COLUMBUS, Ga. (WTVM) – More than 2,000 soldiers on Fort Benning transition out of Army service every year. And finding a civilian job isn’t easy. But now there’s a new multi-million dollar career transition center going up in Columbus to help.
The new transformative hub to help fast track veterans and military family members to high-demand careers is now being built at a new location for Columbus Technical College.
It’s named after Medal of Honor recipient Colonel Ralph Puckett Junior, a war hero with strong connections to Fort Benning. His widow was at the recent groundbreaking for this future 14,000 square foot facility in South Columbus.
“He would be so thrilled this is being named for him, because his whole life has been to help people, give them a hand up,” COL Puckett’s widow Jeannie Puckett said.
It’s part of a $22 million investment by Columbus Tech and the community on Fort Benning Road, as construction starts on the Colonel Ralph Puckett Jr. VECTR Workforce Development Center.
“VECTR stands for Veterans Education Career Transition Resource. The idea is to provide training to support exiting military,” Columbus Technical College President Martha Ann Todd said.“
For soldiers to be able to be able to build skills, translate their skills and find work, hopefully here in Columbus, is an incredible opportunity for us,” Fort Benning Deputy Chief of Staff COL Corey Woods said.
At the new facility, going up not far from the gates of Fort Benning, there will be training to help people be job ready after the military – whether its welding, robotics, industrial systems, health sciences and more.
“We’re just really missing access, easy access for a large portion of potential workforce in the area, these folks exiting base, spouses who are stationed on base, individuals that live in the area,” CTC President Todd said.
Congressman Sanford Bishop, (D) Georgia, was at the groundbreaking and added, “This is just another indication of how the Columbus area and Chattahoochee Valley is military friendly and military family friendly.”
Puckett, when he moved back to Columbus, became honorary Colonel of the 75th Ranger Regiment, where soldiers he mentored asked: what should I do as a job after this? COL Puckett’s widow remembers that part of his response was: you’ll be ready to achieve.
“He’d say, No I can’t tell you what your career should be but I can tell you what attributes you need to be successful…The military gave back to you by teaching you leadership, self discipline,” Jeannie Puckett said.
Columbus Tech hopes to have the VECTR center open no later than May of 2026.
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2025-08-25 20:40:00