Author: Bridget Kennedy

Transform your business by hiring America’s most highly trained workforce.

“If you want a superior workforce, hire vets.

If you want a more diverse workforce, hire vets.

If you want a more virtuous workforce, hire vets.”

— Stephen O’Keefe at the 2021 Disabled American Veteran (DAV) Annual Conference  

The Challenge: US Veterans’ Overlooked Skillset

US Military Veterans hold some of the most advanced skills and training in the country. However, translating these skills to the civilian workforce can be quite a challenge. Veterans often struggle to align their military experience with civilian job requirements, while businesses find it difficult to understand and integrate these military skills effectively. This results in many US veterans experiencing a career setback following their transition from the Military. As a highly trained workforce, this failure to play to the strengths of veterans presents a significant opportunity for companies to support veterans who are otherwise accepting defeat in their first step in the civilian workforce.

The Solution: Bridging the Gap between Military and Civilian Skills

The answer to unlocking the full potential of military veterans in the civilian workforce is to bridge the gap between skill sets. Businesses can achieve this by developing strategies to help veterans transition their skills into the civilian workforce and creating environments that foster their growth. As a result, your organization will enjoy:

1. A dedicated team with the skills and work ethic required to excel in a civilian workforce.
2. A company culture that is rooted in the veteran principles of honor, integrity, and courage, driving success and excellence.
3. Veteran leaders that embody key qualities such as hard work, discipline, extensive training, decisive decision-making, and a strong commitment to mission and team.

By taking the following steps, both veterans and the company alike can build a robust community of dedicated individuals with the skills needed to thrive in the business world.

Recruit Service Members

Incorporating a focus on veterans in your recruitment strategy is just the beginning of building a successful veteran team. You will also need to create an association of partners and seek awards for your increased access and success with hiring veterans.

1. Prioritize Veteran Applicants: Make it a mission to hire veterans, and you’ll obtain high achieving individuals eager to bring value to your organization.
2. Find a Mentor Firm: A mentor company is an invaluable resource who can guide your firm through the process in your efforts to hire vets.
3. Build Out Your Sponsorships: Partner organizations will widen your channels for identifying, training, and supporting veterans.

Training a Vet Team

Providing training and mentorship to veterans in your business will translate the skills they developed in the military to a civilian work environment. With the right approach, employers can help veterans sharpen their existing skills while developing new strengths. Use the following steps to help LEAD your veterans to success.

• Learn: Learn about the veteran’s previous training: what schools they attended, and what training they received while in the military?
• Evaluate: Evaluate the training they received in the military and determine how it translates to your business.
• Assist: Assist your veterans as they skill-up in your business and technology through internal resources and partnership training opportunities.
• Do: Empower your veterans to embrace challenges, problem solve, take action, and showcase their capabilities

Retaining Top Talent

After hiring and training veterans, your firm should prioritize an environment that promotes maximum retention. By mirroring the military system of incremental promotions that come with greater responsibility, your business can create an environment familiar and appreciated by veteran employees.

1. Continuous Growth: Ensure that your veteran employees have clear goals to achieve to advance their careers.
2. Acknowledgement: Regular expressions of appreciation for military veterans will foster a thriving company culture.
3. Clear Communication: Veterans are experienced in large operations and understand the role that clear communication plays in executing a coherent plan.
4. Relationships: Create an environment for your veterans to talk to one another, share work experiences and professional advice.
5. Opportunity: Veterans are trained for constant progress. Give them the opportunity to sharpen their skills and advance their careers.

Next Steps

1. Give preference to veteran applicants in your hiring process.
2. Find a mentor and build out your sponsorships.
3. Get involved in military veteran hiring communities to connect with top talent.

Final Words

Hiring veterans is a great way to leverage their often-overlooked military skills to benefit both the employer and the employee. Take the time necessary to establish a dynamic veteran workforce through prioritizing recruitment, training, and retention in your organization. Hire America’s most highly trained workforce to help military veterans, and your organization will thrive.

Supporting U.S. Military Veterans through their transition to the civilian workforce is at the heart of what we do at VSO. Every month on The 11^th, we highlight a U.S. Military Veteran with unique insights and advice surrounding the topic of military-to-civilian career transition. This month, Michael Curry joins us from the Emerald City to share his insights from his transition from the United States Army to the field of technology.

From a young age, Michael felt drawn to serve in the U.S. Military due to his family’s legacy of military service. According to Michael, “Growing up as a kid, I didn’t really think you could make a living outside of the military.” Following in the footsteps of his father, an Air Force veteran, and his grandfather, a WWII Navy veteran, Michael enlisted in the Army.

Through his ten years of service in the Army, Michael affirms that he “became a different person, for the better.” He looks back on his military service with pride in his accomplishments and gratitude for the manifold opportunities that only a military career can provide.

When the time came to transition into a civilian career, finding an experienced and knowledgeable mentor was key to Michael’s success. Working with his mentor, Michael was able to translate his military experience to the civilian workforce and adapt to a career in technology. He encourages transitioning servicemembers to face challenges head-on, emphasizing the need to “out-hustle everybody else” to achieve success.

Looking back on his transition from the military, Michael urges employers to recognize and value the unique skills military veterans can bring to the table. By providing opportunities for hands-on experience, employers can give transitioning service members the chance to prove their unmatched determination, work ethic, and problem-solving skills.

Michael’s words echo the mission at the heart of VSO: to recruit, hire, and train military veterans in the technology industry. We encourage every company to learn how to unlock the potential of America’s most highly trained and deserving workforce by echoing Michael’s challenge to promote Military mentorship and internship programs.

Watch Michael’s video to learn the importance of mentorship during a transition from the military and share with a transitioning service member or employer who would benefit from Michael’s insights!

Transitioning from military to civilian life is a journey filled with uncertainties and challenges. Today, we are sharing a glimpse of the inspiring journey of Joshua Burke, whose transition serves as guidance for fellow veterans.

Josh’s roots are deeply intertwined with a family legacy of military service. His grandfather’s courageous missions in WWII, earning him a place in the “Lucky Bastard Club,” set the stage for Josh’s journey. Despite never envisioning a military career, Joshua felt the call to serve his country and sought the invaluable experience the military could offer.

From his service in Korea to his time at the Pentagon, Josh learned the profound lesson of respecting authority while also possessing the courage to stand up for what is right. These traits would later become pillars of his success in both military and civilian spheres.

His transition, which can often be overwhelming to navigate, proved remarkably smooth 17 years ago. However, even with the smooth transition, the period of transition still filled Josh with anxiety and nervousness. Drawing from his own experience and armed with a deep desire to support his fellow service members, Josh now dedicates his time to assisting active service members in navigating programs like the Department of Defense (DOD) SkillBridge program. Through his mentorship and guidance, Josh empowers veterans to utilize their military-honed skills and navigate the corporate landscape.

Today, Josh’s story serves as a beacon of hope for veterans transitioning into civilian life. Josh’s advocacy emphasizes that companies stand to benefit greatly from the unique perspectives and skills veterans bring to the table. By offering opportunities for growth and development, employers can unlock the full potential of these talented, disciplined, and resilient individuals.

Josh’s journey is a testament to the adaptability of veterans. Through determination, perseverance, and a commitment to service, he has not only navigated the transition to civilian life but thrived in it. His story reminds us that there is no challenge in the civilian workforce that a U.S. Military Veteran is not equipped to handle.

View on Youtube:

We encourage you to share Joshua’s video with your networks in an effort to encourage veterans in the midst of career transitions and to educate employers who would benefit from tapping into America’s most deserving workforce.

It is well known at Virtual Service Operations (VSO) that our company’s founding principles are to utilize some of the most disciplined and deserving workforces that can be found: US military veterans.

Less known is that VSO is one of the 2800 companies that has partnered with SkillBridge– an effort from the Department of Defense (DoD) that helps connect soon-to-be-retired (or soon-to-be separated) military personnel to civilian jobs before they’ve officially separated. VSO began using the SkillBridge program to enhance its workforce and provide opportunities for military personnel to gain valuable experience. Since partnering with SkillBridge, seven veterans have taken advantage of the program at VSO with an eighth scheduled to start in May. To date, there has been 100% job placement for VSO’s SkillBridge fellows.  

Duke Birch, Director of Veteran Programs at VSO is a huge advocate of the SkillBridge program. “This program is beneficial to the service member and to VSO. It also lends itself to a diverse range of military ranks. At VSO, we’ve had ranks from corporate to colonel go through the program.”

VSO’s very first SkillBridge fellow, Trenton Keen came across a post on LinkedIn during his last year of service about an exciting opportunity for transitioning service members. After serving in the Army National Guard for eight years as a scout and three years as an artilleryman, Keen recalls being timid about entering into the civilian workforce.

“In the Guard, I was not technical at all and I was very nervous about coming into the Amazon Web Services (AWS) cohort with no background in IT. It was quite a culture shock,” says Keen. “But I owe VSO everything and SkillBridge for connecting us. The soft skills I gained through this program are second to none. Having other veterans as my mentors and VSO in my corner was invaluable,” says Keen, who credits VSO with making his transition into civilian work life so much easier than it might have been.

“We have three different paths you could take as a participant in the SkillBridge program: network training, senior leader, or project/program manager. On average, we have about five people per month applying for a position at VSO through SkillBridge. If VSO doesn’t have a fit for them, I try to help them find a fit,” says Birch, speaking of how successful the program has been at the company. “We have 100% mentorship participation. Everyone at VSO is very supportive of SkillBridge.”

After completing his apprenticeship and going through the rigorous 16-week AWS cohort in 2021, Keen was ready to enter the civilian workforce, and he was hired by VSO full-time as a Military Apprentice – Solution Architect Apprentice. Now, almost two years later, Keen reports that work-life at VSO is going well. “I have a great working relationship with everyone at VSO that I have had the opportunity to work with. I really enjoy the veteran culture here,” Keen says clearly thankful for the work he gets to do with the VSO team.

“We just want more people to know about the program,” says Birch. To join in with over 2800 companies partnering with SkillBridge to assist military personnel in transitioning to a civilian career, visit the website http://skillbridge.osd.mil for more information.