The goals of the Texas Rural Water Foundation's (TRWF) Veteran Employment Program (VEP) are to attract veterans to the water and wastewater utility industry and assist them in entering the career field to foster their successful transition into civilian life and to help rural utilities fill job openings with veterans.
TRWF's mission is to support and empower rural water and wastewater utilities and the communities they serve by developing innovative, collaborative programs that provide resources and build the capacity of utilities. TRWF is a supporting organization to the Texas Rural Water Association (TRWA) and is a non-profit organization under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code.
For the purposes of the VEP, a veteran is defined as a service member released from the military with honorable or general (under honorable conditions) discharge after a minimum of 180 consecutive days of active service.
The VEP's goals and objectives support the mission of the TRWF. An objective of the Foundation is to inspire and mobilize new interest and talent to work in the rural water and wastewater industry. More specifically, the VEP addresses this objective to create sustainable outreach, and a recruitment and vocational program that focuses on training and retaining new employees for the industry.
Program Objectives
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Increase awareness among veterans of the water and wastewater industry as a viable, interesting, and meaningful career path.
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Provide basic training and educational resources to veterans in operator positions at no cost to them as well as provide reimbursement for the expenses of the Class D water or wastewater operator license exam.
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Provide support services to veterans during initial training, licensing, and during one year on the job training on an as needed basis.
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Spread awareness of the importance and benefits of hiring veterans to work at water and wastewater utilities.
The VEP also identifies other positions for veterans at water and wastewater utilities, such as: administrative assistants, meter readers, managers. Any open position a utility may have, the VEP will search for a veteran eligible to fill the position.
Program Enrollment:
Supportive Services:
Quarterly check-ups
If a utility has hired a veteran in an operator position, the VEP will contact the utility and veteran on a quarterly basis to determine whether veterans enrolled in the VEP are in need of supportive services to ensure their successful transition into civilian life; or in need of technical water or wastewater operations assistance. The VEP will provide assistance in technical operations of the water or wastewater utility if requested by the veteran or utility. If the need for supportive services is identified, the VEP will strive to provide those services through partner organizations.
For other positions, the VEP will contact the utility and the veteran one month after hiring date as well as three months after that to determine whether veterans enrolled in the VEP are in need of supportive services to ensure their successful transition into civilian life; or in need of any assistance in performing their duties.
Veteran Employment Program Contact Information:
Email foundation@texasrwf.org or phone 512-472-8591
