Veteran Skills Translate to Private Sector in Many Ways

By Sara Slettebo
Military veterans have many ways to benefit your business. They have extensive skills and offer a broad spectrum of experience. Not only are they
trained to fight for our country, but they are also trained for individual job responsibilities that translate well into the private sector.
Here are five ways veterans can be a good fit for your business:
40+ Occupation Groups
Across all branches of the military, there are more than 40 occupational groups. These range from accounting to transportation, with military occupational groups aligning with almost every civilian business. There are occupational groups for administration positions, supply and logistics, information technology, and many more. Many military members also receive training in various medical and dental occupations, and veterinary fields as part of their military career.
2100+ Job Categories
There are more than 2,100 jobs available to members of the U.S. Navy, Army, Marine Corps or Air Force. These jobs sometimes can have military occupation codes associated with them, or include military terminology, but all jobs can be related to a civilian counterpart. Finding the precise military job(s) applicable to your company is easy. There are several tools used to help businesses find the right candidates. AVFE’s proprietary VAST Database allows searching by keyword, business area or certification level, as well as other criteria.
Technical and Managerial Fields
Military jobs are categorized into either technical or managerial fields, or (in some cases of senior enlisted personnel and non-commissioned officers), they can be both. As a general rule of thumb, the enlisted ranks tend to be more technical in nature with leadership experience gained by progressing through the ranks. Officer ranks are more management based throughout their careers. Most jobs in the military have both a technical and managerial aspect and would be advantageous to any company.
Leadership and Ethics
Military personnel receive an abundance of leadership and ethics training. No matter the rank or rate, service members are taught the importance of sound leadership and solid ethics from the first day of boot camp. They continue to ‘practice’ their leadership as service members earn promotions. Ethics play a large part in all aspects of being in the military. With their leadership experience and firm ethical foundation, veterans would be an asset for any company.
Can-Do Attitudes
Many times in the military, soldiers and sailors are given a mission or goal, which seems insurmountable, but they are able to achieve it through hard work and never giving up. Military members have positive attitudes that can help any business accomplish their goals.
There are talented, experienced and waiting to become a member of your team, so hire one today!
Source: Association of Veteran Friendly Employers