The Veterans’ Employment and Training Service works every day to enable all service members, veterans, and military spouses to reach their full potential in the workplace.
As a military spouse and former human resource professional, I have seen firsthand how veterans strengthen the workplaces they join. Here are four reasons employers should seek out veteran talent:
Leadership that strengthens teams: Veterans lead by example, communicate clearly, and stay steady under pressure. They understand mission-driven teamwork, placing organizational goals above personal gain. That balance of leadership and humility is invaluable. It helps shape workplace culture by enabling employees to recognize when to step up and when to support others. This creates stronger, more collaborative, and resilient teams.
Discipline and reliability you can count on: Discipline is foundational to military service. For veterans, discipline shows up as accountability, consistency, and commitment to excellence. Veterans show up ready, prepared, and dependable because in the military, reliability isn’t optional, it’s essential.
Adaptability in a changing workplace: Veterans thrive in environments where change is constant. New missions, evolving technology, shifting priorities, and changes in leadership are a part of their military experience. They access situations quickly, pivot with confidence, and stay focused under pressure.
A work ethic second to none: Military service instills persistence, grit, and an unshakable commitment to doing the job the right way. This work ethic transfers into the civilian workplace as reliability, consistency, and a refusal to cut corners. Veterans take ownership and inspire others day after day, task after task, mission after mission.
Veterans have already demonstrated their commitment to our country. Hiring them is not only an opportunity to honor that service, but also a smart business decision. Their leadership, discipline, adaptability, and work ethics translate into real advantages for employers.
As Assistant Secretary of Labor for Veterans’ Employment and Training Jeremiah Workman noted when he joined G.I. Jobs’ Chris Hale to talk about military transition, leadership, and the unmatched value veterans bring to employers, “If you want to thank a veteran, hire a veteran!”
Their positive impact begins on day one, and the opportunities employers create have the potential to be life-changing.
Check out our employers guide to hiring veterans. Or, reach out to one of our regional veteran employment coordinators to help you find the right veteran for your team.
Darnice Marsh is on a detail with the U.S. Department of Labor’s Veterans’ Employment and Training Service, serving as the strategic partnership’s interagency coordinator. In this role, Marsh helps VETS coordinate efforts with federal agencies and external partners.
