Roehl Transport, Inc. - Marshfield, Wi.

The Honors Program offered by Roehl is a bit different from other training companies when using GI Bill benefits.

First, Roehl will train vets for free. No GI Bill money used. No contracts, no obligations. You can walk away with your CDL the day after graduation and owe them nothing. They are taking a risk but are banking on the fact that vets will stay on with them. It's a bold move by Roehl and I'm glad they have that much faith in vets. Roehl benefits from this arrangement by getting more mature drivers with a proven track record of performance, reliability, honesty, and integrity. Military members aren't accustomed to job-hopping (I've been in my current job for 22 years). When things get tough they tend to find a solution and stick with it. That's rare these days, especially in the trucking industry.

Second, no GI Bill money goes to Roehl after training. While you are in the Honors Program you are an apprentice and the driver gets all the GI Bill money every month. During the 2 yr apprenticeship that means about $15,000 more in the driver's pocket. Not a bad return on a $1,200 investment.

Thanks to all who have replied to my original questions. I tried calling the recruiter for the OH area numerous times but he/she nevers answers the phone. I don't want to speak to an answering machine.

 

Some call it negative, some call it realism. I suggest you go back and read the handbook regarding the bonuses. Some crafty wording.

The honor's program is a good deal for you. The larger question is why is the Government retraining vets who served their time 2-generations ago? It's crazy. The money being spent retraining aging vets would be better directed towards other segments of our population.

I really don't need an attitude lesson from a 54-year old who is being retrained at MY expense. Honor's Program, or Glorified Welfare?

 

I know they have a recruiter that deals with Honor Program specifically. Check the Honor Program website, it should have contact info

 

So you are saying these vets don't deserve the benefits they earned because someone else needs a handout? If they earned the benefits, what does it matter to you WHEN they use it?

By that philosophy, colleges and universities should not accept applicants older than 25, 30, 40 yearls old? What about career progression? What about changing careers because the education you received 30 years ago no longer makes you viable in todays marketplace? I guess these people are just out of luck because they could not see the future and take the right courses when they were young!

I don't understand why anyone would knock a company for wanting to help veterans find training or employment.

 

I am knocking a Government that by all measurements is broke. I am knocking a system that pays to retrain someone 34 years after they left the service. 4-years of service doesn't warrant a lifetime of giveaways. That is a gravey train not service to your Country.

If at 54 you need to be retrained, then you made some p*ss poor choices in life. As a taxpayer, it is not my responsibilty to retrain people that are only a few years from retirement.

From an economic perspective it makes absolutley no sense to spend money training people at the end of their working lives. There is no payback. Train the ones who will be contributing for the next 40-years. Anything different is glorified welfare.

 

Actually, a 54 yr old worker isn't considered old anymore. Many people are working into their late 60s/early 70s because they just can't afford to retire younger. Companies are recruiting older workers because of their work ethic. Something alien to younger workers today.

What other segments of our population are more deserving of retraining? Welfare mothers? People who've dropped out of high school? People who can't hold a job? People who always expect govt hand-outs?

During my 7 deployments between Iraq/Afghanistan since 11 Sep 01 I've been shot at many, many times. How often have you been shot at during the course of your day? I think a little retraining money directed my way is only fair and I will happily put it to good use with a company that has an appreciation of what military service is all about. I'd be more upset about my tax dollars paying single mothers to have more babies.

Skipshift, you seem very bitter about something. Is it because someone is getting something you don't? That happens in many ways every day in our society. You shouldn't let it eat you up. Vets getting money for retraining to enter a different career field is going to have a very positive impact. I wish that could be said about the abused welfare system.

 

A 54 year old worker is on the downside of his working life. If someone needs a job a 55, 60, 65, 70 they should have acquired some employable skills during their life. If they haven't, I have BIG questions about their work ethic and intelligence.

You were young at one time. The work ethic of today's youth is no different than 20, 30, 40 years ago. I have employed many kids right out of high school. They are eager to learn, and eager to earn. They have high expectations for what they want out of life. God Bless them, and I have no problem with the government diverting resources to their cause.

It's a tired, old, and untrue line about welfare mothers. Don't go their.

Because you don't agree with me, doesn't mean I am bitter. That is as tip likes to say, an ad hominem attack.

I have no problem with helping ex-military adjusting back to civilian life. But keep in mind, the GI Bill started after WWII. A generation was drafted into military service. They went to war and came back when it was over. The Government made their choices, they were not all volunteers. The benefits for today's all volunteer service far exceed anything imagined after WWII.

I have no problem with training single mothers and getting a good education for their children. Like it or not, they are part of our society. The choices is our't to make them a productive part of society. To do otherwise will repeat the cycle.

 

4 years of service does not warrant a life time of give aways, however if those benefits were earned who are you to put an expiration date on them? I will retire at 20 years of military service soon. As far as education (GI Bill) I will get the same benefits as everyone else who earned them. If I use them right away they are gone forever. If I don't need them right away, they are still there if I need them later down the road.

Most Army guys that I know will need some kind of training once they get out. There just isn't much in the civilian market for the things we have been trained in. That may be different in some of the other services, but in my line of work, it's find a gov. contract job or learn to do something else.

BTW, I don't consider these benfits handouts. They are part of the contract when we sign up. How about those who do get handouts from the gov after never having served their country. Those are handouts.

 

I train people in their 50's all the time. Sometimes the factory that a guy has been working at for 20 years closes. He lives in a small town and unless he relocates driving truck is often his only option. I see it all the time, it doesn't someone made bad choices maybe just bad luck. I had a high school teacher that told us to prepare to switch professions 2-3 times before retirement. If I screw up and put a truck in a ditch or something I too will be back in school learning to do something else.

 

L.B., you may have mentioned this elsewhere but I haven't been following many posts. Do you plan to go with Roehl?