Veterans in search of a community to put down roots in won’t find one more welcoming than Temple, Texas. The city is located less than 30 miles from Fort Cavazos (formerly Fort Hood) and is home to quality veteran health care services, ample employment opportunities for former servicemembers and a supportive environment where almost a quarter of the adult population has a military background.
Each month, Fort Cavazos sees approximately 600 active-duty military separations, and over 30% of those individuals remain in the Temple-Killeen MSA. Recognizing a need, Temple has invested a considerable amount in resources to support successful transitions, such as outreach projects and housing assistance.
If you’re a veteran looking for a welcoming community to call home, here are the top three reasons to move to Texas and join the many other former servicemembers who have found their fit in Temple.
Industries need veteran skills
Temple is growing and so are the companies that call the city home, with several notable business expansions in recent years. Success extends across every key industry in Temple, including manufacturing, logistics, healthcare and professional services — all sectors in which many veterans have acquired valuable skills during their service.
- McLane Company, Inc. a Temple-based supply chain provider since 1966, affirmed the talent of former servicemembers when the company initiated its Warriors to Wheels program in 2018. As a GI Bill-approved registered driver apprenticeship, Warriors to Wheels allows eligible veterans to receive their GI Bill housing allowance while earning a wage as a driver for the company. Since its initiation, the company’s employee base has grown to a point where more than 10% of its workforce self-identify as veterans.
- Baylor Scott & White Health — voted among The Best of The Best 2022 by U.S. Veterans Magazine for championing veteran initiatives — recruits accredited veterans and military spouses. In addition, their Dick Brooks Servicemen & Servicewomen Continuing Education Fund helps the company’s employed veterans further their health care careers by providing tuition scholarships and funds for educational supplies.
Easy access to career-focused training
If you’re a transitioning veteran, Central Texas offers a variety of higher education programs that can help you build in-demand, marketable skills.
- Through Temple College’s VA Office, former servicemembers receive academic advising, tutoring, career counseling and get connected to established veteran students through the college’s peer support initiative. Eligible Texas veterans can also benefit from tuition exemption for up to 150 credit hours through the Hazelwood Act Exemption.
- Central Texas College was one of Military Times’ top veteran-serving colleges in the U.S. for 2022, successfully helping former servicemembers transition to college life while obtaining the full value of veteran’s educational benefits.
Several training programs also go beyond simply preparing veterans for jobs by directly connecting them to employers in the Temple region.
- Heroes Make America partners with community colleges to help veterans develop the skills and readiness for a career in manufacturing.
- Workforce Solutions of Central Texas assists veterans in obtaining job credentials and provides referrals to veteran friendly employers like Baylor Scott & White and McLane.
- Texas Workforce Commission is one of the foremost workforce agencies in the state, advocating for jobs and connecting veterans to service-related disability resources, Workforce Opportunity Tax Credit (WOTC) self-identification forms and a service-to-civilian career translator.
- Through the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation’s Hiring Our Heroes initiative, service members can engage in internships or the HOH Corporate Fellowship Program — a 12-week training course that offers firsthand experience in the private sector.
A simpler lifestyle surrounded by nature and community
In Temple, it’s easy to unplug with 45 city parks and an abundance of nature preserves, forests and prairies. Enjoy year-round mild temperatures in Central Texas — perfect for kayaking, swimming and fishing at McKinney Falls State Park or hiking to the top of Mount Bonnell, the highest point in Austin just an hour’s drive away.
A recent ranking by WalletHub placed Austin as the No. 2 best city for veterans to live. With Temple’s proximity to the “Live Music Capital of the World,” former servicemembers can enjoy all the big city amenities while taking advantage of a lower cost of living and the ease and simplicity of small-town life.
Residents in Temple also pay less for housing, health care and groceries thanks to the community’s low cost of living index. In addition, Temple’s varied and unique neighborhoods make it easy to find the ideal place to settle, whether moving to the city alone or with family.
Temple’s commitment to supporting veterans as they transition to civilian life is reflected by the community’s support, educational opportunities and job training programs. Learn more about living in Temple and contact us to connect to the city’s abundant opportunities for former servicemembers.