Blogs

Swords to Plowshares Employment and Training Program consistently provides quality hiring opportunities for local veterans. Our recent hiring event was a great opportunity for veterans looking for new careers, and an opportunity to see how a former participant of Swords to Plowshares’ Employment and Training Program is thriving.

Che Guevara, a U.S. Army veteran, first approached Swords to Plowshares last August after his student housing closed and he had exhausted his stay with friends and family. He came to Swords to Plowshares to find housing support and employment assistance.

At the beginning of the 2016-17 school year, the Institute for Veteran Policy at Swords to Plowshares reached out to four local colleges and universities to better understand the direct challenges and needs of military-connected students in the San Francisco Bay Area.

In The Battle for Veterans’ Healthcare, award-winning author Suzanne Gordon takes us to the front lines of federal policy-making and healthcare delivery, as it affects eight million Americans whose military service makes them eligible for Veterans Health Administration (VHA) coverage.

Swords to Plowshares has partnered with a leading automotive company for a veteran-only hiring event. This company is hiring Material Handlers and Production Associates for its factory in Fremont. The positions require strong attention to detail, flexibility, and teamwork to achieve powerful results.

These highly competitive positions start at $18/hr, with health benefits, dental and vision care, 401k and equity, high growth potential, as well a strong veteran network at the company.

Do you feel most comfortable in a pair of coveralls with a wrench in one hand and ratchet in the other? You might want to pursue a career as a mechanic. These professionals are in high demand and you can start the process as a Utility Technician. This stepping stone will prepare you to become a mechanic apprentice for a truck repair company through on-the-job and pre-apprenticeship training. This is a great career opportunity for veterans interested in learning a skilled trade that is in high demand. After 90 days, you will be eligible for the Mechanic Apprenticeship Program.

“Veterans Healthcare Action Campaign” kicks off with April 13 Forum Joined by House Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi

As Congress debates continuation and expansion of the controversial Veterans Health Administration Choice program, a new group is launching a campaign to save and strengthen the Veterans Health Administration, while opposing accelerating efforts to dismantle the innovative healthcare system that serves more than eight million veterans who have served their country.

Swords to Plowshares is working with a leading apprenticeship provider to help veterans start a career working as a land surveyor, determining the topography of land to assist in the building a design of construction projects. Apprentice pay begins at $17/hr, with increases at every 1,000 hours worked. Surveyors can make $40/hr or more after 8,000 hours of work! 

Are you ready for a challenging and rewarding career? 

Candidate requirements: 

Joe Bugental calls his new job a “Brave New World.” As he embarks on what he calls his “fourth career,” Joe took some time to speak with us about his trajectory and what life looks like currently.

A Marine veteran from the Vietnam era, Joe found himself looking for part-time work in August. While working with VA social workers to navigate the benefits available to him that were earned by his service, Joe was referred to Swords to Plowshares’ Employment and Training program to learn more about what employment options would suit his skill set.

SHOUT! 2017 is nearly here. Our featured artists will showcase their art to represent the theme of Self and Transition as it relates to their experiences as women veterans.

Join us on March 16, 6 - 8 pm at Zendesk (1019 Market Street) to view the art and attend the forum discussing their experiences as women veterans returning to civilian life. 

Swords to Plowshares is partnering with a nationwide cable company for a veterans-only strategic hiring event. The nation’s leading cable company is hiring Service/Installation Technicians at locations throughout the Bay Area. These positions involve working in customers’ homes, installing cable products or troubleshooting issues, while always delivering an exceptional experience for their customers.