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10/17/2025
It’s no secret that military veterans are finding rewarding and enduring careers in the railroad industry. But, with Veterans Day right around the corner, we want to highlight the NRC’s new mission to attract more veterans to satisfying jobs with railway contractors and suppliers.
Our industry knows that military personnel have valuable experiences and capabilities that are well suited to railway environments, including proven leadership and management skills, teamwork, a strong safety focus and work ethic, and the ability to perform in dynamic, challenging situations. Beyond that, specific skills developed during military service — in operations, supply-chain management, law enforcement, administration, mechanical, electrical and communications — transfer well to rail industry environments. These jobs offer strong benefits and good pay and can lead to career growth and advancement.
Railroads and other rail industry companies actively recruit veterans directly as well as through third-party groups that connect veterans with prospective employers and support their transition to rail-related careers. While NRC member companies are proud to employ veterans in jobs throughout our organizations, our member companies have missed opportunities to add greater numbers to our ranks.
The NRC Veterans Committee was born in 2023 from a shared vision to bridge the gap between veterans seeking meaningful careers and companies eager to harness their expertise. Our Veterans Committee — led by Bob Hirte, Hamilton Construction’s director of railroad division, and composed of volunteers from our member companies — developed the mission to address the mutual needs of veterans and railway contractors and suppliers and is putting it into action.
This committee’s mission has a special place in my heart. My uncle lost his life on a bomber in the Pacific during World War II. My father served in the Army Corps of Engineers during the Korean War. Another uncle served in Vietnam with the Marine Corps. A nephew deployed with the Navy as part of Operation Enduring Freedom. I am a proud supporter of our active-duty military personnel and our veterans for their duty and sacrifices to ensure our freedom.
I am proud, as well, of the work by the NRC Veterans Committee for their efforts to provide veterans with rail industry mentors and greater opportunities to find rewarding careers in the rail industry after their military service. Over the past two years, committee members have implemented new ways to connect transitioning military with NRC member companies seeking to fill open positions.
NRC Veterans committee members and staff are meeting with prospects at military transition events. With these connections, the NRC has developed a database of candidates that serves as a resource for NRC member companies to fill open positions. The NRC also is making it easier for transitioning military to identify open positions within our member companies. The new jobs database on our website — featuring links to the career pages of all of our member companies — provides a convenient way review all the job openings across the industry.
In the past year, the Veterans Committee secured approval from the U.S. Department of Labor for seven apprenticeships through the National Registered Apprenticeship program that mirrors training requirements by the Federal Railroad Administration. These programs enable veterans to receive U.S. Department of Defense compensation while working for member companies or labor unions.
The NRC is continuing to explore mentorships and other ways to provide greater visibility and opportunities for veterans to work in railway construction, maintenance, and supplier roles. If you would like to pilot an apprenticeship program or collaborate with the NRC on other veterans-related initiatives, please contact us at info@nrcma.org.
Learn more about our efforts to connect with veterans at the Veterans Committee breakout session during the 2026 NRC Conference and NRC-REMSA Exhibition. Registration is now open. Please make plans to attend Jan. 7-10, 2026, at The Diplomat Beach Resort and Spa in Hollywood, Florida. You’ll have the opportunity to join more than 1,400 contractors, suppliers, railroad and rail-transit representatives, and other government and industry professionals.
The conference has a well-earned reputation for its outstanding networking — the best in the industry — along with presentations by railway leaders about capital plans and budget, breakout sessions, speed networking and the largest NRC-REMSA exhibition yet. Take advantage of this tremendous opportunity to kick off and finalize your game plan for the new year.
“We aren’t just in this industry. We are this industry.”
Joe Daloisio, NRC chairman The National Railroad Construction & Maintenance Association Inc.80 M Street, S.E. Washington, D.C. 20003202-715-2920nrcma.org info@nrcma.org