In 2019, Rick, 42, a veteran looking for a career in law enforcement, enrolled in the Mesa County Workforce Center’s VetWorks program to receive the training and support he needed to achieve his dream.
Rick was determined to become a Colorado State Trooper. However, he had a tattoo on his hand, which was an issue. State troopers cannot have any visible tattoos.
After meeting with Rick and learning more about him, the Workforce Center used funding from the VetWorks program to help pay for Rick’s tattoo removal and pay for his Emergency Medical Services (EMS) training.
Rick went through:
• Tattoo removal
• EMS certification
• Preliminary exams
• Comprehensive background check
• Polygraph examination
• Application assessment by the review board
• Many mock interviews and resume prep with the WFC Employment Services team
• Oral board interviews
• Physical fitness test
Once his tattoo was removed and he completed his EMS training, Rick applied and was accepted into the State Patrol Academy!
Rick was hired by the Colorado State Patrol (CSP) Academy with a salary of $5,750 a month and has officially graduated and has been promoted to a trooper with a salary of $6,742 per month. Rick is now assigned as one of 800 State Patrol Troopers in the state of Colorado.
Mesa County’s VetWorks Program can offer support services and training opportunities related to veterans’ employment needs and various career services. VetWorks is a need-based grant program that may help fund training and education to help veterans, reservists, National Guard members, and possible dependents gain a job in a career to help them succeed financially.
During the approval process, applicants provide information about their career field of choice and the local need for more qualified individuals. This grant may also help pay for necessary equipment and/or uniforms to get started with a job that would be a financial burden otherwise.
The official bills explaining the original grant can be found here: https://leg.colorado.gov/bills/hb16-1267. The most recent amendment is here: https://leg.colorado.gov/bills/hb18-1343.
If you are a veteran and would like more information on how the Mesa County Workforce Center can help, please contact our Veteran Services Officer, Tony Lee, at (970) 248-2733.