Walmart announced it has hired 130,828 veterans since it announced its Veterans Welcome Home Commitment in May 2013*, including 3,387 in the State of South Carolina. Of those 130,828 veteran hires, 15,176 have been promoted to jobs with higher pay and greater responsibility, including 347 in South Carolina.
“I come from an extensive military family,” said Kenneth Swan, co-manager of the North Charleston Walmart Supercenter on Rivers Ave.” My grandfather, my father, my uncle and my brother all served in the military. When I graduated high school, I followed suit. I enjoyed meeting enthusiastic people from around the world and serving my country.”
“After my military life was over, I moved on to serve my customers at the world’s largest retail store, Walmart,” Swan added. “I am doing the same thing as far as meeting enthusiastic people from around the world and taking care of their needs. I am thankful for the opportunity to serve both my country and my customers.”
On Memorial Day 2013, Walmart introduced the Veterans Welcome Home Commitment, which guaranteed a job offer to any eligible, honorably discharged U.S. veteran who was within 12 months of active duty. The initial goal was to hire 100,000 veterans by the end of 2018. In May of 2015, Walmart announced the expansion of that original projection, with the goal of hiring 250,000 veterans by the end of 2020. Walmart has also changed the eligibility from within 12 months of active duty, to any veteran who has been honorably discharged since the announcement of the commitment in May 2013.
Despite unemployment among veterans being at its lowest in eight years, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, veterans from the Gulf War era continue to be under- or unemployed.
“As a veteran, I know how critical it is for our men and women in uniform to have a strong support structure when transitioning back to civilian life,” said Retired Brigadier General, Gary Profit, senior director of military programs for Walmart. “A job is an important part of that transition, and at Walmart, we’re proud to use our strengths as one of the nation’s largest employers to be a part of that bridge back home by providing meaningful opportunities to 3,387 veterans, and counting, in South Carolina to use their unique talent and skills. Veterans are among some of our strongest associates and we are pleased to see the growth and success they have achieved at Walmart.”
The Walmart Foundation’s Commitment to Veterans and Military Families
Beyond Walmart’s Veterans Welcome Home Commitment, the Walmart Foundation is also reinforcing its support for transitioning military members and their families with the announcement of $2.6 million in grants to nonprofit organizations that support veteran reintegration – The American GI Forum and Swords to Plowshares:
- Texas-based American GI Forum National Veterans Outreach Program, which stabilizes veterans through housing and job assistance among other services, will receive a $1 million grant for employment placement assistance.
- Swords to Plowshares will receive a $1.6 million grant to enhance innovative employment and training programs at the California Veterans Employment and Training Collaborative and the Texas Veterans Employment and Training Collaborative.
In addition, Walmart and the Walmart Foundation have supported veteran and military family-focused organizations in South Carolina over the last year, including:
- Support Military Spouses (Longs, S.C.) – $35,000 in 2015
For more information about Walmart’s Veterans Welcome Home Commitment, please visit: http://www.walmartcareerswithamission.com and follow @WalmartToday on Twitter.
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