Military Veterans Launch New Careers as Travel Advisors
Photo Credit: Careers after the military are a key issue for veterans. The Southwest Airlines team at Baltimore/Washington International Thurgood Marshall airport hosted a U.S. Army sergeant for his second reenlistment ceremony. Southwest Airlines
Skift Take
A travel advisor host agency is finding success with a scholarship program for military veterans geared toward utilizing their unique skill sets. It has the potential to be a win-win for both the agency and the veterans who have made the transition into new careers.
When Manuel Padilla first signed up for a travel advisor training program geared toward military veterans, he thought things would be easy, considering he spent 10 years in the Air Force followed by a lengthy career in aviation.
The knowledge needed to become a successful travel advisor required a much greater understanding of the world than he realized. However, less than a year after launching his own company, Padilla’s independent travel agency, Kwik Escapes LLC, is finding its groove.
“I have a background in aviation being in the Air Force, so I assumed that I knew a lot of the information that was going to be presented — but I was very wrong,” Padilla said. “There was a lot to learn.”
Program for Vets
Padilla was one of the first veterans to take part in Nexion Travel Group's Veterans in Travel program, which launched in July 2018 to give veterans an entry into the world of travel entrepreneurship at no cost.
[caption id="attachment_349138" align="alignrigh
