Making WIA Work: Johnathan Davis
United States Air Force Airman First Class (A1C) Johnathan Davis returned home after spending 4 ½ years of active duty on June 15, 2013. While on active Duty, Specialist Mears serves as an Aircraft Refueler. Airman Davis received the Global War on Terrorism Medal. Upon arrival at the OhioMeansJobs Montgomery County Job Center, the Intake Center’s Customer Service Representative 9CSR) identified Airman Davis’s Significant Barrier to Employment as a recently separated service member, as defined in the 38 U.S.C./4211(6), who at any point in the previous 12 months has been unemployed for 27 or more consecutive weeks. The CSR referred Airman Davis to DVOP Jeff Wittneben on November 3, 2014.
It was there that Jeff informed Johnathan of the services available for qualified veterans in securing employment. A1C Davis decided to receive intensive services and agreed to the Employment Development Plan developed to expedite A1C Davis back into the job market. During the initial assessment, A1C David stated that he would like to secure a job related to his military training but found it hard to secure sufficient employment in that area without having a Commercial Driver’s License. A1C Davis said he did not have the resources to go to school and he still needed to secure employment.
DVOPS Wittneben shared with A1C Davis the Workforce Innovation ACT (WIA) and how they can help individuals get the training they need to get back to work. DVOP Wittneben told him how WIA can pay for this training with the understanding that he secures employment as a CDL A driver. A1C Davis was very much interested and registered himself for an orientation seminar held at OhioMeansJobs Montgomery Country. Within a few weeks, Veteran David was attending the Ohio Business College Truck Driving Academy.
A1C David completed all of his training, passed his CDL A driving test with additional endorsements for Tankers, Hazardous Materials, & Doubles/Triples and was certified as a Professionally Trained Driver.
Prior to graduation, several truck driving companies visited the school and informed the students about the driving positions their companies had. The students were encourages to apply for those they were interested in. A1C Davis applied for a postilion with Schneider Trucking, had an interview and was offered a driving position. Airman Davis started working for Schneider Trucking on January 16, 2015, a little over two months after meeting with DVOP Wittneben.
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