Each year on Nov. 11 – Veterans Day - we honor military veterans—those in our communities who have served in the United States Armed Forces.
This year with thousands of troops returning home from Afghanistan and other deployments, we have an opportunity and an obligation to do more than simply express our gratitude. We need to repay their sacrifices by doing our part to make sure they have sustainable lives back at home.
According to the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, each year, nearly 200,000 service members transition from the military back to their civilian communities. They join the more than 19 million American Veterans and approximately two million Texans. And it often is not an easy transition and not as simple as sending out a resume.
More than two-thirds of today’s veterans report difficulties adjusting to civilian life and said that they do not know where to go or who to contact to get help. Additionally, Veterans face complex barriers in their transition from military service including inadequate financial resources, expiration of benefits and issues related to wellness or disability. And there is the physical and mental toll that deployment can create.
Veterans contribute greatly to business and community through their uniquely honed mix of work ethic, leadership and resilience. Many have received extensive training in the military and possess valuable technical skills, leadership abilities, and numerous soft skills including time management, team orientation and a strong work ethic, which are in high demand by employers.
Another fact is that 25 percent of all veterans live in rural communities, where there are customarily fewer employment and professional development options available to provide economic security.
This Veterans Day, as citizens and employers across Texas, I encourage you to make the effort to reach out and work with your area’s veteran services offices and nonprofits to ensure they know about your job opportunities and that they have the support they need to be competitive in the hiring process.
And to those who have served in the armed forces at any time in their lives, I not only thank you for your service, I stand in solidarity to rise to your post-military career potential—because I know that without your service, our service would not be possible.
Support veterans in your area and hire these individuals who can contribute to the success of your business. They have done their part for you – now it is up to all of us to support them as they rejoin the civilian world.