Our first Veteran & Employer VET-PREP Training and Virtual Hiring Event this week was a success! All of the Veterans we worked with were amazing, and the employers we can’t thank you enough for coming out and engaging all of the Veterans and spouses as part of the Virtual Hiring Event. I want to thank our hard working FMI team members Janine, Brian G Drew and our partners Saint Maximus Consulting (SMC), Stephan C. Porter, Cory Argenbright and our employer partners Union Pacific Railroad, Logistics Health Incorporated, FDM Group and MilSpec Talent Freddie Thank you!
What a great team effort with outstanding results! We have just begun our virtual journey and are looking forward to more events and training coming soon. So, if you’re an employer looking to hire Veterans and spouses, or you’re a Veteran or spouse looking for your next career, contact us about our upcoming events.
Help us get the word out about our next Veteran & Employer VET-PREP Training & Virtual Hiring Events – coming soon!
Attention Employers – Please join us for the Austin Area C2C Virtual Hiring & Training Event – Friday, April 17th from 9am-12pm. Our process provides a custom approach to matching employer’s opportunities with Veterans and their spouses who are ready to work, thus completing the mission of helping employers hire quality candidates. If you’re an employer that is looking to improve your virtual hiring capability and get connected with outstanding talent, then this event is for you.
Our approach to get you high quality veteran talent is executed in 3 steps. We begin the employer journey by having you attend our FREE Employer VET-PREP Training. This training will focus on the how to maximize your ability to hire more Veterans in a virtual environment. We will also teach you methods to build and leverage your company brand for the purpose of aligning your job needs and skill requirements to the Veteran talent pool. Our final step has you attending one of our Employer Virtual Hiring Events to engage your new potential Veteran and spouse candidates.
Our mission is to help employers Attract, Hire and Retain high quality Veteran and spouse talent.
Attention Veterans and spouses – Please join us for the Austin C2C Virtual Hiring & Training Event, Wednesday, April 15th from 9 -11am. Our process provides a custom approach to matching you with employers, thus completing the mission of getting you hired. If you’re a Veteran and are looking and preparing for a great career, then this event is for you. Our approach to get you hired is 3 steps. We begin your journey by having you attend our FREE Veteran VET-PREP Training. This training is to reinforce all the great transition training you have received, and to teach you methods to build and leverage your brand for the purpose of aligning your needs, wants and skills with an employer. The next step is yours. Applying what you’ve learned. Our final step has you attending one of our Employer Virtual Hiring Events where you will connect with your new potential employer. And, finally your hired and off to enjoy your new career.
Our mission is to get you hired. Become a VirtualVet today!
All FMI events are free to Veterans, spouses and family members.
It seems like every time we turn around there is a trendy new themed month or day to celebrate or honor. Your social media news feeds are often filled with content about anything from Zombie Awareness Month to National Donut Day. Although many of these months and days might be fun, there are a few lesser known days that should grab our attention. Military Appreciation Month is certainly one of those.
In short, Military Appreciation Month is a time for the members of our nation to reflect on the sacrifices that our civil servants and their families make each day to keep us safe.
Military Appreciation in May
The United States Congress established Military Appreciation Month in 1999. They decided that the month of May would forevermore be a time to honor servicemen and women of all ranks and modes of service.
If you’re familiar with some of the other military centered days on the calendar, then it is probably no surprise that Congress picked May. Some of these days include Loyalty Day, Victory in Europe Day, as well as Memorial Day.
Little Known Patriotic Holidays
May 1st is known as Loyalty Day.
This is a time for citizens of the United States to reflect on our country and remember our heritage. The origins of this day can be traced all the way back to 1921. Whether you are a first generation immigrant or you can trace your ancestry all the way back to the Founding Fathers, this day is for you to celebrate your love of this country! Although this holiday is not as widely celebrated as it once was, there are still some communities who host parades in honor of Loyalty Day.
May 7th – 13th is known as Public Service Recognition Week.
As you know, our military men and women operate in service of the public and the greater good. However, there are many other individuals who operate at local, county, and state level that also serve our communities. This week is set aside to commemorate the sacrifices of Peace Officers, Firefighters, and more.
May 12th is Military Spouse Appreciation Day.
Our Soldiers’ husbands and wives also serve our country and deserve a show of appreciation. This holiday is celebrated on the Friday before Mother’s Day each year and its purpose is to thank military families for their support of our service men and women.
Military Appreciation Month Final Thoughts
You can find a full list of all of the Military Appreciation Month days of celebration here!
One of the most difficult parts of owning or running a business is finding top talent to fill important positions. Placing bright individuals with a drive to succeed in the most influential areas of your company is key to driving growth, profits, and your company’s reputation. Many business owners and managers focus on things like salary and more time off to acquire the best talent for their companies. While these things are certainly important and cannot be ignored when trying to hire top-notch candidates, emphasizing leadership or professional development training in your company is a great way to set your company apart from other companies that may also offer similar benefits.
Three Reasons You Need A Robust Training Budget To Hire Top Talent
If you want to hire excellent employees who will take your company to the next level, you have to invest money in your current employees and commit to investing in those that you interview early on in the selection process. Here’s why great companies have large training budgets:
Leadership training adds value for the candidate.
Desirable candidates achieve their status of desirability because they work hard and provide value to the organization where they work. These candidates have worked very hard throughout their careers to build their resumes and skill sets because they recognize the value of learned skills for both themselves and the places that they work. For this reason, the most desirable candidates are looking for an employer who intends to invest heavily in their education and training in addition to providing them with an acceptable salary and benefits package. If your company wants to be successful in capturing the best candidates to grow your company, you must communicate and commit (preferably in the employee’s contract) to a certain amount of training each year. This will speak volumes to candidates about the culture of your company and how you show appreciation to your employees.
Leadership training adds value for the hiring company.
Investing in your employees is some of the most productive money that a company can spend. Many organizations view paid training as a service that is provided to their employees and as something that shouldn’t be expected. This view of employee training is backward, unproductive, and a product of a dangerous shift in corporate culture. Paid employee training is a way to make good employees even better while will only serve to improve your company as a whole. This is particularly true in regard to leadership training. Today, the corporate environment is a global one that is constantly changing due to mixing cultures and advancing technology. Training your people to be good leaders with extraordinary skills is a great way to prepare them to compete for your company in an ultra-competitive corporate environment. So, training is not just a way to say “thank you” to your employees. It should be a standard practice throughout your company if you want to compete at a high level.
Leadership training secures a successful succession plan.
Today, many companies are struggling to nail down a firm succession plan while their workforce is also aging fairly quickly. Hiring top candidates is a great way to secure a successful succession plan that will see your company grow long after you or your team of current leaders has retired. In addition, identifying current employees or investing in top candidates that are new employees is a great way to communicate early on that your company is built for longevity. This fact in itself will serve to make desirable candidates more comfortable with your company.
Much of my leadership perspective is drawn on my military experience. In the military, I acquired my first leadership role as a commander and was able to learn firsthand that people will do best what they “want to do” and not what they “need to do.” People will operate best from knowing “why” they do what they do, and not just “what” they need to do.
Having an effective leader in place to assist people with visualizing the end goal is key, and there are several aspects from my experience in the military that enable me to lay this vision out for my team. There are six essential traits of an exceptional military battalion, and through the years of leading my own troop at Menchie’s it has become more and more clear that these same qualities make up successful businesses and the team members who comprise it.
1. Teamwork
In the military, everything is a team effort. If one individual is not pulling his or her weight, the implications will dramatic. While serving, I gained a deeper understanding of the importance of teamwork and working well with different personalities, and in turn this has allowed me to build a winning team. Selecting the right people to join the team is instrumental to achieving high quality teamwork. The right selection leads to winning teams.
2. Dedication
While serving, you are pushed to obtain the unreachable. You have to be willing to get your hands dirty and do tasks sometimes outside of your scope.
3. Accountability
Being a part of the military, one is intuitively engineered to strive for the best results. The level of accountability that comes from military experience provides the ability for an organization to preserve resources and time. I believe in holding myself accountable to the highest standards and in leading by example.
4. System-oriented
In the military, when a system does not exist, you create one. The common goal is to create a fail-proof system, much like creating systems to streamline efficiencies in business.
5. Drive
While serving, I observed anatural determination in myself and those around me to exceed yesterday’s results every single day. It is this “can do” attitude and energy that makes everyone strive to push themselves that much more.
6. Higher purpose
A large part of being part of the military is wanting to assist others and make a difference in the communities in which you serve. At Menchie’s, we strive to improve the lives of others on a daily basis. A higher purpose provides inspiration for people to persevere through the various different challenges in the business world.
The frozen yogurt marketplace is extremely saturated and there is competition everywhere we go. I have come to learn that a true leader always puts his team before himself, and in our case, I put our people before profits. We bring food trucks to the office to celebrate milestones, offer a buffet lunch every Friday and take the time to bond as a unit at company-wide events throughout the year.
The needs of my team come before my own and it is this kind of culture that builds camaraderie, tenacity and drive – necessary qualities to not only survive, but also thrive in a crowded marketplace.
Strong leadership cannot happen if people do not follow and believe in the common mission you lay out and cultivate. From my military service, I learned people need to see and visualize the end game in order to walk the lengthy path, and laying a vision is critical.
Author: Amit Kleinberger – CEO Menchie’s Frozen Yogurt
These guys have product that is beyond comparison. Their attention to detail, the quality of equipment, and their attention to detail set them apart from other companies. They are well priced and customize to fit the needs of their customer. Check them out by clicking on the picture below. When you order, use the code FMI and receive 10% off!
On July 22, Forward March Inc. and the Missouri National Guard hosted a Job Fair at Camp Crowder in Neosho, MO. The job fair was an opportunity for employers to see Soldiers and Officers in their environment during their two week annual training.
Employers from Neosho, Joplin and surrounding areas came and set up booths for Soldiers to learn more about their companies and open positions and then got to brave the heat and tour the camp and experience first hand what the Soldiers do during the Annual Training, like the repel tower and obstacle course.
Forward March Inc. and the MO National Guard work closely to help facilitate better opportunities for both employers and Soldiers. If your company is interested in improving your Veteran Hiring Programs or are looking for the right Veterans for the right positions, check out our website by clicking on the picture, or give us a call at 888-723-6223 Ext. 225
Indigo Sky Casino, and the Eastern Shawnee Tribe of Oklahoma, have come together with Forward March Inc. and Brotherhood of Warriors, both Veteran Owned and Operated companies who operate out of Joplin, MO.
Indigo Sky and Forward March Inc. have partnered to present an Elite Leader Course that Forward March Inc. offers to companies and corporations that look to take their leaders to the next level. Elite Leader is crafted and designed to provide leadership training and high quality team building, all delivered with military flair. November 2nd and 3rd, FMI will be conducting an Elite Leader Course. This event is open to companies and individuals who want the best of military leadership training and exciting team building. The two day course will be held at Indigo Sky Casino and D-Day Adventure Park.
Slots for The Elite Leader are limited to the first 50 people so act fast. You and your company can sign up for the event or receive more information by calling Jimmy Burgess, Director of Leader Development, FMI at 888-723-6223 ext 225.
Indigo Sky also partnered with Brotherhood of Warriors Tactical Supply Company located in Joplin for some of their laser engraved products. Brotherhood of Warriors is a Service Disabled Veteran owned small business that gives back to local Veterans. Brotherhood of Warriors carries the top brands in the tactical industry, as well as specializes in custom laser engraving.
Forward March Inc. and the Joplin Chamber of Commerce have combined forces to put on a Military Hiring 101 on the 17th of July at the Joplin Chamber of Commerce Building (320 E. 4th St.)FMI_-_Military_101_Flyer_-_Chamber_Of_Commerce
The Military Hiring 101 includes everything your company needs to learn how to attract, hire and retain Top Military Talent.
This Military Hiring 101 is being offered FREE to companies and businesses in the Joplin, MO area who are looking to take their Military Hiring to the next level. Seats are limited so secure your company’s seat at the event today!
Forward March Inc. and the Joplin Chamber of Commerce have combined forces to put on a Military Hiring 101 on the 17th of July at the Joplin Chamber of Commerce Building (320 E. 4th St.)
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