Wal-Mart, the nation’s largest retailer, announced a plan to hire every veteran who honorably left the military in the last year over the next five years.  It is expected that more than 100,000 people are expected to find work through the program, making Wal-Mart’s effort one of the largest hiring commitments for veterans on record.   

There are roughly 900,000 unemployed veterans in the U.S. according to the Department of Labor.  When signing the "VOW to Hire Heroes Act" in 2011, President Obama said when referring to veterans’ wide range of skills, “… it is exactly the kind of leadership and responsibility that every American business should be competing to attract.”  

Many employers fail to recognize the unique value military experience can bring to the workplace. Job skills are learned through previous experiences and military service should be recognized as a valuable addition to any resume.  So here are five reasons why you should start recruiting veterans:   

1. Leadership: The military trains people to lead by example, creating a more respectful and productive workplace environment.

2. Teamwork: Veterans understand how genuine teamwork grows out of a responsibility to one’s colleagues and superiors.

3. Performance under pressure: They know the critical importance of staying with a task until it is done correctly, no matter the circumstances.

4. Diligence: The work ethic of veterans is incomparable due to their front line experience.  Veterans know how to get things done, are goal driven and results orientated. 

5. Problem Solving:  As the Marines say, vets are able to “improvise, adapt and overcome.” Regardless of the issue at hand, vets are likely to come up with a creative and effective solution.

Military personnel skills obtained during military service will benefit employers.  Considering these attributes, veterans could be great hires who can add value to the workplace by contributing the skills acquired through their military experience.  With Wal-Mart spearheading the veterans hiring effort, recruiters should refocus their staffing efforts on sourcing candidates who are making the transition from military to civilian life.

What do you think?  Have you placed candidates with past military experience?  Let us know in the comment section below, we would love to hear from you.

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Originally posted by erecruit