PHOENIX — With more than 300 employees having served in the U.S. armed forces, the Arizona Department of Transportation is an active participant in the federal Transition Assistance Program connecting those leaving military service with jobs.

“Thank you to all veterans whose sacrifice allows all of us the privilege of living in a free country,” ADOT Director John Halikowski said. “If you are preparing and looking forward to continuing your public service, we invite you to help create and maintain a transportation system that meets today’s needs and tomorrow’s challenges.”

The Transition Assistance Program, created by a 2011 law and administered by the U.S. Department of Defense and U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, helps service members develop comprehensive plans to pursue education, search for jobs or start businesses after their military careers. Its training program, known as Transition GPS (Goals, Plans, Success), includes a mandatory five-day workshop and additional days of optional training depending on an individual’s chosen career path.

ADOT is a fixture at employment fairs organized by the Transition Assistance Program at Luke Air Force Base in Glendale. As part of that, ADOT created a step-by-step guide for military personnel interested in applying for employment with state agencies.

As of June, 334 ADOT employees identified themselves as veterans.

“The skills and accountability that come with military experience allow ADOT to better provide a safe, efficient and cost-effective transportation system that improves the quality of life in this state,” Halikowski said.

For more information about the Transition Assistance Program administered by the U.S. Air Force, please visit www.afpc.af.mil/lifeandcareer/transition.asp.