Semper Forward, WATEA form veteran career pipeline for Wisconsin auto and truck jobs

By AI, Created 7:58 PM UTC, May 18, 2026, /AGP/ – Semper Forward and WATEA have formed a partnership to connect veterans and transitioning service members with automotive and truck industry jobs across Wisconsin. The alliance links WATEA’s training network with Semper Forward’s veteran platform to turn military technical skills into civilian career pathways.

Why it matters: - The partnership aims to steer veterans into high-demand automotive and truck jobs in Wisconsin. - WATEA’s employer network and training programs could help close a workforce shortage in the transportation trades. - Semper Forward gains a direct channel to place veteran talent with dealerships, fleet operators and service centers.

What happened: - Semper Forward, a division of Fastport, announced a strategic partnership with the Wisconsin Automotive and Truck Education Association on May 21, 2026, in Wausau, Wisconsin. - The alliance connects Semper Forward’s national veteran career platform with WATEA’s statewide automotive and truck training network. - The partnership is designed to connect military veterans and transitioning service members with career pathways in Wisconsin’s automotive and truck industries.

The details: - Semper Forward will integrate WATEA training resources and job opportunities into its veteran-facing platform. - Military job seekers will be able to explore automotive and truck careers across Wisconsin dealerships, fleet operators and service centers. - WATEA member employers will gain access to Semper Forward’s veteran talent pipeline. - WATEA is a nonprofit based in Wausau that focuses on automotive and truck workforce training and education across Wisconsin. - Semper Forward is a veteran career platform that connects transitioning service members, veterans and military spouses with civilian employment. - The companies say veterans bring mechanical aptitude, systems thinking, discipline and technical skills that align with technician roles. - Semper Forward said its partnership with WATEA gives veterans a direct pathway into careers where those skills are valued from day one. - WATEA said the transportation industry faces a critical workforce shortage and veterans bring the skills and leadership qualities needed to succeed in these roles.

Between the lines: - The deal is built around a skills-matching argument: military experience can translate into civilian technical work with less friction when employers and training providers coordinate. - The partnership also gives WATEA a broader recruiting reach beyond Wisconsin and gives Semper Forward another industry-specific placement channel. - The focus on certifications and structured training suggests the goal is not just job matching, but conversion into long-term careers.

What’s next: - Veterans and military spouses using Semper Forward should begin seeing WATEA-linked training and job options on the platform. - WATEA member employers are expected to use the partnership to connect with veteran candidates for open roles. - The two organizations are positioning the alliance as an ongoing workforce pipeline rather than a one-time hiring campaign.

The bottom line: - The partnership links a veteran hiring platform with a state training network to move military talent into Wisconsin’s automotive and truck labor market.