We think about the men and women who serve this nation in the armed forces at specific times throughout the year. Each November, we honor their service and commitment with special observances marking Veterans Day. At the end of May, on Memorial Day, we specifically remember those veterans who made the ultimate sacrifice while serving their country, as well as others who served and are no longer with us. Our military heroes deserve to be remembered and honored on those days.
But our fellow Oklahomans who have served in the military need more than to just be remembered on special holidays. They need our support once they have completed their time in the military and are seeking to return to civilian life.
This session, I authored five pieces of legislation to help members of the military and their spouses as they attempt to make that transition back into the civilian workforce, by doing more to ensure they get the credit they deserve for the skills and experience they gained in various areas in the military. These bills are an attempt to build on previous efforts to ensure veterans were able to claim credit for the expertise they’d gained while in the military.
Senate Bill 1404 was approved by the full Senate this past week. This measure expands the military Service Occupation, Education and Credentialing Act to include expedited certification for service members, veterans or military spouses who are seeking to obtain their teaching, EMS or health occupation and profession certification.
In addition to ensuring more service members who have received appropriate military training that can be applied to the State’s licensure and certificate requirements, it is important to remember that many military spouses must leave their jobs when service members are transferred or reassigned. This legislation will allow them to become part of Oklahoma’s workforce faster and gives them due credit for work done outside of the state.
Senate Bills 1400, 1401, 1402 and 1403 have also been approved by the full Senate. These bills apply to service members who have military training and experience as funeral directors and embalmers, electricians and electrical contractors, mechanical journeyman and mechanical contractors, and plumbers and plumbing contractors to ensure they too can seek to apply their training and qualifications for licensure in the state in their field of expertise.
Our veterans deserve respect and recognition, not only on holidays but throughout the year. They also deserve the dignity of being able to find a good-paying job in the area they received training and experience in while still serving the military. These measures will help make sure that happens.
The legislation must now be considered by the House of Representatives.
As always, I welcome your comments on state government. Please feel free to contact me by writing to Senator Charles Wyrick at the State Capitol, Room 535-A, Oklahoma City, OK, 73105; call me at (405) 521-5561.
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