BILOXI, Miss. (AP) _ Master Sgt. Frank Lane was one of the 157 veterans who attended a U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation’s veterans’ job fair Tuesday in Biloxi.

Lane isn’t due to retire from the U.S. Air Force until next year, but he attended the event in an effort to be proactive.

“I just didn’t want to wait until the last minute. These days, with the economy and jobs being kind of iffy, I have been looking for a few months now,” Lane told The Sun Herald (www.sunherald.com /job-fair-for-coast-veterans).

Thirty-seven employers ranging from utility companies to law enforcement and casinos were on hand to talk with veterans who are transitioning to civilian life.

Hiring Our Heroes southern regional associate Ernie Lombardi said veterans have an array of skills that transcend the battlefield.

“They’re highly trained in what they do _ highly trained _ and many of them carry multiple skills. They bring a lot of things to the table in that direction and they’re extremely trainable. These men and women are mission oriented, detail oriented and as some would say, they put the suit on and show up every single day.”

___

Information from: The Sun Herald, http://www.sunherald.com