Op-ed by First Lady Michelle Obama and Dr. Jill Biden on Fortune.com: Businesses must hire more vets

[Tx4obama]

The White House

Office of the First Lady
For Immediate Release
April 30, 2013

Op-ed by First Lady Michelle Obama and Dr. Jill Biden on Fortune.com: Businesses must hire more vets

The following op-ed by First Lady Michelle Obama and Dr. Jill Biden appeared this morning on Fortune.com
http://management.fortune.cnn.com/2013/04/30/michelle-obama-jill-biden-vets/

Michelle Obama, Jill Biden: Businesses must hire more vets

Two years ago, we launched Joining Forces, a nationwide campaign to rally all Americans to support our veterans and military families. We did this for two simple reasons: because we were both awed by the courage and sacrifice of our men and women in uniform who risk their lives every day to protect our values and keep us safe. We were also awed by their families, the spouses and children who serve right along with them, enduring deployment after deployment with grace and resolve.

As we traveled the country visiting bases and military communities, everywhere we went, we heard from veterans who had years of training and experience in the military -- leading dozens, even hundreds of their peers; operating some of the most advanced technology; and solving complex problems under the most extreme conditions imaginable. But when they returned home, they struggled to find decent jobs. We met military spouses who'd spent decades moving from base to base every couple of years and struggled to maintain their careers. As the months passed, we saw that the unemployment rate for our most recent veterans remained far too high above the national average.
These men and women are some of the highest-skilled, best-trained, hardest-working people in this country. They are medics and engineers, drivers and welders, computer technicians and machinists. They are eager to work and determined to keep on serving this country. All they need is a chance.

But the challenge of giving them that chance is only becoming more urgent. In the coming years, more than a million servicemembers will be hanging up their uniforms and transitioning to civilian life. That's on top of the hundreds of thousands of veterans and military spouses already out there looking for work.

That's why, back in August of 2011, President Obama challenged the private sector to hire or train 100,000 veterans and military spouses by the end of 2013. And over the past two years, businesses across America have answered that call. By last August, they had already filled 125,000 jobs, with commitments to hire 250,000 more. And today, we are proud to announce that America's businesses have hired or trained 290,000 veterans and military spouses, almost triple the original goal. In addition, companies like Wal-Mart, UPS, Home Depot, the Blackstone Group, Target, and McDonald's have committed to hire or train another 435,000 veterans and military spouses over the next five years.

So we're making real progress. We're encouraged that the unemployment rate for post-9/11 veterans dropped by 2.2% in 2012. But it is still too high; because as long as any veteran or military spouse who needs a job is unable to find one, then we still have work to do.

That's why, in his budget, President Obama proposed a permanent extension of the tax credits he signed into law for businesses that hire unemployed veterans and wounded warriors. We've also been working with governors and state legislators to revamp state laws to give our troops credit for the skills they've learned in the military when they apply for professional licenses and credentials here at home. In addition, we've created new partnerships between the armed forces and the manufacturing and information technology industries to ensure that our servicemembers are trained for good jobs.

But ultimately, it's up to our companies to actually hire veterans for these jobs. So today, we need business leaders across this country to ask themselves, "What can my company do for these men and women who have served our country so bravely?" If you own a small business, can you commit to hiring a few veterans -- or even just one? If you own a larger company, can you hire a few hundred -- or a few thousand? Can you retrain the veterans already in your workforce so they can grow within your company? Can you team up with other businesses to hire the veterans in your communities?

This is an all-hands-on-deck issue, and we cannot rest until every single veteran and military spouse who is searching for a job has found one. These men and women have sacrificed so much for all of us. Now is the time for all of us to come together to serve them as well as they have served this country.

Michelle Obama is First Lady of the U.S., and Dr. Jill Biden is Second Lady of the U.S.

http://www.whitehouse.gov/the-press-office/2013/04/30/op-ed-first-lady-michelle-obama-and-dr-jill-biden-fortunecom-businesses-

Note: The above text is from a .gov website therefore the four paragraph copyright rule does not apply.

[proverbialwisdom]

1. Schwarzman on pledge to hire 50K veterans cites work by First Lady Michelle Obama/Dr. Jill Biden.

Earlier today, Bloomberg Market Makers Stephanie Ruhle interviewed Blackstone's Steve Schwarzman on commitment to hire 50,000 veterans.

http://www.whitehouse.gov/joiningforces/commitments

Commitments



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Accenture's Skills to Succeed program will equip 250,000 people, including veterans, around the world by 2015 with the skills to get a job or build a business. As part of their efforts, Accenture is one of several companies underwriting NPower's Technology Services Corp and will work with the non-profit to expand IT training, professional skills and mentoring, internships, and job placement for service members and veterans.

AFCPE (Association for Financial Counseling and Planning Education) is a non-profit, international, professional organization dedicated to improving personal financial management education through research, training, and certification of financial counselors, educators, coaches and other related practitioners. Throughout our 30 year history, we have been committed to training and supporting our military through our nationally recognized certification programs (Accredited Financial Counselor® and Certified Housing Counselor®). Since 2006, we have offered the FINRA Foundation Military Spouse Fellowship program, to train corps of military spouses to become certified as AFCs. The primary objective is to increase career opportunities and enhance the lives and well-being of all military families. AFCPE is proud to join the First Lady and Dr. Biden in support of our nation’s service members and families as a contributor to the Joining Forces initiative. To those ends, we are committed to training and certifying 700 service members or military spouses through the end of 2016. Applications for the 2014 fellowships will open between January and February of 2014; please visit our website to learn more.

Ameren is proud of its long history of hiring, supporting and honoring military veterans, who are interested in working for one of the largest utilities in the Midwest and pledges to hiring 200 veterans over the next five years. Ameren has also long supported employees who are called for active duty by providing security and support through continued benefits to employed reservists and their families. The Department of Defense recognized Ameren in September 2011 with the Secretary of Defense Employer Support Freedom Award - the highest recognition given by the U.S. Government - for its support of employees serving in the Guard and Reserve.

American Corporate Partners (ACP) offers yearlong one-on-one career guidance mentorships for service members transitioning into the private sector. In addition, ACP has created ACP AdvisorNet, an online "quick question community" to answer service members and veterans' questions regarding employment, career development, and small business. Service members and veterans can log on from anywhere in the world to have their questions answered by some of America's most experienced and knowledgeable corporate professionals. ACP AdvisorNet allows service members to get started on planning their transition and post-transition goals prior to leaving the military -- even while stationed overseas -- and is completely free to use.

American Logistics Association and its 250 member companies heard the First Lady’s and Dr. Jill Biden’s call in October 2011, and leaned forward on the Joining Forces Initiative and pledged to hire 25,000 veterans and military spouses. To date our member companies have reported hiring over 15,000 veterans and military spouses, tapping a vast reservoir of high quality training and talent. It’s good for our veterans and military families. It’s good for our companies. And it’s good for America. We enjoy our liberty and prosperity to their sacrifice. This is one way we can reciprocate for their service and we continue to strive to reach our objective. We urge other companies and organizations to muster all they can to heed the call and give back a just a little for so much done in Defense of our great nation. They did their job. Now let’s do ours and give them a hand up we stand committed to hiring more veterans and military family members.

Arise Virtual Solutions Inc. has partnered with hundreds of small businesses owned by veterans and their families to provide customer service and technical support services to its Fortune 500 clients throughout the United States. Arise has pledged to double the number of veteran-owned small businesses within the Arise network over the next two years. Arise is committed to the Joining Forces initiative and working with veterans and military spouses to help their companies succeed and grow.

Associated Builders & Contractors, Inc. (ABC), in partnership with national military charity USA Cares, will provide 1,000 jobs to Veterans in 2012 as the initial phase of their Job for Vets Program. ABC will utilize multiple training programs including an Apprenticeship Boot Camp that will reduce time to certification by one year. The program will train and hire veterans in a skilled trade and guarantee employment for a minimum of twelve months. ABC Chapters will work with the State Authorizing Agencies to ensure that the veteran can obtain funding through the New G.I. Bill. The first pilot is starting in Illinois in January. ABC and USA Cares intends to replicate the program nationwide throughout 2012.

AT&T is stepping up its veteran recruiting strategies with the goal of hiring 5,000 veterans into career opportunities over the next five years. AT&T also announced that it plans to lead an initiative with JPMorgan Chase and the 100,000 Jobs Mission to launch a veteran talent exchange later this year. The exchange will enable active-duty military and veteran job candidates to “opt-in” to a talent-sharing database to facilitate the sharing and referral of veteran candidates among participating 100,000 Jobs Mission member companies. In addition, AT&T’s veteran career site, features a military skills translator that matches military skills with AT&T jobs. AT&T also has the Careers for Veterans program where AT&T Veterans provide job search advice to help thousands of newly transitioning veterans optimize their career searches. And AT&T has an award-winning supplier diversity program including initiatives like Operation Hand Salute, a mentoring program that is designed to help disabled veteran business owners to develop the tools and expertise needed to win large corporate contracts.

BAE Systems, Inc., a company presently employing more than 3,000 veterans at more than 200 facilities across the United States, is committed to employing wounded warriors and veterans through the company’s Warrior Integration Services. BAE Systems’ strategic partnerships with government, military, and nonprofit entities help ease the transition from military life to the civilian workforce, ensuring veterans feel confident in their roles. These programs are just one element of BAE Systems’ overall commitment to supporting service members, veterans and their families.

Bank of America is committed to do everything we can to make their financial lives better. Bank of America is helping the thousands of service members returning from active duty to reintegrate into civilian life through financial education, employment, wellness and housing support. We currently employ 6,000 military service members and veterans, and are on pace to hire an additional 2,000 people with military experience this year who will bring leadership ability and operational skills they develop while protecting our country. In addition, we have a program to help employees find a new job within Bank of America when their spouse or dependent has a permanent change of station. We are also donating 1,000 bank-owned properties at no cost to veterans and their families, and provide philanthropic and volunteer support to a wide range of nonprofit agencies that help service members and their families with housing, workforce development, and other critical needs.

Blackstone has committed to hire 50,000 veterans across its portfolio companies over the next 5 years. It is doing this because it is right for America, but also because it is good for business. Blackstone, which owns and operates Hilton, Sea World, The Weather Channel, La Quinta, Extended Stay, Michaels Stores, Nielsen and Allied Barton, has a commitment to hiring military service members and veterans. Blackstone firmly believes that it cannot do its work without talented and dedicated employees and the company is excited to welcome more talented American veterans as they join the Blackstone family.

BNSF Railway has a strong history of supporting and hiring U.S. military personnel. For employees called to active duty, we provide benefit continuation and make-whole pay. We value the discipline, strong safety focus and leadership skills that come from military experience. These are skills that are essential in our challenging, outdoors, round-the-clock railroad business. In recent years, approximately 25% of our annual hires have been military veterans and we now have more than 6,700 self-declared veterans (~15 percent of our workforce) working at BNSF. We are proud to support your initiative and expect to hire approximately 5,000 veterans over the next 5 years

The Boeing Company has become a member of American Corporate Partners, a nationwide mentoring program dedicated to helping veterans transition from the armed services to the civilian workforce. Through mentoring, career counseling and networking, transitioning veterans will interact with senior Boeing professionals to understand and develop career paths and build professional networks. Boeing will also launch an on-line military skills translator tool that will connect military skills and Military Occupation Specialty codes to relevant Boeing job openings.

Bradley-Morris, Inc. (BMI), the largest military-focused recruiting firm in the U.S., pledges to deliver free job seeker services to more than 10,000 transitioning military and veterans via nationwide military hiring events and on-base military job fairs, as well as to distribute more than 200,000 military job seeker publications to bases worldwide. In their 22nd year of introducing military talent to civilian jobs, BMI will also continue their efforts as an ESGR Patriotic Employer and as a member of the Military Spouse Employment Partnership (MSEP). For employers, Bradley-Morris, Inc. will coordinate and sponsor HireMilitary.com, a blog that since 2008 has helped hiring managers understand how and why to hire military personnel for their company.

BranchOut is committed to adopting the job posting schema through a feature that allows companies to state a preference for hiring veterans when they post jobs on BranchOut. These special job posts are highlighted for veteran job seekers so they know which companies are looking for their unique skills. BranchOut will also offer jobs posts to veterans who have recently started their own businesses.

Business and Professional Women’s (BPW) Foundation recently launched Joining Forces Mentoring Plus™ to help the thousands of women veterans and military wives navigate the civilian workplace by connecting them with volunteer working women mentors committed to providing guidance and support over a sustained period of time. Veteran and civilian mentors of all ages from across the nation are providing insight, advice, encouragement, and resources to help women veterans and military wives find successful careers and provide for themselves and their families.

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