Local companies hope to hire vets

HOLYOKE, Mass. (WWLP) - Whether it's men and women who just came back from Iraq and Afghanistan or aging Vietnam vets, there is now a greater push to find ways for vets to use their military skills in the workforce.

McNairn Packaging out of Westfield is looking for veterans to fill several vacancies.

From machine operators to material handlers, the local company wants to use the skill sets many veterans learned in the military.

Kristen Puspolita of McNairn told 22News, “They have been serving and making sure we have the freedoms to choose what jobs we have and so we'd like to certainly give them opportunities." 

At Career Point in Holyoke, several veterans agencies gathered Monday to help connect veterans with companies like McNair.

A veteran of the Air Force, Henry Kozak, says his age is what's holding him back.

He explained, “ The job I was in was food service and people don't go out to eat as much as they used to and at my age it's hard to find a job.”

It's also holding some younger vets back.

Holyoke Mayor Alex Morse explained, “We see a lot more young vets coming home from the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan and so we're not just talking about middle aged vets, we're talking about vets my age in their 20s."