Attracting Military and Veteran Talent

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Part 1 of a special 3 part series:

So you’re looking for the perfect candidate to fill critical positions within your organization. You’re looking for someone who is hardworking, well-educated and an expert planner. You’re looking for someone who has a “mission first” attitude and has a proven ability to face adversity with positive outcomes. You have in mind a candidate that understands and practices diversity in the workplace and who has a respect for policies, procedures, and regulations. You ask yourself, does this perfect candidate even exist? The answer is a resounding YES! The perfect candidate is the American military veteran.

So now that you have identified who the perfect candidate is, the next question is how to find them? Drawing military and veteran talent starts with developing a military hiring strategy. Here are five practices to help your organization attract veterans.

  1. Develop a solid military recruiting strategy. Developing a strategy begins with the company’s vision. This should be a top down driven initiative with specific, measurable, and achievable goals that the entire organization understands. Once a plan is made, recruiters and hiring managers must then be trained and resourced to execute the plan. Furthermore, performance reviews should be tied to veteran hiring performance to ensure continued success.
  1. Leverage existing veteran employees. What better way to attract veterans than engaging current employees who have served. They have not only talked the talk, they have walked the walk. They understand the military transition process and can assist in military skills interpretation and veteran interviewing. The bottom line is this: a brother and sisterhood exists within the veteran population. Veterans who believe in their organization want to share it with others.
  1. Market your organization as the veteran employer of choice.  Building your organization’s brand as a veteran friendly company is key to military hiring success. Part of this branding is leveraging current veteran employees and telling their success stories within the company. Create military specific brochures and other military marketing collateral when attending military hiring functions and use veteran employees as recruiters at such events. Create a veteran hiring site on your company webpage. Send veteran applicants a separate email thanking them for their service when they apply. Make veterans feel welcomed before they even step foot in your company.
  1. Get engaged with the military community. In order to find the veteran employee population, your organization must be engaged in the veteran community. Establish partnerships with non-profit veteran organizations such as the American Legion or Veterans of Foreign Wars. Get to know people at local military transition centers and make routine visits to reach out to those leaving military service. Establish relationships with local National Guard and Reserve units. Encourage employees to get involved with volunteer programs supporting veterans.
  2. Don’t forget about military spouses. When developing a veteran recruiting and hiring strategy, do not forget about the military spouse. Although they do not wear the uniform, they possess many skills employers are looking for. Just like the service member, the military spouse is flexible, adaptive to change, conscious of cultural and regional differences, and focused on getting the job done.
We have been helping companies hire veterans for over 35 years!

We have been helping companies hire veterans for over 35 years!

Attracting military talent can be an overwhelming task, especially for those organizations that do not understand military culture. Forward March’s team has over 110 years of combined military experience with over 35 years dedicated specifically to hiring veterans. FMI can train your staff to attract, hire, and retain top military talent. We have a comprehensive Military Talent Hiring Guide and outstanding training that can get your department staffing positions very quickly. We can also help you to develop a pipeline and hiring strategy for success and train your human resource department on all the best ways to recruit military talent. If your company is committed to hiring military veterans, let FMI show you how.

~ Article written by Jason Caswell, Forward March Inc – Director of Training and Talent Pipeline Services

National POW/MIA Recognition Day

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September 19th is National POW/MIA Recognition Day. Don’t forget to remember to honor our nation’s prisoners of war, our missing and their families. http://www.dtic.mil/dpmo/pow_day/

Growing Your Military Talent Pipeline

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Camouflage to Corporate Conference Series
Growing Your Military Talent Pipeline

November 17th in San Antonio, Texas!

If you want a more productive, motivated and focused staff then get ready!  Forward March Inc. will be hosting our Camouflage to Corporate Conference in November!

We have spoken a lot on our news page recently about the benefits to companies who hire veteran talent. Make sure you check out some of our recent articles on this subject.

Also make sure to check out the outstanding document from Syracuse University on a Business Case to Hire a Veteran. 

IMG_1909Our Camouflage to Corporate conference, will give you the information and tools you need to succeed in hiring the very best military candidates.  Forward March Inc is uniquely qualified to bring you successful solutions based on the proven military leadership model and a systematic approach to organizational growth.  With over thirty five years of collective experience our professional team will help you to understand how to find, attract, hire, and retain high quality veteran talent.

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This outstanding conference is consistently met with great success for those who attend as our team brings a unique and proven solution set to your organization with training that is unparalleled in the industry.

– Develop a military hiring strategy that wins

– Learn a tactical and practical approach to attract, hire, and retain the best

– Get results with military leadership in your workforce

– Learn from and network with military hiring experts and organizations, with over 40 years of military hiring experience

– Learn the latest techniques, tactics and procedures for building a winning team

– Learn to improve Workspace to Workplace – reception and integration

– Learn more about the Forward March Inc Customized Military Hiring Guide and solutions that can benefit your company or organization by making the process of finding, attracting, hiring and retaining veteran talent much easier

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Our mission at Forward March, Inc. is to educate and engage employers, educators, and organizations about the development of a successful military and veteran hiring and retention strategy. We can assist you in networking and partnerships with veteran-friendly agencies so you can develop operational strategies for 2014 and beyond.

Our unwavering commitment is always for our veterans. We are a company of veterans helping veterans. Our commitment likewise extends to:

– Supporting our transitioning military members

– Supporting our civilian partners

– Providing outstanding customer service

If your company is serious about hiring veterans and enjoying the benefits of a strong veteran talent pipeline then you owe it to yourself to sign up for this exciting Camouflage to Corporate conference TODAY.

Camouflage to Corporate conference – San Antonio
Growing your Military Talent Pipeline – 2014

Date: Monday – November 17th

Time: 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.

Learn more and register today here… Camouflage to Corporate conference. Space is limited!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY UNITED STATES AIR FORCE!

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The whole team here at Forward March Inc wishes the United States Air Force a Happy Birthday. The U.S. Air Force was founded on this day in 1947. Since its founding the Air Force has continually demonstrated it’s air superiority on the global theater.

At Forward March Inc we tout that “We grow leaders, organizations and bottom line like no other!”.  It is the leadership that our company possesses that both distinguishes our services and our commitment from the competition. Today is an excellent day to highlight two of our company leadership team members, both of whom had distinguished careers in the U.S. Air Force.

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Our CEO, Don Palen spent 23 years in the US Air Force, retiring in 1995 as a Lieutenant Colonel in the Medical Service Corps (Health Care Administration).

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Our COO Randy Borg served in the US Air Force for 26 years as a Healthcare Administrator, retiring at the rank of colonel in 2008.

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Our nation has benefited mightily from the contributions of the U.S. Air Force over the last 67 years and Forward March Inc has benefited in countless ways from the leadership of these two Air Force veterans. Thank you both for your service!

You Owe it to Yourself to Look at this Career Opportunity

 fitnessfinancialsuccessAre you looking for a career where you can be your own boss?

 Do you want to work with a highly motivated team?

 Are you looking for an energized and fun work environment?

If you answered YES to any of these questions then you may very well be the perfect candidate for an outstanding career with Fred Astaire Dance Studios.

Right off the bat, this is not a multilevel marketing opportunity or anything resembling that. This is a real entrepreneurial opportunity with a real brick and mortar business.

Forward March Inc. has forged very special and unique relationships with each of our clients. It is no secret that one special relationship we have is with Fred Astaire Dance Studios. Together we have achieved some amazing things. If you are transitioning military or a veteran looking for an amazing career opportunity you need to read this article. Before you decide that this is not the career for you check out some of these interesting facts about military veterans working in our organization.

  • Fred Astaire Dance Studios has employed military veterans as studio managers with amazing success. These veterans generally had little to no experience with dance when they started with our program and now are some of the most successful managers in our organization.
  • On average successful dance studio managers earn a very competitive salary.
  • The program for veterans interested in this opportunity generally takes 3 to 4 years to move from instructor to manager.
  • Fred Astaire Dance Studios has a very successful program for managers to move onto franchise ownership, many owning multiple studios.
  • Fred Astaire Owners make six figure incomes.
  • For those who have the money to invest and who want to own their own business then they could have that opportunity in just one year.

Military veterans have done very well in the Fred Astaire Dance Studio organization, some owning multiple studio locations and enjoying a very successful long-term career.

FMI is proud to partner with Fred Astaire Dance Studios and Dancing With Our Heroes. To date we have raised more than $250,000 for wounded warriors and The Fisher House. This is an amazing program you will have the opportunity to work directly with as a member of the Fred Astaire Dance Studios programs.

Fred Astiare offers Studio Employment Opportunities. These studio employment opportunities offer the possibility of unlimited opportunity for career growth. 85% of current Fred Astiare studio owners began as teachers. Those with the skills and abilities often open a franchise within five years of starting with the company. This is possible due to the Conceptual Method of Teaching that Fred Astaire studios use combined with continuous training opportunities. Fred Astaire Studios provides everything a person needs to be a successful studio owner.

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Fred Astaire Dance Studios has a successful 60+ year tradition and a world recognized brand identified with dance excellence. There are over 150 studios across the U.S. , Europe, and Africa. Fred Astaire Dance Studios offers:

* Educational seminars (financial and business)
* Video training series on management topics
* Detailed and extensive dance curriculum
* Quality teacher certification
* Financial computer programs
* Marketing tools
* Unique method of tracking student progress
* Instant trade name recognition

Leadership Training

Fred Astaire Leadership Training Event hosted by Forward March Inc.

You owe it to yourself to learn about this career opportunity today!

FMI guarantees you the peace of mind knowing that your resume will be delivered to and reviewed by our partner companies. Please make sure that if you find positions we list that you are interested in you contact us as soon as possible, we look forward to hearing from you!

To learn more about this exciting opportunity head over to our website…click here.

Hiring Veterans Feel – Good Lip Service or a True Call to Action?

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Many employers want to hire veterans, its a much smaller number that successfully employ veterans in meaningful careers.

Here at Forward March, Incorporated, we have seen the headlines among many media outlets that company XYZ has agreed to hire veterans. The stories provide captivating pictures of CEOs directing their hiring manager to bring veterans into the organization. These companies really and truly care about our nation’s veterans but, for many not much happens after the cameras are turned off.

After the dust of the media hype settles, human resource departments, for a variety of reasons, continue to pass over Resumes that indicate prior military service.   Those outstanding and more than qualified applicants are not even called in for an interview. The rate of veteran unemployment still hovers well above that of the civilian population.

One of the many reasons veteran hiring still remains low is the fact that misconception runs rampant across corporate America about our nation’s treasures. Many hiring managers have unfounded concerns about Post Traumatic Stress or other combat related injuries. There are concerns over skills translation and how an infantryman might fit into a management position. Many hiring managers feel that serving in the military makes one too rigid and unable to deal with change. The list goes on and on, but the bottom line is, today’s military is the most educated, technologically advanced, disciplined, and adaptable military in the world. The skills and attributes veterans bring to the table are immeasurable. All they need is the opportunity to shine.

Syracuse University’s Institute for Veterans Military Families study, The Business Case for Hiring a Veteran, Beyond the Clichés, looks past the myths and lays out a compelling argument on why organizations should welcome veterans with open arms.   According to the study, “Academic research from the fields of business, psychology, sociology, and decision-making strongly links characteristics that are generally representative of military veterans to enhanced performance and organizational advantage in the context of a competitive and dynamic business environment”.   In other words, veterans bring an immeasurable value to an organization through the applied use of leadership, trust, adaptability, and an unmatched entrepreneurial spirit.

Another reason veteran hiring is falling behind, is that talk is really is cheap. It’s one thing to stand and proudly say, “We will hire veterans”; it’s another thing altogether to roll up the sleeves and work on a serious commitment to make it happen. The bottom line; it does not happen without a plan.   The plan starts at the top with the CEO’s vision for supporting veterans. From there, hiring managers must develop a specific, measurable, and achievable veteran hiring strategy. The third piece is to train and resource recruiters to go after the veteran population with managers tracking progress through various matrices and making adjustments every step of the way. The second and third pieces of this initiative are where many companies fail to meet their commitment. Developing a veteran hiring strategy and training resource recruiters is not a task which is easy for a company to do without outside help.

Veterans and military members say what they mean and mean what they say. Unfortunately, we can’t always expect the same from corporate America. Good intentions do not change anything, but a well-executed plan does. Fortunately Forward March Inc. can show your organization how to tackle negative misconceptions and how to execute a veteran hiring strategy. Through our Military Hiring 101 training, we will support your organization in developing a successul plan to find the right veterans, with the right skill sets, at the right time. With over 35 years of collective experience bringing veterans and companies together we can train your resource recruiters to find and engage the veteran population. We are in the business of building winning teams and we will do the same for you. Talk to us about our veteran talent pipeline services. We offer solutions that are customized to your company or organization and are scalable to ensure you meet your objectives.

~ Article written by Jason Caswell, Forward March Inc – Director of Training and Talent Pipeline Services

Franchising Workshop for Veterans

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Bring your lunch and learn the basics of franchising and other resources for veterans. SBA representative will provide information on how you can benefit from the SBA full range of programs and special initiatives designed to help local veterans.
When:    September 23, 2014
Time: 12:00 PM – 1:30 PM
Location: Entrepreneurial Center – Training Room, Entrepreneur Center of Austin, 4029 South Capital of Texas Highway #110, Austin, TX 78704
Fee: Free
For Information: 512-974-7800  MUST REGISTER!
Intro to Franchise
Want to be your own boss, but aren’t willing to take on the risk of starting your own business from scratch? Franchising may be an alternative if you are an entrepreneur with limited resources or business experience. Join this educational business seminar and know the facts about starting a franchise.
Instructor: Annie Hudspeth, SBA representative, Lender Relations Specialist U.S. SBA – San Antonio District Office
Date: 09/25/2014
Time: 11:30 a.m. – 1:30 p.m.
Location:
                  BiGAUSTIN WBC Business and Technology Center
                  5407 North IH 35 Suite 200 Austin, TX 78723
Located in Capital Plaza shopping center – Chase Bank building – 2nd floor.

Leadership Training with a Military Flair!

Leaders create the standard, enforce and execute the standard - Lead by example.

Leaders create the standard, enforce and execute the standard – Lead by example.

Leadership Development

Leader development refers to enhancing leadership effectiveness, both at the individual and organization as a whole. Leadership development activities range from MBA style programs offered at university business schools to action learning, high-ropes courses and executive retreats.

Traditionally, leadership development has focused on developing the leadership abilities and attitudes of individuals. Just as people are not all born with the ability or desire to play sports, not all people are natural born leaders. Different personal traits and characteristics can help or hinder a person’s leadership effectiveness and require formalized programs for developing leadership competencies. Everyone can develop his or her leadership effectiveness which takes focus, practice and persistence more akin to learning a musical instrument than reading a book.

Classroom-style training and associated reading is effective in helping leaders to know more about what is involved in leading well. However, knowing what to do and doing what you know are two very different outcomes. It is estimated that as little as 15% of learning from traditional classroom style training results in sustained behavioral change within the workplace.

Training For Results

Changing the behavior for maximum performance. We work collaboratively with your management team to increase your bottom line by increasing productivity while building an environment, beginning with a mindset which flows to an organizational mindset to set a new standard of excellence. Our team has extensive experience in training and development, workflow analysis, change management, leadership, and performance management. We’re ready to assist your organization in assessing goals and aligning behaviors to meet those goals.

We offer varied types of training courses tailored around your needs, ranging from one-on-one professional coaching to on-site group training, some that bring a “boot-camp” level of training style with a fun flair. Please refer to our program page to find out the best program for you.

Transformation

Developing a mission-focused mindset at all levels beginning with Leadership of team and the members of the team, aligning its energy to work together. Transformation of a team involves re-energized sense of purpose, identify, and performance of team members through a variety of proven mechanisms. These include aligning a team member’s identity (self) to the mission and the collective identity of the organization. Leaders serve as role models and catalysts for change, challenging members to take greater ownership for their work, and understanding the strengths and weaknesses of the team to better align efforts, tasks, and enhance operational performance.

Performance

Out performing your competitor while increasing the bottom line profit! Your team will out perform by its more effective leadership and teams who execute with precision, understanding their role and that of the team. We will change your organization’s mindset to work smarter and by leveraging the strengths (both seen and yet to be seen) of their team. An organization often has the skills, talents, and competencies it needs to push a higher lever of performance, and doesn’t have to look outside its walls to get what it already has within them.

Execution

Learn how to execute the mission effectively while building team cohesiveness and assigning tasks with clarity of role and expectation, including overcoming unexpected obstacles. Making the decision to execute and the act of execution itself is where most companies lose its competitive edge (and sliding profit margin). Turn your business intentions into action — the right action! This business essential concept is the way that increases your bottom line — it‘s completing the mission!

Motivation

Starts from the top of the organization! The mindset to change and develop your team will be the driving force to complete the mission. How do you get your team rallied around your mission and have the right attitude to embrace your new motivation and renewed commitment? Create the higher standard of excellence while changing the lives of your team and those they come into contact with, most often their colleagues and customers/clients.

Values

Core values are the guiding principles of your organization and its leaders which become a visible part of how you operate and are interwoven throughout every interaction and every member of your team. Teams with operating values and those that do not will both have visible signs of this within their organization.

We want to help find out the values of your organization to help facilitate incorporating these into your team’s foundation — your culture. Too often, companies do not spend enough time setting their values in motion, which become the influencing “force” behind all of its dealings and relationships. Values (or lack thereof) may be the root cause behind employees and organizations not reaching their full potential.

We grow leaders, organizations and bottom line like no other!

Contact Forward March Inc today!

 

Talent Pipeline Vs. Staffing

Forward March Inc Military Talent Pipeline Services - Affordable, Customized, Scalable

Forward March Inc Military Talent Pipeline Services – Affordable, Customized, Scalable

America’s military is the most educated, best trained, and highly motivated fighting force the world has ever seen. Those men and women transitioning from the military are a great national resource who can make a huge difference to any organization that has dedicated itself to hiring outstanding military veterans.

At Forward March Incorporated, we understand the true value of those who have served and we are dedicated to teaching companies how to attract, hire, and retain high quality veteran employees. While we are not a staffing company, one of the many ways we accomplish this is through military pipeline development.

So what’s the difference between staffing and a talent pipeline?

Staffing is the process of recruiting and hiring personnel with a specific set of skill sets, for a specific position within an organization. Doing this requires a dedicated team of recruiters and hiring managers who understand the exact and immediate hiring needs of the company.

For the most part, organizations do a good job of filling positions as new requirements open up, but forecasting staffing requirements proves far more difficult. It’s not always clear what future staffing requirements will be down the road. Predicting future staffing requirements requires forward thinking on behalf of hiring managers. They must account for turnover, promotions, expansions, reductions, and a myriad of other factors that impact staffing needs.

Talent pipeline, on the other hand, provides companies with a pool of qualified candidates ready to fill critical positions as they become available. A robust talent pipeline ensures the right person is placed in the right position at the right time.

Utilizing a talent pipeline is a great way for organizations to adapt to changing staff needs. A talent pipeline allows recruiters to focus on the here and now, while giving hiring managers the peace of mind knowing that the candidate pool can be turned off and on as personnel needs evolve.

FMI’s unique approach to a military talent pipeline allows us to continuously sell your organization as a great place for veterans to work. Most important of all, FMI is committed to providing our talent services free of charge to the veteran work force. Regardless of your manpower needs, let FMI fill your organization with hard working, loyal, and well trained American veterans.

To learn more visit our website and contact us today! www.forwardmarchinc.com 

~ Article written by Jason Caswell, Forward March Inc – Director of Training and Talent Pipeline Services

Start a Great Medical Career in Florida!

Great medical careers in Florida!

Great medical careers in Florida!

Did you know that Forward March Inc. has great opportunities for a medical career in the state of Florida? These positions offer competitive salary and benefits and are available to veterans and non veterans alike.

The current positions we are seeking applicants for are:

FMI guarantees you the peace of mind knowing that your resume will be delivered to and reviewed by our partner companies. Please make sure that if you find positions we list that you are interested in you contact us as soon as possible, we look forward to hearing from you!

Contact us today, these positions will not last long!