Entrepreneur.com reports that, over the next five years, the ubiquitous Starbucks coffee chain will hire 10,000 military veterans and their spouses. With more than one million Armed Forces personnel expected to return to the U.S. in that five-year span, Starbucks is signaling a desire to capitalize on the military ethic as it continues its global path of growth.
Starbucks sponsors a mentoring program for veterans through the Armed Forces Network (AFN), teaching the skills and values necessary for success in the workforce. The company’s commitment to hiring veterans means the program will only expand in the coming years. The pledge to hire veterans’ spouses is especially significant, as unemployment in this population segment is high.
It’s not just coffee shops that are hiring veterans. The Blaze listed a number of corporations actively seeking candidates with military experience. Shipping company UPS has set a goal of hiring 25,000 veterans by 2018. Retail powerhouse Walmart aims to bring 100,000 veterans on board over the same time period.
What is the impetus for these large companies to actively recruit people who have served their country? The military ethic itself is attractive to these firms. Team discipline and ability to follow instructions are common denominators in both the military and corporate worlds. This is bolstered by specialized skills learned in the service, such as computer skills, HVAC maintenance, and certain “soft skills” involving interpersonal communication that are highly valued by business.
