Neighbor News
Walmart Marks Anniversary of Veterans Welcome Home Commitment with Announcement of 1,421 Veteran Hires in Maryland
Company has hired 130,828 veterans nationwide since commitment began in May of 2013
Today, Walmart announced it has hired 130,828 veterans since it announced its Veterans Welcome Home Commitment in May 2013*, including 1,421 in the State of Maryland, and 81 in Washington, DC. Of those 130,828 veteran hires, 15,176 have been promoted to jobs with higher pay and greater responsibility, including 130 in Maryland.
“Walmart has shown time and time again that it truly values its employees by discussing your past experiences and figuring out how those skills will help make you successful in the company,” said James Mason, Auto-Center Care Technician at the Landover Hills Walmart and former Sgt. In the United States Army. “My job at Walmart is perfect for me because of the high frequency of customers I deal with and the fast-paced work day; it was an easy transition for me because I was used to the hustle and bustle of the military. I am so glad I found a position that utilized my skill set in a company that valued my military background!”
On Memorial Day 2013, Walmart introduced the Veterans Welcome Home Commitment, which guaranteed a job offer to any eligible, honorably discharged U.S. veteran who was within 12 months of active duty. The initial goal was to hire 100,000 veterans by the end of 2018. In May of 2015, Walmart announced the expansion of that original projection, with the goal of hiring 250,000 veterans by the end of 2020. Walmart has also changed the eligibility from within 12 months of active duty, to any veteran who has been honorably discharged since the announcement of the commitment in May 2013.
Despite unemployment among veterans being at its lowest in eight years, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, veterans from the Gulf War era continue to be under- or unemployed.
“As a veteran, I know how critical it is for our men and women in uniform to have a strong support structure when transitioning back to civilian life,” said Retired Brigadier General, Gary Profit, senior director of military programs for Walmart. “A job is an important part of that transition, and at Walmart, we’re proud to use our strengths as one of the nation’s largest employers to be a part of that bridge back home by providing meaningful opportunities to 1,421 veterans, and counting, in Maryland to use their unique talent and skills. Veterans are among some of our strongest associates and we are pleased to see the growth and success they have achieved at Walmart.”
The Walmart Foundation’s Commitment to Veterans and Military Families
Beyond Walmart’s Veterans Welcome Home Commitment, the Walmart Foundation is also reinforcing its support for transitioning military members and their families with the announcement of $2.6 million in grants to nonprofit organizations that support veteran reintegration – The American GI Forum and Swords to Plowshares:
--Texas-based American GI Forum National Veterans Outreach Program, which stabilizes veterans through housing and job assistance among other services, will receive a $1 million grant for employment placement assistance.
--Swords to Plowshares will receive a $1.6 million grant to enhance innovative employment and training programs at the California Veterans Employment and Training Collaborative and the Texas Veterans Employment and Training Collaborative.
For more information about Walmart’s Veterans Welcome Home Commitment, please visit: http://www.walmartcareerswithamission.com and follow @WalmartToday on Twitter.
*Editor’s Note: These projections and reported hires/promotions include veterans hired under our original and expanded Commitment as well as other veterans hired by Walmart in this time frame. While we think it is particularly important to support soldiers as they make the transition to civilian life, Walmart believes all veterans deserve our respect and support, no matter when they left active duty.