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Exiting soldiers get scoop on careers
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Attendees at Thursdays Military Career Fair, hosted by the Georgia Department of Corrections, the Georgia National Guard and Fort Stewarts Army Career Alumni Program, gather information from potential employers. - photo by Photo by Randy C. Murray

Fort Stewart soldiers who are transitioning from the Army and those who recently left the service, as well as veterans and civilians, had an opportunity Thursday to compete for more than 1,100 state jobs available through the Georgia Department of Corrections and other law-enforcement agencies.
The GDC, the Georgia National Guard and Fort Stewart’s Army Career Alumni Program hosted a Military Career Fair at the 3rd Infantry Division’s 1st Armored Brigade Combat Team’s all-purpose training build-ing.
Representatives of state and county agencies with job vacancies were on hand to talk with potential candidates. Participating agencies included GDC, Georgia Department of Labor, Georgia National Guard, Department of Juvenile Justice, DeKalb County Police Department, DeKalb County Fire and Rescue, Georgia Regents/Georgia Correctional Healthcare, Mental Health Management, Cobb County Department of Public Safety, Savannah-Chatham County Metropolitan Police Department and the Geo Group.
“There is a need to fill these jobs,” said Arnold Jones, a probation officer from Atlanta. “We’re hiring on the spot as we speak. And yes, there is a preference for military because the military has the same core values as we have in the Department of Corrections. It makes for an easier transition from the military to the Department of Corrections.”
Jones left the Army as a captain in 2011 for a new career with the Department of Corrections. He said he graduated from his basic officers’ course Sept. 11, 2001. After 10 years and six deployments, Jones said he was ready for an occupational change. He said being in the service teaches men and women about team building, which also is essential in law enforcement. He added that those interested in one of the open positions could apply that day and be interviewed, but if they’re selected, they would also have to pass a physical fitness test.
“I never thought about it until today,” Chief Warrant Officer Marion Andrews said after talking with Jones and Denise O’Neil, a probation officer assigned to Hinesville. “I’m retiring in about six months. I may look into this.”
O’Neil agreed with Jones then admitted there is some misconception among Department of Corrections’ applicants that all positions involve incarceration. That’s not true for probation officers, she said. She works with what she called community supervision of probationers. This way, she said the state can divert non-violent prisoners to their homes and relieve some of the overcrowding in state’s prisons.
According to a GDC public relations and information specialist Susan Megahee, Georgia has one of the largest prison systems in the country with nearly 55,000 prisoners and more than 160,000 probationers. She said the GDC is the largest law-enforcement agency in Georgia.


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GPA grows trade, market share
Intermodal volume up 20 percent
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Rubber tired gantry cranes handle cargo at the Chatham Intermodal Container Transfer Facility at the Port of Savannah. The Georgia Ports Authority's Mason Mega Rail project will double rail lift capacity to 1 million containers per year by 2020 - photo by Provided

The Georgia Ports Authority achieved 14 percent growth in March container volumes, moving 355,208 20-foot equivalent unit (TEU) containers.

From July 2017 to March, TEU container trade grew by 9 percent, or 255,786 additional units for a total of 3.08 million, a new record for Savannah.

"Savannah's continued strength is a reflection of our customers' commitment, Georgia's leadership, and the many dedicated service providers, GPA employees and ILA members who come together every day to achieve great things," said GPA Executive Director Griff Lynch. "March marked our 17th consecutive month of business expansion thanks, in part, to a strong economy and growing market share."

Intermodal rail volumes jumped by 20 percent in March and 15.4 percent for the fiscal year to date, for a total of 318,454 containers handled over nine months – another record for the GPA.

"As the numbers show, our rail cargo is growing at a faster pace than our overall trade," GPA Chairman Jimmy Allgood said. "This is important because rail is playing a key role in our responsible growth strategy. We anticipate our rail infrastructure investments to take 250,000 trucks off the road each year by 2020."

The GPA recently broke ground on its Mason Mega Rail Terminal, on which the Port of Savannah will build 10,000-foot unit trains within its own footprint. From the expanded rail infrastructure at Garden City Terminal, Class I rail providers CSX and Norfolk Southern will provide direct rail service to major Southeast and Midwestern markets from Memphis to St. Louis, Chicago to Cincinnati.

An added benefit is that the Mason Mega Rail project will move all rail switching on terminal – improving vehicle traffic flow around the port.

In August, the GPA will open its Appalachian Regional Port in Murray County. Located in an industrial belt, including the production and export of carpet and flooring, automobiles and tires, the ARP will provide an alternative to all-truck transit to Northwest Georgia.

Each round-trip container moved via the Appalachian Regional Port will offset 710 truck miles on Georgia highways.

March was also a strong month for roll-on/roll-off auto and machinery units at the Port of Brunswick and Ocean Terminal in Savannah. Colonel's Island Terminal in Brunswick handled 66,144 cars, trucks and tractors, while Ocean Terminal added 4,050, for a total 70,194, a 17.2 percent increase.

"The global economy is thriving and our volumes are following suit," Lynch said. "As existing accounts grow their footprint in the expanding auto facility in Brunswick, Georgia's competitive logistical advantages are drawing additional business across all of our docks."

Lynch noted that for the fiscal year to date, Mayor's Point breakbulk terminal in Brunswick grew by 44 percent (34,515 tons) to reach 112,728 tons of forest products. At East River Terminal, bulk cargo expanded by 34 percent July-March (189,918 tons) for a total of 750,384 tons.

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