I want to say something up front, just in case you don’t read the whole post today.

HIRE WOUNDED WARRIORS!

If this topic seems not applicable, and especially if the topic of this post turns you off, then please read it anyway.

We write a lot about hiring veterans on this blog, largely because that is one of the main aspects of our company business – helping companies find, hire and retain high quality military talent. We, as a company of veterans, are very passionate about helping veterans attain meaningful careers instead of just getting a j-o-b. Hiring wounded warriors is something close to our heart and something we encourage our customers to make part of their recruiting strategy.

We were recently talking with a manufacturing company owner who hires veterans and wounded warriors. During the conversation he revealed that a number of companies he has had dealings with said that they did not want to hire wounded warriors because they did not want to look at them. When I heard this I almost fell out of my chair.

I am a mid 40s hard working American. I served my country in the US Army and then went to college, started a family, and went on to live the American dream. When I was a kid I thought naively that that everyone had an equal shot at achieving their dreams. My parents were hard working Americans who taught me that things such as race, religion, sex, and disabilities were not things that another person should be judged by. Nor should they be things that should hold them back from achieving their dreams. The reality that we live in a 21^st century America where some people would have such prejudice against our nation’s heroes who are wounded warriors is nothing short of appalling.

As a nation we have struggled with equal rights for people with regards to race, religion, sex, and disabilities. It is arguable that we still struggle mightily on these issues. The vast majority of Americans firmly believe that these issues should be addressed and people should be treated with fairness, dignity and respect. I want to believe that the companies that would refuse a wounded warrior a job because it was out of their “comfort zone” to do so are few and far between. I want to believe that but when stories like this come across my desk I have to wonder.

Army veteran and wounded warrior JP Lane playing music on the Maui Warrior Appreciation Vacation.

It is not easy to deal with any issue outside your comfort zone and company decision makers have this to contend with just like the rest of us. However, part of moving our nation forward has been the desire of the vast majority of us to treat all people with equality, with fairness, with dignity and with respect. I would like to take this time to ask those decision makers within companies and organizations to really take a good hard look at their hiring practices and address this issue. A man or woman who has given their service to their nation and subsequently been wounded should NEVER be denied employment just because it is outside someone’s comfort zone.

There are a lot of moving parts when it comes to hiring and developing hiring and recruiting strategies for companies and organizations. Many companies find it difficult to navigate the landscape and find, attract and hire high quality military talent. Many more companies find it difficult to retain veteran talent. The wounded warrior component can seem a daunting task for a company to take on in their recruiting process as well as in their operational environment. Forward March Inc. has experience in helping companies and organizations navigate these waters and attain the high quality military talent they need to have a vibrant, energetic, and DIVERSE work environment. We have the ability to help your organization find the right talent with the right experience at the right time. If you are serious about hiring veterans, and if you are serious about hiring wounded warriors give us a call today. Even if you never use our services we encourage you to develop a veteran recruiting program that includes hiring wounded warriors.

The fine men and women of Forward March Inc. salute all employers who hire veterans, especially the ones who hire wounded warriors!

~ Article by Tobin Pilotte, Directer of Marketing and Technology. 

Its Friday again, so break out those red shirts! R.E.D. Friday is here so remember everyone deployed!

Learn more about RED Fridays:

http://redshirtfridays.org/  

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Support_our_troops

https://www.facebook.com/pages/Support-Our-Troops-Wear-Red-Fridays/188809874489323