Military

Connecting military talent with industry opportunity

The RISE region is home to Fort Stewart-Hunter Army Airfield and in close proximity to other military bases. More than 3,500 “Heroes for Hire” exit the military locally each year and the RISE military initiative focuses on keeping transitioning service members, veterans and spouses here.

Working with active duty military, veterans, non-profits, industries, military spouses, economic developers, military service providers and others, the military working group is identifying meaningful ways to help educate regional industries about the benefits of hiring transitioning service members, military spouses and military veterans. The group also helps to identify barriers preventing regional industries from accessing these talent pools and potential ways to remove these barriers to provide regional industries greater access to these populations.

Through collaboration and innovation, the RISE Military Initiative is helping transform military transition into a powerful driver of regional prosperity. By connecting industry leaders with skilled service members ready to enter the civilian workforce, the initiative not only supports individuals and families but also strengthens the region’s economic competitiveness. These efforts ensure that the leadership, discipline and technical expertise developed in military service continue to fuel local industries — creating a stronger, more resilient regional economy.

Military Employer Forum

In 2025, RISE hosted a Military Employer Forum to identify ways that employers can make themselves more military friendly, from both a recruitment and retention perspective. The forum also sought to identify barriers preventing regional industries from accessing these populations and to develop a road map of action items that could be taken to increase attractiveness of regional industries to these populations as well as the regional industries’ access to these populations.