By Retired Major General James Hoyer
Toward the end of July each year, we recognize National Hire a Veteran Day. I want to share some perspectives on why we all should pause and think about this for our communities and shared future.
I reached out to some of our state’s veteran leaders to get their thoughts on how veterans contribute to society in ways even beyond or after their military roles, and I want to share some of that here. There are many ways we all can support and uplift the people who defend our freedom, including but not limited to helping veterans and their families thrive here at home by linking them to career opportunities in the Mountain State.
When it comes down to it, by integrating veterans into our workforce and welcoming them in our communities, every one of us stands to benefit!
I talked to Amond Bailey, Student Veterans of America National Leadership Fellow, Brandon Downey, Chief Executive Officer and Co-founder of Trilogy Innovations, Inc., and Retired Colonel Walter J. Hatfield, Vice President of Training and Experimentation at Civil Military Innovation Institute (CMI2) to hear their thoughts.
They each shared points about how important veteran leadership is for building the future of our communities. Many of our local communities have benefited from the leadership and continued service of veterans. I have been proud to see veteran leaders serve in a variety of roles from Little League coaches to food pantry volunteers to elected representatives.
“I believe it is imperative for businesses to hire veterans as this not only provides them with proper integration into our society after their service, but also exponentially improves our communities and organizations, through their continued desire to serve the communities around them,” Bailey explained.
The thing is, veterans don’t stop being deeply service-oriented when their official military service comes to an end. They bring that same drive and identity to serve others, along with the skills they have developed in discipline, teamwork and leadership, to their next roles as civilians. That means veterans have the underpinnings to become leaders and even pillars in their communities while also making for reliable and competent employees in the workplace.
As Bailey added, “veterans bring a unique set of talents that are not easily found elsewhere: Specifically, veterans hone a distinct talent for identifying needs and solving problems.” He told me that the skills honed in military service pay dividends to companies and communities who need problem solvers and critical thinkers, and I agree. “As soldiers, they have experienced a career’s worth of meeting objectives as a team. Resultantly, as employees, they naturally inspire solution-oriented results within every team or organization they become part of.”
Hatfield expanded on these sentiments, offering an example. “There are many success stories within our company of veterans coming off active duty (either at the end of their service obligation or retiring) or from the National Guard or Reserves.” He went on to tell me about Sergeant First Class Adam Landers, who Hatfield said highlights how military training can transition into exemplary performance in the workforce.
“In many cases and definitely in Adam’s case, as [veterans] transition or choose to join a company like ours, they are so well trained, such attention to detail, and laser focused on mission success they quickly make an impact on not only the bottom line but the morale of the team.” Hatfield noted that Landers rose quickly in leadership roles and now runs all operations for one of CMI2’s most dynamic teams focused on new technology development.
Downey noted that Trilogy Innovations, Inc. has a plethora of veteran hiring success stories as well, offering insights into how other business owners can think about the value of veteran employees to overall company culture: “When considering hiring veterans, employers should recognize the unique skill set and experiences that veterans bring to the workplace. They are known for their leadership, teamwork, adaptability, and problem-solving skills, all of which are highly valuable in a corporate setting. Additionally, they often have a strong sense of discipline and work ethic, which can positively influence the workplace culture by enriching perspectives and skills.”
Its clear! Veterans will positively impact our businesses when given career opportunities, and they will continue to add value to our communities with their service-oriented mission focus! Let’s recruit, hire and welcome more veterans in West Virginia!
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Retired Major General James Hoyer is a West Virginia native and a military leader with a career spanning nearly 40 years leading complex state and federal missions as a member of the West Virginia National Guard. A respected community figure with a legacy of distinguished service in the Mountain State, Hoyer currently serves to foster economic development, health, and security in West Virginia and the Nation while taking pride in his roles as husband, father, and new grandfather.
