OREANDA-NEWS. GE (NYSE: GE), the State of Illinois, The Manufacturing Institute, Illinois Manufacturers’ Association and Harper College today announced Illinois as the first state to join the Get Skills to Work (GSTW) coalition. The coalition brings together employers, industry leaders, educators and the public sector to help veterans get the skills they need for careers in advanced manufacturing.

Founded one year ago, GSTW helps veterans translate military skills and experience to advanced manufacturing positions, provides skills training for U.S. veterans, and empowers employers with tools to recruit, onboard, and mentor veterans. The GSTW coalition was founded by GE, Boeing, Lockheed Martin, Alcoa and The Manufacturing Institute. More than 190 new manufacturers recently joined the coalition, helping to connect veterans with even greater opportunities in advanced manufacturing. In its first year, close to 30,000 U.S. veterans were reached through GSTW.

Through this new Illinois partnership, GSTW will help veterans pursue and fill open advanced manufacturing jobs by providing targeted training and skills certifications. To ensure the training meets the immediate needs of local manufacturers, Illinois employers from across the state will work directly with the state’s community colleges to provide quality education grounded in industry-based certifications.

Illinois Governor Pat Quinn said, “As the first state in the nation to join the Get Skills to Work training program, we are proud to be a part of this coalition that will support our local heroes. Illinois is home to tens of thousands of veterans and this partnership will help offer them the training they need for careers in advanced manufacturing. This statewide partnership demonstrates how the public and private sector can come together to drive economic growth and expand opportunities for our veterans.”