CTA hires more military veterans

The Chicago Transit Authority (CTA) has increased its hiring of military veterans to 358 since it launched an initiative in 2012 to provide employment opportunities to veterans.

The agency has hired 71 military veterans so far this year, CTA officials said in a press release.

"We have found that many veterans, by virtue of their military service and the skills learned during their service, translate well and make them well-equipped to serve this agency and its customers," said CTA President Forrest Claypool.

Claypool signed an executive order in 2012 that set a CTA goal to attract at least a 20 percent pool of veterans during the application process for various positions, including drivers, mechanics, engineers and managers.

To encourage veteran hiring, the CTA considers certain military experience as equivalent experience when considering applicants for jobs, such as servicing vehicles or equipment. Since 2012, veterans have joined the CTA in a variety of positions. Recently, the agency hired a veteran who was awarded a Purple Heart for service in Iraq and a veteran to assist in recruiting efforts. Twenty-eight currently serve in manager or coordinator positions, CTA officials said.

CTA is one of many transit agencies that have stepped up efforts to recruit military veterans into agency jobs. Last month, a new website was launched to help veterans find and apply for positions with transit agencies. Funded by the Federal Transit Administration, the Transit Virtual Career Network is the result of a collaboration among the American Public Transportation Association, Rutgers University, the American Association of Community Colleges, the National Association of Workforce Boards and XPAND Corp.