RT9834897DECODINGFTHE5MILITARYWFOR8VETERAN-HIRING6SUCCESS52893458
of each decoder box gives a general idea of the level of expertise,
and the corresponding salary in the upper-right corner is a
representation of the equivalent national average compensation,
which includes former allowances and benefits. Of course, each
specialty needs to be evaluated based on the demands for that skill
in that area’s respective job market.
The table on the previous page is an approximate breakout
of the active-duty population by service, with 15 percent of the
workforce comprising females. Each service has its own mission
and culture, but most veterans are experienced global travelers
who have worked in many diverse environments with many
diverse people. All of these experiences and the related leadership
skills apply to civilian-sector jobs.
The U.S. military is one of the largest organizations in the
world, employing almost 1.5 million active-duty service members.
It is their collective job to defend the country and protect its
national interests, but their individual careers can be incredibly
similar to the jobs and careers in the civilian sector.
Today, U.S. businesses have nearly tripled the goal set by
President Obama and have already hired or trained 300,000
veterans and military spouses. First Lady Michelle Obama recently
announced that more American companies have committed to hire
or train another 435,000 veterans and military spouses over the
TWI PROGRAM AND THE
HR CERTIFICATION INSTITUTE
When she graduated from Georgia State
University 22 years ago with a degree in
Criminal Justice, Chief Warrant Officer
3 Kymila Cheese never thought she
would find her career passion within the
U.S. Army. In fact, when she joined the
Army two decades ago, she had dreams
of becoming a military police officer.
However, the Army found other talents
within Cheese. In an Army entrance
examination, Cheese’s clerical test scores
were “off the charts” and she was placed
in personnel management – the Army’s
term at the time for human resources.
next five years. Walmart is leading the charge and has committed
to hiring, during the year after separation from service, any
veteran who served honorably, and McDonald’s is committed to
hire 100,000 veterans in the next three years.
With the Iraq war over and the war in Afghanistan drawing to a
close, more than 1 million service members are projected to leave
the military in the next several years and transition to civilian life.
Good civilian jobs not only help our veterans and military spouses
manage this transition smoothly but also demonstrate that our
nation truly honors their service. ■
It was after her enlisted promotion
to the rank of Staff Sergeant that she
knew human resources was her destiny.
Cheese sees her role as having a direct
impact on soldiers’ morale and mission
accomplishment.
The promotion allowed her to focus
on being a strategic HR soldier, and
she says that HR soldiers need to view
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