White House Initiative Spurs Coalition Of Companies To Hire 25,000 Veterans, Spouses

[bigtree]

October 19, 2011

WASHINGTON — A coalition of packaged goods companies has pledged to hire 25,000 veterans and military spouses over the next two years as part of White House initiatives to aid military families.

If completed, the massive hiring effort would supply one-fourth of the goal of 100,000 new veteran and military spouse jobs by 2014 set by President Barack Obama in August. It could also provide a major boost to unemployment numbers among young veterans, a population that has had prolonged difficulties finding postmilitary careers.

Obama and first lady Michelle Obama will make the formal announcement of the jobs pledge Wednesday at Joint Base Langley-Eustis in Virginia, as part of the White House’s bus tour promoting a package of job creation initiatives. The companies making the pledge are members of the American Logistics Association, which includes 270 manufacturers such as Tyson Foods, Coca-Cola, Unilever and ConAgra.

The jobs also are being promoted as part of the first lady’s Joining Forces campaign, a broad effort of publicity spots and community outreach deigned to highlight the sacrifices of military families.

In a statement, Michelle Obama said the companies are turning toward veterans and military spouses “not just because it’s the right thing to do or the patriotic thing to do. They’re doing it because it’s good for their bottom line. They know that these veterans and military spouses represent the best, and they want them on their team.”


read more: http://www.stripes.com/news/veterans/coalition-of-companies-vows-to-hire-25-000-veterans-spouses-1.158141

[Scuba]

1. 'Bout time. n/t

[bigtree]

2. .