A new not-for-profit hopes to keep military service members in Louisiana after their term of duty ends. Launched in July, The Boot is already gaining ground.

“Our motto is recruit, retain and return for those who want to call Louisiana their next ‘civilian duty station,’ ” said Gary “Bubba” Viator, The Boot’s chief operating officer.

The Boot acts as the front door to the state, showcasing the best of what it has to offer. The recruiting is one weapon used to combat the state’s significant decrease in population over the last three years which has affected the economy.

“Louisiana experiences a $1.2 billion loss in economic impact each year due to transitioning service members (TSMs) leaving our state after their term of service,” Viator said.

Adding women and men who have served their country to the Louisiana workforce, consumer and tax base is more than a numbers game. It’s a way to add quality people.

“These men and women are trained in the greatest armed forces in the world. Leadership is a core value of that training,” Viator said. “Skill sets are immense. Some have served a few years, others have spent 20 or more years in service and are retiring.”

The Boot founder Andrew Ward was part of Gov. Jeff Landry’s military affairs transition team. He pitched the idea of “recruiting, retaining and returning” to the governor and Louisiana Department of Veterans Affairs Secretary Charlton Meginley and was given the green light. Funding is from the state of Louisiana, in the budget of the Department of Veterans Affairs, Viator explained.

Viator, his wife and three children live in Moss Bluff. The veteran served six years in the Navy in San Diego and Virginia Beach, Va. He deployed three times. He admits he wasn’t eager to return home. His wife was, and considering she kept all in order while he was serving, her choice carried considerable weight.

He calls getting involved with The Boot “a God thing.”      

“At the time, I was president of the Southwest Louisiana Veterans Association. Andrew Ward was president of the Acadiana Veterans Alliance. I just wanted us to get to know each other and have our two nonprofits partner up on all things veterans. I didn’t know he was working on The Boot.”    

Louisiana looking for a few good men, women and families

It is estimated that 84 percent of service members at Fort Johnson in Leesville and Barksdale Air Force Base in Bossier City leave Louisiana after their term of duty, but The Boot doesn’t stop its recruiting at state lines. Recruiting is across the country at every military installation and base.

An Army E-5 reached out in August, Viator said. He was in a Skill Bridge set with a company in Houma. Skill Bridge is a Department of Defense program that helps service members transition to civilian careers by providing opportunities for job training, internships and apprenticeships.

After telling him about all the wonderful opportunities in the Southwest Louisiana community, the Army man showed an interest in moving to the area and indicated he’d like to live on the outskirts of Lake Charles.

“I told him about Iowa,” Viator said. “The good schools there were a great selling point.”

Viator spoke to the hiring manager at Bristow Group and after a couple of days they not only made The Boot recruit an offer, but also made him an offer with a significantly higher salary for a position with no offshore work or travel away from family. The Boot also found his spouse a job.

“I absolutely believe that some of these TSMs could walk into many of Lake Charles’ six-figure jobs right out of the military,” Viator said. “However, they don’t know this area and its opportunities. That’s the information they need to convert their resumes.”

Viator said if hiring companies understand they can get this amazing talent as a free intern for up to 180 days through the Skills Bridge program, it’s a win-win for the TSM, the hiring company — and Louisiana.