Hawkeye Receives Grant to Support Truck Driving Training for Military Veterans
posted on Wednesday, October 26, 2016 in
College News
WATERLOO—Hawkeye Community College is one of seven technical and community colleges across the country to receive funding from a U.S. Department of Transportation’s Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration program to help train current and former members of the U.S. Armed Forces and their spouses and children for jobs as commercial bus and truck drivers.
Hawkeye received $100,524 from the Commercial Motor Vehicle Operator Safety Training grant program for Trucking with the Troops, which will provide financial assistance to a minimum of 30 qualified students to obtain a commercial driver’s license and enter the trucking and transportation industry.
“These types of programs are just one small way in which we can show our appreciation and commitment to our nation’s veterans, and thank them for their brave service,” said U.S. Transportation Secretary Anthony Foxx. “These men and women represent the absolute finest of our country, and with the help of programs like this, they will be prepared to be some of the safest commercial drivers on the road.”
Trucking with the Troops will provide qualified students up to $2,400 for student fees, lab fees, and additional expenses related to obtaining their CDL. The goal of the program is to offset any training costs not covered by military and veteran benefits like the GI Bill.
“Veterans bring valuable skills, experience, and a strong work ethic to this employment field,” said Robin Knight, Hawkeye’s military and veterans’ services coordinator. “While some veterans and their family members may have VA education benefits to assist them as they go back to school, it isn’t always enough to cover all the expenses. This grant will complement those benefits.”
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- Military and Veterans