RICHLAND, Wash. – EM Hanford tank operations contractor Washington River Protection Solutions (WRPS) was recently recognized for its efforts to hire veterans and promote veteran employment.

WRPS received a YesVets award, part of a statewide campaign that recognizes employers who hire veterans. Several agencies, including the Employment Security Department of Washington state, the Washington Department of Veterans Affairs, the Washington State Military Transition Council, and chambers of commerce across the state are part of the YesVets campaign. The company also received a Hire-A-Vet award, in support of the Washington governor’s Hire-A-Veteran Month proclamation.

“We are proud to call ourselves a military-friendly company, and we find that so many of the people who are right for the job are veterans,” said John Eschenberg, WRPS president and CEO. “Veterans are hardworking, innovative problem-solvers who bring a team-first attitude to the job each and every day. We are grateful to have the opportunity to help those who have done so much for us all.”

Many WRPS representatives who engage with job-seeking veterans are veterans themselves.

Jerry Kurtz, a manager in the company’s radiological controls organization who served as a submarine reactor operator in the U.S. Navy, is one of those representatives. He and his colleagues take part in several job fairs each year to recruit veterans. Each month they run a workshop where they share their experiences, review resumes, show how to translate skills learned in the military to the civilian world, and conduct mock job interviews.

“I know what these guys are going through as I’ve walked in their shoes,” Kurtz said. “For many of them, it’s been a long time since they put together a resume or had a job interview. I love helping.”

Over Veterans Day weekend, several WRPS veterans took part in a local parade to honor those who served.

“We were thankful for the opportunity to participate,” said Lisa Bunch, a WRPS human resources manager. “We greatly appreciate opportunities to work with organizations to help veterans, and we certainly won’t pass up the chance to celebrate and honor veterans.”