NRC chairman's column: Let's honor and support military veterans

I am not a veteran and I do not want to pretend that I fully understand what it means to serve or the sacrifices made by those who have. But I do have deep respect for our military, for our veterans and for the families who support them.

That respect is personal for me. My family lineage includes many who served this country in the Greatest Generation and before, along with close cousins and friends who are serving or have served in recent years.

While I am proud of that connection, I also know pride alone is not enough. Like many of us, I could do more to honor their service, preserve their memory, and support the veterans who continue to serve our communities and our industry in meaningful ways today. Veterans Day gives us an important reminder, but it should not be the only time we recognize service. In the railway industry — where so many veterans have found meaningful careers — we have an opportunity and a responsibility to honor and support them year-round.

Military veterans and the railway industry are an exceptional fit. That’s not news. We’ve all seen vets working and excelling in our industry in a diverse range of jobs. The reasons are straightforward. Both sectors share a strong emphasis on strict safety protocols and structured chains of command with clearly defined missions. They also value teamwork and camaraderie and often perform in high-pressure environments. Like railway workers, military personnel function well, even with demanding schedules and challenging field conditions. Add to that transferable skills — such as leadership, logistics, mechanical, electrical and other technical expertise — and you can see why vets successfully transition into railway jobs.

The NRC has introduced a website feature called the “NRC Veterans Wall of Honor.”

The NRC recognized this opportunity several years ago when we formed our Veterans Committee, led by Hamilton Construction’s Bob Hirte. Committee members and NRC staff have been active on many fronts to connect transitioning veterans with rail industry employers. Over the past several years, they have attended military job fairs where they met with transitioning miliary to increase awareness about the types of jobs for veterans in the rail industry.

More recently the NRC Veterans Committee developed and secured approval from the U.S. Department of Labor for seven apprenticeships that mirror our existing FRA training requirements. We’re hoping member contractors and suppliers can step up and sponsor an apprenticeship to help a veteran gain skills and employment through on-the-job training. The NRC’s jobs database on our website is another way for veterans and other jobseekers to locate current job openings with our member companies.

This Veterans Day, the NRC will expand our mission in support of veterans by introducing a website feature called the “NRC Veterans Wall of Honor.” This new addition will highlight veterans who currently work in positions with NRC member companies. We hope it will honor veterans who work in our industry but also increase awareness about the types of jobs they perform so we can attract more veterans.

This recognition isn’t reserved just for Veterans Day. Please help us spread the word so we can recruit and honor veterans year-round. If you know a vet who works for an NRC contractor or supplier, please invite them to submit their profile information along with two photos: one from their military service and one from their job in the railway industry. It’s easy. Simply click on the QR code and go online to complete the brief form.

Attendees at the NRC’s Annual Conference in Phoenix in January 2027 can learn more about how to support veterans by attending the Veterans Committee workshop on Thursday afternoon, Jan. 7. It is just one session in a packed lineup to help you and your team network, learn and plan for a successful 2027. Registration is open. I hope to see you in Phoenix!

“Change is constant. Leadership is a choice.”

Curtis Bilow, NRC Chairman
The National Railroad Construction & Maintenance Association Inc.
80 M Street, S.E.
Washington, D.C. 20003
202-715-2920
nrcma.org info@nrcma.org