Kaine offers advice, praise to Mary Baldwin VWIL cadets
U.S. Sen. Tim Kaine praised Mary Baldwin College's Virginia Women's Institute for Leadership cadets Wednesday, telling them leadership training is important whether it is applied in the military or civilian life.
The former Virginia governor also offered some wisdom, telling the cadets that true leadership is about sacrifice, which "will accelerate people getting on board with you."
Just four months into his term, Kaine, D-Richmond, has proposed Senate legislation to help veterans return to civilian life. Kaine's troop talent act seeks to help veterans align skills acquired in the military with credentials or licenses required for civilian employment.
"If someone is trained as a medic, why shouldn't they be able to use that to become a physicians' assistant or nurse?'' Kaine said.
He said returning veterans have a 2-percent higher unemployment rate than the national average, and he wants to work toward reducing that statistic.
Kaine also reminded cadets of their opportunity to serve in combat units. The Joint Chiefs of Staff made the decision to allow women in those units earlier this year.
"Women have been earning Purple Hearts for a long time,'' Kaine said. "You are coming in at a time when opportunities are available. It's an exciting time."
Kaine's visit was warmly received by the only all-female cadet corps in the world. The students gathered at Mary Baldwin's Francis Auditorium to listen to and ask questions of Kaine. Cadets both commission in the mlitiary and work in the private sector after graduation.
Senior Amanda Harrison of Richmond said she appreciates Kaine's forward-thinking about vets.
"I think more people should think about the future,'' said Harrison, who will leave as a second lieutenant and plans to serve in the Army when she graduates in a couple of weeks. Harrison said she also appreciated that Kaine was willing to hear comments from cadets.
Senior Victoria Barrett of Chesapeake said she is impressed with the troop talent act.
"My brother was a hospital corpsman in the military and his medical training didn't transfer to civilian life,'' she said.
Barrett also is graduating as a second lieutenant and plans to enter the Army.
Kaine said he continues to spend much of his time away from the Senate visiting active military or defense-related businesses across the commonwealth. Kaine is a member of two Senate committees with strong military ties, the Senate Armed Services Committee and the Foreign Relations Committee.
"So many parts of Virginia touch on the defense industry,'' said Kaine, who spent time earlier Wednesday touring ITT Exelis in Roanoke. The company makes night vision goggles and other defense products.
Kaine's swing across central and western Virginia continues at noon today with an economic development tour of downtown Waynesboro.
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