“The current transition assistance from military to civilian life is inadequate and our veterans are not being hired,” says AFSF. The reasons are many. AFSF cites a 69-company study conducted by the Center for a New American Security, which found:
- Companies don’t understand military terminology and positions. This becomes a sticking point when companies use software to search for key words on resumes.
- If hiring personnel have never been in the military, they may feel applicants with military backgrounds will be too rigid or formal. Post-traumatic stress syndrome is also a worry.
- Former soldiers may not be trained in the exact skills companies want.
- If the applicant is still a Guardsman or Reservist, there may be concerns about future deployments.
To address this, AFSF says it will introduce Staff a Hero later this year to serve as a staffing company, creating temp-to-hire positions and providing additional training for veterans.
Assignments can range from a few hours to a few years, giving veterans the opportunity to view corporate cultures from the inside, and find the work they enjoy. Staff a Hero says it will provide free training, including tools and classes, to veterans.
Those who are interested in the initiative can contact Rob Barr, executive director of Hire a Hero, [email protected].
