July 25: A Birthday, a Mission, a Movement

July 15, 2025
Author: Darnice Marsh

Image of Uncle Sam from classic recruitment poster. Text says "I want YOU to hire vets."
July 25 holds deep meaning for me for two reasons. Not only is it my birthday, but it’s also recognized as National Hire a Veteran Day. This is a chance to inspire employers to use the dynamic skillsets of our nation’s veterans by recruiting them for civilian jobs. As a proud military spouse, this initiative is very close to my heart.

How We’re Making a Difference

  • At the Department of Labor, we know the value that veterans bring to our workforce. One of the primary ways we assist is through the Transition Assistance Program, known as TAP, led by our Veterans’ Employment and Training Service (VETS). Consider the TAP program as a bridge that offers transition support to veterans and their spouses as they move from military service to starting new careers in the civilian world. As a former TAP instructor, I found the role to be incredibly rewarding, as it allowed me to share my human resources expertise with the military community and witness service members and their families successfully plan their careers beyond the military.   

  • We offer Off-Base Transition Training for service members as well as career workshops for military spouses, providing flexible options for personalized career support.

  • In partnership with state workforce agencies and the department’s Employment and Training Administration, VETS supports a national network of over 2,300 American Job Centers, where veterans and military spouses can access resume support, job training, and direct connections to employers. In 2024 alone, nearly 129,000 veterans and over 4,500 military spouses received employment assistance.

What Employers Can Do

Employers have a unique opportunity to tap into this extraordinary talent pool by actively recruiting and hiring veterans into meaningful roles.

A Day of Action for Everyone

This day is not just about hiring – it’s about recognizing veterans’ service with real opportunities, strong partnerships, and meaningful, well-paying jobs. 

Whether you are an employer, a veteran, or interested in partnering, I encourage you to:

  • Share information about veteran-focused job fairs.

  • Post opportunities with veteran-friendly organizations.

  • Lift up the voices and stories of veterans in your community.

July 25 is your opportunity to celebrate and promote National Hire a Veteran Day.

 

Darnice Marsh is the labor-management partnership coordinator for the department’s Office of Labor-Management Standards. A special thank you to VETS for their contributions to this blog post.

Categories: Employment and Training, Veterans and military spouses, Special Initiatives
Tags: Office of Labor-Management Standards (OLMS), Veterans' Employment and Training Service (VETS), hire veterans (hiring veterans, hiring vets, veteran hiring)