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Veterans Are a Great Talent Source for Tech Industry
Oct 09, 2018
Two years ago, I attended the Team Fastrax Warrior Weekend to Remember (WWTR) in Ohio, an event honoring combat-injured warriors (Purple Heart recipients) and Gold Star families. It’s a three-day weekend for veterans to participate in enriching and fun activities, offering new friendships and emotional healing.
WWTR had a profound impact on how I view veterans and was my first time spending quality, personal time with Vietnam, Gulf War and post-September 11th vets. I listened to Marines talk about their missions in Iraq and Afghanistan. One Marine told me how his platoon fought insurgents for control of the city of Ramadi — one of the most dangerous places during Operation Enduring Freedom.
I learned about the many roles and skills that our service members hold: strategic planning, logistics, IT, telecommunications, contingency-planning, riskmanagement, discipline, team-building, leadership and character-building.
Despite their skills and loyalty, it surprised me how difficult it is for veterans to find quality jobs after leaving the service. Some said it was hard to translate military experience into skills for civilian jobs. Others noted a communication gap between veterans and hiring managers who don’t understand their titles and military experience.
According to the “Military, Veterans, and Society Program,” the Civil-Military Divide — a growing gap between the public and those who serve in the military — negatively impacts veteran hiring and retention. While veteran unemployment is at a record low of four percent, 200,000 service members transition out of the military each year and look for civilian employment.