Friday, Governor Greitens announced an initiative within the Department of Natural Resources aimed at recruiting and hiring more veterans at Missouri State Parks. Last summer, DNR began recruiting veterans to serve in the department. Now, that effort has been expanded by opening additional positions to veteran recruits including Park Ranger, Park/Historic Site Specialist and maintenance classifications. Additionally, the Department of Natural Resources is developing a new website devoted to veteran recruitment.
Today, Governor Greitens and Rep. Steve Lynch met with DNR staff and veteran recruits at a job fair at Fort Leonard Wood aimed at hiring more veterans to the Missouri State Parks system.
“Our veterans’ proven dedication to service makes them uniquely qualified to protect our public resources in Missouri State Parks,” said Governor Eric Greitens. “We’re grateful for their sacrifices and proud that this new initiative will help give opportunities to those who have sacrificed for us. It’s the right thing to do.”
“This initiative will provide new opportunities for veterans, and reflects Missouri’s commitment to those who have served for all of us,” said Rep. Steve Lynch (R-122). “It will have a positive impact on our parks system, and make a difference for veterans coming home.”
“Recruiting and hiring military veterans is one of the Missouri Department of Natural Resources’ top priorities, and here’s why: Veterans are unlike anyone in the workforce today,” said DNR Director, Carol Comer. “Individually and collectively they carry a blend of training, expertise, and experience that positions them among the most competitive of anyone in today’s job market. But what sets them apart, what makes them truly unique, is their well-proven dedication and commitment to what they believe in. We recognize that those character traits, combined with unparalleled training, knowledge and skills, are critical to our department reaching its full potential, and that’s why hiring veterans is so important to us.”
Jacob Rash, the first person to be recruited through the Missouri State Parks veteran recruiting initiative and to graduate from the training academy to become a Missouri State Park Ranger released the following statement:
“Exiting the military, I needed to find a career that would best utilize my military skills. I knew that I wanted to apply my educational benefits from the military to get my degree in Wildlife and Natural Resources Conservation. I was passionate about the outdoors but wanted to tie in my military skills.
After obtaining my degree, I decided the best fit for me would be the Missouri State Park Rangers. Being a paramilitary structure, the Ranger Program provided me the security I wanted in a career where I could best use my military skills in a law enforcement setting. Law enforcement felt like a natural fit and being a Missouri State Park Ranger gave me the opportunity to also use my degree and my passion for the outdoors.
The Missouri State Park Rangers helped me in my transition to attend a law enforcement academy. The skills I obtained in the academy were very similar to what I had learned in the military. The benefits provided by the State of Missouri are very comparable to what the military provided me. The Missouri State Park Rangers gave me the comfort and security I was looking for when it came to searching for a new career.”
Veterans interested in applying for positions with Missouri State Parks are encouraged to include their military experience in their applications.