Duke Veteran Transitions Research Lab reposted this
I spent the past two days back at USAA headquarters attending the Veteran and Military Spouse Employment Advisory Council meetings organized by Hiring Our Heroes, and in the company of committed VSO and employer partners. Collaboration is great, but honesty among partners is better. What I appreciated most was how real the conversations were. We didn’t shy away from the hard truths: ⚠️ Military spouses still face systemic barriers to meaningful employment ⚠️ Transitioning service members and veterans still navigate a fragmented, inconsistent pathway to civilian careers ⚠️ Employers still struggle to translate military experience into workforce value We didn’t solve all the problems, but we did talk openly about what’s working, what’s not, and where continued investment and “art of the possible” thinking and exploration is needed. The level of alignment and urgency feels different right now, and so does the willingness to experiment, partner, and build differently. It was a highlight to be together in person with our Veteran Employment Collective partners across Hire Heroes USA, Hiring Our Heroes, FourBlock, America's Warrior Partnership, NextOp Veterans, and VetJobs. Thanks to Danielle Lankford for bringing us all together, and thanks to the many friendly faces that made my return to the USAA campus feel so welcoming. David Evetts, Rodney T., CPM, CCMP,ICYB, POPM, Christopher Flores SPHR, US Army, Ret. Steve L Miller Laura Propp