There isn’t a doubt in any American’s mind that the men and women who serve in our military perform an enormous
service to us all. Our very security depends on them. Yet their value as veterans in the civilian world, particularly
in the workforce, can be underestimated. Veterans, by and large, have acquired a set of skills and internalized
a code of conduct that, when exercised in civilian life, have the unique potential to help our nation become
more productive, fulfilled, empathetic and prosperous. Yet it’s tough for a veteran to live up to his or her
potential if they are not gainfully employed. Discover the many benefits of hiring a veteran and how, even
after their service, veterans make us better.*
*Does not reflect a Department of Defense endorsement.
*Does not reflect a Department of Defense endorsement.
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Benefits to
Individuals
Nathan Smith went to the Virginia Military Institute on a Navy ROTC scholarship. But after the attacks on
September 11, 2001, he joined the U.S. Marine Corps. During the next nine years, he served two tours in
Iraq as a Marine infantry officer, then worked in nuclear weapons security. But as his date of discharge
approached, Nathan worried so much about his future that he made himself sick.
"I had always felt confident and successful in the military, but I didn’t know what existed in the civilian
world. I didn’t know how to find things that I could do with my military training," Smith says. "I had
bought a house at the top of the market and I couldn’t unload it. I needed to make those mortgage payments.
I needed work."
Smith’s distress was so severe it affected his health. "I lost 10 pounds with no change in diet or exercise.
I thought I had some kind of wasting disease," he says. "It was emotionally and mentally draining. For
the first time in my life, I didn’t know what I was going to do."
Through another Marine veteran, Smith heard about an opportunity at Hire Heroes, a non-profit that helps
both veterans and corporations find ways that they can create opportunities and careers for veterans. That
opportunity changed his life: His stress dissipated and he gained back the weight. He kept his house. Perhaps
most significantly, Smith’s job turned into a career, where he has risen in the organization to become
Chief Financial Officer. His mission now is paying such opportunities forward.
Nathan Smith went to the Virginia Military Institute on a Navy ROTC scholarship. But after the attacks on
September 11, 2001, he joined the U.S. Marine Corps. During the next nine years, he served two tours in
Iraq as a Marine infantry officer, then worked in nuclear weapons security. But as his date of discharge
approached, Nathan worried so much about his future that he made himself sick.
"I had always felt confident and successful in the military, but I didn’t know what existed in the civilian
world. I didn’t know how to find things that I could do with my military training," Smith says. "I had
bought a house at the top of the market and I couldn’t unload it. I needed to make those mortgage payments.
I needed work."
Smith’s distress was so severe it affected his health. "I lost 10 pounds with no change in diet or exercise.
I thought I had some kind of wasting disease," he says. "It was emotionally and mentally draining. For
the first time in my life, I didn’t know what I was going to do."
Through another Marine veteran, Smith heard about an opportunity at Hire Heroes, a non-profit that helps
both veterans and corporations find ways that they can create opportunities and careers for veterans. That
opportunity changed his life: His stress dissipated and he gained back the weight. He kept his house. Perhaps
most significantly, Smith’s job turned into a career, where he has risen in the organization to become
Chief Financial Officer. His mission now is paying such opportunities forward.
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There are
10 million
veterans in the U.S. workforce
69%
of veterans say finding a job is the greatest challenge in returning to civilian life
Benefits to
Coworkers
How does a tour in Iraq or years as a drill sergeant create experience that translates into the workplace?
Veterans spend their military careers working in teams, staying on task and achieving goals. They learn
to be effective in groups of people with widely different backgrounds. As a result, research shows, veteran
employees inspire trust and, in turn, trust their supervisors and coworkers. Trust is an essential element
for a highly functioning team.
When Christopher Millard retired from the U.S. Marines after 20 years as a drill sergeant and aviation manager,
San Diego insurance services firm Mitchell International took a chance and hired him to work on a software
management team.
"He had little general business experience, but he caught on fast," says Pauline Mulvey, the vice president
who hired him. "And the leadership he brought: He started meetings having people do something physical,
like five push-ups, to get everyone together. He developed leadership and teamwork, things that don’t always
come easily to tech companies." Millard just became a team leader at Mitchell, Mulvey says.
How does a tour in Iraq or years as a drill sergeant create experience that translates into the workplace?
Veterans spend their military careers working in teams, staying on task and achieving goals. They learn
to be effective in groups of people with widely different backgrounds. As a result, research shows, veteran
employees inspire trust and, in turn, trust their supervisors and coworkers. Trust is an essential element
for a highly functioning team.
When Christopher Millard retired from the U.S. Marines after 20 years as a drill sergeant and aviation manager,
San Diego insurance services firm Mitchell International took a chance and hired him to work on a software
management team.
"He had little general business experience, but he caught on fast," says Pauline Mulvey, the vice president
who hired him. "And the leadership he brought: He started meetings having people do something physical,
like five push-ups, to get everyone together. He developed leadership and teamwork, things that don’t always
come easily to tech companies." Millard just became a team leader at Mitchell, Mulvey says.
read more
read less
Veteran employees are
4%
more productive than nonveterans
Benefits to
A Company
Whether enlisted or an officer, those who serve in the military learn to work within large organizations
and within hierarchies, and they learn to make difficult decisions with integrity.
Business leaders who have been in the military and learned to live up to its high standards continue to display
that ethos when they transition to corporate jobs. There is mounting evidence that the personal characteristics
developed by military experience benefit managerial decisions, financial policies and corporate success.
Research from Northwestern and Boston universities shows that those with military experience tend to pursue
financially conservative, rather than aggressive, corporate policies. They also tend to behave more ethically.
Former military CEOs, specifically, pursue lower corporate investment, are less likely to be involved in
corporate fraudulent activity, and perform better during industry downturns, according to the Northwestern
and Boston University research.
Whether enlisted or an officer, those who serve in the military learn to work within large organizations
and within hierarchies, and they learn to make difficult decisions with integrity.
Business leaders who have been in the military and learned to live up to its high standards continue to display
that ethos when they transition to corporate jobs. There is mounting evidence that the personal characteristics
developed by military experience benefit managerial decisions, financial policies and corporate success.
Research from Northwestern and Boston universities shows that those with military experience tend to pursue
financially conservative, rather than aggressive, corporate policies. They also tend to behave more ethically.
Former military CEOs, specifically, pursue lower corporate investment, are less likely to be involved in
corporate fraudulent activity, and perform better during industry downturns, according to the Northwestern
and Boston University research.
read more
read less
83%
of veterans are willing to relocate for a job
Benefits to
A Community
We say that men and women "serve" in the military. When they leave the service, and go back to civilian life,
many veterans want to continue to serve. They volunteer more hours than nonveterans, according to the 2016
Veterans Civic Health Index. They work with kids. They found non-profits. They get involved in local government
and in religious and social groups.
The 2016 Veterans Civic Health Index shows that when people are involved in their communities, they are happier
and their communities benefit. The 2016 index also shows that veterans are more likely to be involved in
their communities, to work with neighbors to fix problems, and to donate money to charities.
We say that men and women "serve" in the military. When they leave the service, and go back to civilian life,
many veterans want to continue to serve. They volunteer more hours than nonveterans, according to the 2016
Veterans Civic Health Index. They work with kids. They found non-profits. They get involved in local government
and in religious and social groups.
The 2016 Veterans Civic Health Index shows that when people are involved in their communities, they are happier
and their communities benefit. The 2016 index also shows that veterans are more likely to be involved in
their communities, to work with neighbors to fix problems, and to donate money to charities.
read more
read less
Veterans volunteer
5
more days per year than nonveterans
Benefits to
The Nation
The 2016 Veterans Civic Health Index shows that veterans are more likely to be civically engaged than nonveterans.
They seek public office at rates higher than those with no military experience. In Congress, veterans are
represented at triple their percentage in the general population. Vets are more likely to vote and more
likely to attend public meetings.
This sort of participation in civic affairs from the grass roots up shows that veterans don’t tend to leave
the notion of "duty to country" behind them when they leave the military. That said, one can be a better
neighbor, a stronger civic advocate and a more thoughtfully engaged citizen when he is gainfully employed.
Employers across the country would be well served to recognize the technical, moral, cultural and leadership
lessons that veterans have learned and bring to the workplace. Vets’ participation in the workforce contributes
to improving our communities and our nation, as a whole.
"The caliber of the military today is the best it’s ever been," says Lisa Rosser, a U.S. Army veteran who
in 2007 founded The Value of a Veteran, a company that helps corporations improve their veteran hiring.
"In this era when we are so divided, vets have spent years serving us all, serving all Americans. The vet
segment represents what is best in us."
The 2016 Veterans Civic Health Index shows that veterans are more likely to be civically engaged than nonveterans.
They seek public office at rates higher than those with no military experience. In Congress, veterans are
represented at triple their percentage in the general population. Vets are more likely to vote and more
likely to attend public meetings.
This sort of participation in civic affairs from the grass roots up shows that veterans don’t tend to leave
the notion of "duty to country" behind them when they leave the military. That said, one can be a better
neighbor, a stronger civic advocate and a more thoughtfully engaged citizen when he is gainfully employed.
Employers across the country would be well served to recognize the technical, moral, cultural and leadership
lessons that veterans have learned and bring to the workplace. Vets’ participation in the workforce contributes
to improving our communities and our nation, as a whole.
"The caliber of the military today is the best it’s ever been," says Lisa Rosser, a U.S. Army veteran who
in 2007 founded The Value of a Veteran, a company that helps corporations improve their veteran hiring.
"In this era when we are so divided, vets have spent years serving us all, serving all Americans. The vet
segment represents what is best in us."
read more
read less
Nearly
74%
of veterans vote in state and national elections
Boeing proudly supports veterans and their families in transitioning successfully into civilian life.
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