ADOT is interested in hiring more veterans and has expanded its outreach to attract them.

ADOT currently has nearly 300 veterans working in a wide range of jobs throughout Arizona, including the Enforcement Compliance Division, technology, engineering and construction. Interested veterans can see resources and videos of veterans sharing about their ADOT jobs on ADOT's website. They can also learn about job opportunities for veterans at ADOT and other state agencies on azstatejobs.gov.

“We see veterans leveraging the skills they learned in the military and converting them to our workforce,” said Human Resources Operations Manager Nina Makarenko.

ADOT is an Arizona Veteran Supportive Employer through the Arizona Coalition of Military Families, the agency's profile is posted on BeConnectedAZ.org. ADOT has also partnered with Army PaYS for several years; job-opportunity information is provided for its monthly newsletter and online portal.

Today is the day.

On this date 79 years ago, the Imperial Japanese Navy Air Service bombed the surprised naval base at Pearl Harbor in Hawaii. One of the battleships sunk that day was the USS Arizona, which was irrepairably damaged when one of the bombs exploded in its magazine. The explosion caused the ship to go down with 1,177 souls still on board. It's the remains of the Arizona which you can still see today if you visit Pearl Harbor.

But you probably already knew that. After all the attack on Pearl Harbor drew the United States into the Second World War, and most can recite the rhetoric used by President Franklin D. Roosevelt's in his speech to Congress the next day, where he declared December 7th, 1941 as "a date which will live in infamy."

However, maybe we can share some things you might not have known about the attack on Pearl Harbor. For instance, did you know Roosevelt's line in his speech was actually a last-minute change? As you can see in this draft of the speech, the line was a hand-written edit, replacing the still true, but softer "a date which will live in world history." 

Did you also know that you can catch a glimpse of the USS Arizona without leaving the state? If you visit Wesley Bolin Memorial Plaza, directly east of the Capitol Building, you'll find a number of memorials to veterans, including Navajo Code Talkers and Vietnam veterans. And among these are one of the USS Arizona's two masts, a 14-inch gun barrel from its deck and one the ship's anchors – which weighs 16,000 pounds! 

Finally, did you know that I-10 west of Phoenix is named in honor of those who died at Pearl Harbor? You may have, as we told you about it in a post from a couple years ago. In brief, the state legislature passed a resolution in 1995 declaring that stretch of I-10 to be the "Pearl Harbor Memorial Highway." And just to tie everything together, the first highway sign to go up on I-10 displaying the name was originally unveiled 25 years ago today, near the mast, gun and anchor in Wesley Bolin Memorial Plaza. 

But if you don't feel like traveling right now to see reminders of Pearl Harbor, you are in luck. You can catch a glimpse of the mast, gun and anchor – as well as the other memorials – in these slideshows that an ADOT photographer took during separate events honoring veterans at the plaza a few years ago. It is one way we can help observe this infamous day. 

Veterans Day has been a federally observed holiday since 1954, when President Dwight D. Eisenhower renamed it and expanded its observance from the earlier World War I-focused Armistice Day to a larger acknowledgement of all those who have fought in the U.S. Armed Services. 

"In order to insure proper and widespread observance of this anniversary, all veterans, all veterans' organizations, and the entire citizenry will wish to join hands in the common purpose," Eisenhower wrote in his first Veterans Day Proclamation.

We heartily agree with that sentiment, which is why several years back we highlighted how more highways than you might think are named to honor veterans.

But since we wrote that, a few more highways in northern Arizona have been added to the list, but with a more specific – and appropriate – focus.

In 2019, a joint resolution of the Arizona State Senate named portions of US 89, State Route 264 and US 160 to honor the Native American veterans who have served so ably in the miltiary. The resolution provided those highways be renamed as follows:

• US 89 between Flagstaff and the Utah state line is designated the "Native American Veterans Highway."
• The portion of State Route 264 that runs through the Navajo Reservation is designated the "Navajo Code Talker Highway," while the portion on the Hopi Reservation is designated the "Hopi Code Talker Highway."
• US 160 between the junction with US 89 and the New Mexico state line is designated "Native American Women Veterans Highway."

The resolution provides ample reasons for naming these highways for Native American veterans including:

• "Native Americans have served in wars involving the United States from Valley Forge to the hostilities in Afghanistan and Iraq; and ... with the highest record of military service of any group in the United States."
• "Navajo Marine Corps radio operators, who became known as as the 'Navajo Code Talkers,' developed an unbreakable code using their nation's language to communicate military messages."
• "Ten Hopi men developed a code language that they used to assist United States army intelligence in the Marshall Islands, New Caledonia and the Philippines during World War II."
• "Fourteen Native American women served in the Army Nurse Corps during World War I ... 800 Native American women served in the military from 1941 to 1945; and ... nearly 3,900 among 1.4 million active duty military are Native American women."

Whereever you are this Veterans Day, we hope you are remembering those who served. But if you happen to be in the area of Page, Tuba City, First Mesa, Ganado or otherwise on the state highway system in northeastern Arizona, this is a good time to remember how Native Americans have contributed to the country's military history. 

By Ryan Harding / ADOT Communications

ADOT serves Arizonans in many ways, such as building and maintaining the state highway system, licensing drivers, registering vehicles and keeping commercial travel safe through our Enforcement and Compliance Division.

But we also get involved in the communities where we live and work by supporting causes and giving to those in need.

For example, members of ADOT’s Northwest District spent Veterans Day participating in a Turkeys for Troops event held in Prescott by the AZ Heroes to Hometowns Foundation. The program provides turkeys, hams and boxes of food to wounded veterans, Gold Star families, families of deployed service members, active duty service members and members of the National Guard and reserves.

Thanks to donations by ADOT employees, 10 military families received food this year.

Volunteers

Pictured from left are: Deborrah Miller, Community Relations project manager; Alvin Stump, district engineer; Kristy Lopez, development technician; Andrew Roth, assistant district engineer; T.J. Soto, maintenance supervisor; and Tricia Lewis, local public agency supervisor. They were on hand Sunday to hand out boxes of food along with gift cards good for one turkey or ham.

“While ADOT focuses on meeting the transportation needs of residents, participating in causes like this helps us meet another kind of need in our communities,” Stump said. “We are a part of this community as well, and we welcome the opportunity to help give back.”

Earlier this year, Northwest District employees partnered with Yavapai County to collect school supplies at maintenance offices throughout the district for children in need. The drive benefited more than 1,100 children.

By Doug Nick / ADOT Communications

If you’re familiar with the term “Catch-22,” you know that it means a no-win situation.

Since the phrase came from a satirical book about the military during World War II, it kind of makes sense that veterans would be pretty familiar with it. Some vets are more familiar with it than others, perhaps none more than homeless vets.

Frankly, it’s exceptionally sad that of all people, some veterans, the men and women who’ve bravely served this nation in uniform, continue to pay a price after coming home.

The Arizona Department of Transportation Motor Vehicle Division wants to do its part to help these deserving people. In fact, it’s an honor to be able to help in any way.

That’s why all MVD employees are grateful that a new state law allows the agency to waive certain fees to allow homeless vets to get a driver license or ID card for free.

It’s basically impossible to apply for a job or many of the available social services without a valid ID. If you have an ID, you can apply for a job, make money and find a permanent place to live. But if you don’t have the money to get an ID, you can’t apply for the job and make that money. The circle is endless. It’s a Catch-22. But not anymore.

To qualify for the waiver, the MVD will verify the customer’s status as a veteran. In addition, the customer must provide a statement on U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs letterhead or a statement on the letterhead of a verified provider of homeless services that the customer has been homeless within the past 60 days.

Arizona law relies on the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development’s definition of homeless as lacking a fixed, regular and adequate nighttime residence. This includes a location not meant for human habitation, or a temporary or emergency shelter.

Several other fees, including those for a license suspension or revocation, a road test for drivers moving to Arizona from another state, among others, may also be waived.

We can’t do enough for our veterans, but we can do this to help get them back on their feet and show we care about their service.

By Doug Nick / ADOT Communications

Every few months, state agencies get together for a unique event that does something for a very important part of our society: veterans.

It’s almost impossible to overstate the value of our nation’s vets. They defend our freedom and simply don’t get enough thanks.

That’s one reason the periodic Veterans Stand Down is so valuable. It’s a place where services are provided, questions are answered, and problems get solved.

Just a few weeks ago, a number of MVD staff spent hours at the 2017 Maricopa County Veteran Stand Down with veterans who needed assistance getting on the road.

Here’s what some of our MVD team had to say about this great opportunity.

“It is a blessing to know that ADOT and MVD Customer Service can help these homeless veterans. We can help, not only with the driver license, but to get their life back. To me, that’s the main reward,” said MVD Customer Service Office Manager Jon Jenkins, who is retired from the U.S. Air Force – a fact that adds extra significance when working at the event. “I am able to communicate with them and share stories.”

Trenise Miller, a customer service representative in the Apache Junction MVD office, said she too appreciates that the StandDown offers up a unique chance for ADOT employees to talk and listen to veterans.

“ADOT being here is a big thing. A lot of people don’t have IDs,” she said. “I enjoy being able to hear their stories.”

Besides licenses and IDs, MVD was able to offer food and snacks. MVD employees raised money so they could provide hundreds of sandwiches, muffins and bottles of water.

“Everyone did fundraisers in their office or donated some money,” MVD Western Region Manager Kyle Ulibarri said.

Morgan Henling, an MVD office supervisor in the Scottsdale MVD office, said being able to participate is a humbling experience.

“Without an ID, they can’t get a job or any other benefits they’re eligible for,” Henling said. “They’ve served our country, the least we can do is help them out.”

By Doug Nick / ADOT Communications

If you’re a veteran, thank you for your service. Your sacrifices for our freedom are appreciated by all of us at the Arizona Department of Transportation.

And as we noted last week, the good folks at the Motor Vehicle Division have some good news for you too.

Until now, you had to visit an MVD or Authorized Third Party office to verify your status as a veteran or immediate family member in order to get a veterans specialty plate.

Now that MVD has developed an electronic affidavit system, these very popular plates can now be ordered online at ServiceArizona.com. This secure method includes and an audit system to ensure compliance makes sure only people who are eligible for these plates can get them.

Every month, about 1,200 of these transactions are handled at MVD offices. With this change, ordering can be done on your time and at your convenience on a personal computer or smart device. It also means fewer people at MVD offices, proving we’re always doing more to get you out of line and safely on the road.

By Doug Nick / ADOT Communications

We shared the news today about a state law taking effect Jan. 1 that aims to ease the burden faced by survivors of a military member who has made the ultimate sacrifice in service to our nation.

The Arizona Department of Transportation Motor Vehicle Division will implement this law by waiving the registration fee and Vehicle License Tax for one vehicle – trailers included – for a qualified surviving spouse or dependent.

The benefit can be renewed annually and applies to survivors of those who bravely served in any branch of the U.S. military, including the National Guard, Coast Guard and Reserves.

Everyone at ADOT is proud to be a part of this effort to honor these heroes and their families.