Partnership helps company recruit military talent

<p>Each year, 200,000 military service members leave active duty and enter the civilian workforce or pursue higher education. Southern Company recognizes the skills and experiences these veterans can contribute to the growth and diversity of the company.</p>
<p>The Talent Acquisition Department partners with multiple government, non-profit and other organizations to attract military talent. In 2019, 12% of new Southern Company hires were military veterans.</p>
<p>The Department of Defense (DoD) SkillBridge Program provides job training in specific industries during a service member’s last six months of military service. Southern Company’s partnership with DoD SkillBridge provides the opportunity for veterans to transfer their skills and training into a career in energy and creates a pipeline for the company to recruit them.</p>
<p>Victoria Ollo is a systems operator trainee at Plant Vogtle 1 and 2. Prior to working at Southern Nuclear, she graduated from the United States Military Academy with a degree &nbsp;in nuclear engineering and became an Army Intelligence Officer.</p>
<p>During her five years of service, Ollo managed personnel, training, resources and logistics units at Fort Bragg in North Carolina and Fort Huachuca in Arizona and saw Army commanders displaying the leadership qualities she wanted to emulate.</p>
<p>“All my battalion commanders were women which was unusual, probability-wise. They were strong examples of female leadership and were some of the most respected leaders. They showed that knowing your people and objectives is an important and impactful leadership attribute, regardless of whether you are a man or a woman,” she said.</p>
<p>Ollo followed Southern Company’s nuclear development during her military career, specifically the progress and development of Plant Vogtle 3 and 4 and applied for SkillBridge toward the end of her military service.&nbsp;</p>
<p>&nbsp;“This program has given me a practical look at the nuclear energy industry and takes the concepts I learned and applies them in a straightforward and practical way,” she said.</p>
<p>“I love that Southern Company is leading the way with nuclear energy in our country, and I’m excited to see what else is on the horizon.”</p>
<p><a href="https://dodskillbridge.usalearning.gov/" target="_blank">Learn more about DoD SkillBridge</a>.</p>