In my view, and most of the senior leadership's view, it's our moral obligation to provide it. Corporate America needs a strong military to support U.S. interests and trading relationships, said Thomas J. Donohue, chamber president and chief executive officer. Demographically, he noted, there are fewer people to fill jobs. The Bureau of Labor Statistics estimates the nation's employment needs will increase 14 percent from 1996 to 2006, Donohue said. During that same period, officials expect the population to increase about 10 percent.
Business can really help.
The new partnership aims to provide financial skills training and other business skills for junior enlisted personnel and their families and to find private sector solutions for housing, transportation and other quality of life issues. The chamber will start an outreach effort with our three million business members and establish working groups to cover such areas as employment, information, education and housing, he said.