Eye on education: partnering to help veterans

Did you know that PSEG has 10 training programs approved as part of the Veteran Administration GI Bill® program, and one in process?

Recently, our PSEG VETS employee business resource group and the Chairman of Local 94 Veteran’s Committee partnered together to enroll and welcome the newest PSE&G members to the GI Bill® Electric Lineman/Linewoman Apprentice Program. Since 1944, the GI Bill® has helped qualifying veterans and their family members receive money to cover all or some of the costs for college, graduate school and training programs such as PSE&G’s trade apprenticeships.

We actively support our veteran employee community in many ways and are especially proud to help not only guide veteran employees to their GI Bill® education benefits, but play an active role in the training programs available.

(l-r) Timothy Gottendick, Dr. Mackington Joseph, Tim Gonzales, Michael Ortiz, Devon Vanness, Robert Strani, and Mike Butler.

“Right now, we have 10 programs approved by the Veteran Affairs Approving Agency. We also are nearly complete with our most recent application for approving the Mobile Crane Operator Program. I am excited to see this program grow both by way of training programs approved and employees enrolled. I have seen our program grow from just one person enrolled to 28 veteran employees receiving their post-9/11 veteran benefits,” said Tim Gonzales, PSE&G technical training manager and president of the PSEG VETs employee business resource group.

“This is a great benefit to our veterans, and a great incentive for our newly hired veterans,” said Dr. Joseph Mackington, technical training manager – Electric Distribution Training. “In one day, we enrolled one Army, two Marine and two Navy veterans in the Overhead Lineworker Apprentice GI Bill® program. I am proud to play a small part in assisting these veterans in their careers and lives.”

“Being afforded the opportunity to utilize the Post 9/11 GI Bill® while in my lineman apprenticeship with PSEG has helped to alleviate the stress of the annual increase in the cost of living,” said Tim Grottendick, GI Bill® recipient and Marine veteran who served in Afghanistan and Yemen. “Serving in the United States Marine Corps was an honor and a privilege and the Post 9/11 GI Bill® has been nothing short of a blessing.”