Angeles' offices of Consolidators International (CII), an international freight forwarder specializing in all types of transportation. The 4-week course, under the supervision of instructors particularly knowledgeable and experienced in Transport Security Agency (TSA) guidelines for screening of freight, combines on the job training and classroom time. Operation Must Do was created by Julian Keeling, Chief Executive Officer at CII who believed that "our veterans deserve the opportunity and have earned the right to a fruitful and productive career in civilian life. The dynamic air freight industry offers this kind of opportunity."
Keeling worked closely with both government agencies like the U.S. Department of Labor's Veterans Employment & Training Service and non-government (NGO) support groups including U.S. Veterans Inc. headed by Steve Peck, son of the late actor Gregory Peck, to create a plan for Operation Must Do and to translate that blueprint into a working, practical program. 'Veterans groups were instrumental in finding ex-military living in southern California who would be interested in pursuing cargo careers. '"We found veterans of all ages and backgrounds who wished to take the course.
Our students range in age from those who saw action during the war in Vietnam to younger veterans who served during the time of the Iraqi and Afghanistan conflicts," said Keeling.
Jeremiah Vergara, who is coordinatint the training efforts for Operation Must Do, reports the job market for screeners "is excellent for those who have been trained successfully under the mandates established by the TSA.
There is a shortage of screeners among airlines and forwarders not only in the Los Angeles area but throughout the U.S. Companies want people who can begin screening cargo of all kinds, sizes and types almost from the moment they report for duty. 'We already have been approached by companies in air freight asking when training will be completed so they can offer employment to our students."
Vergara added the program is designed to provide the kind of jobs that eventually can lead to management positions. "These are no dead end jobs," he emphasized.
The men and women involved in Operation Must Do spent months designing the program to make it easily comprehensible to vets of different ages, backgrounds and education.
Now that classes are underway, how are some of the students reacting 'to spending up to 8 hours per day during the 4-week course?
"I believe it will open a whole new career for me," said Mike Larkin, who served in the Army during the Vietnamese conflict. "I had never thought of air freight as a career option, never knew what it really was until I heard about this training program."
Stated Michael Jones who was an enlisted man in the Air Force for four years, "I sold insurance and also worked at United Parcel Service. I knew something about the transportation business although I never was involved in UPS' air freight division. 'This is a whole new experience for me. I am anxious to complete the course."
Keeling is planning to add courses in other aspects of air freight for veterans and expand Operation Must Do to cities like New York, Miami, Chicago and San Francisco where cargo plays an important role in airline operations.
"Air freight is one of the few occupations where a student with proper training can rise to become a CEO. 'Operation Must Do will provide that opportunity," concluded Keeling.
