Exchanges Worldwide to Hold Events Commemorating National Hire a Veteran Day
More than 70 Exchanges and distribution centers worldwide will hold events July 25 for National Hire a Veteran Day, which dovetails with the Exchange’s dedication to employing Veterans and coincides with the Exchange’s 128th anniversary.
According to the National Day Calendar website, Hire A Veteran Day was established in 2017. The Exchange’s commitment to hiring Veterans predates that by many years, but this will be the first year for Hire a Veteran Day events in stores.
“With historically low turnover over the last year, the team has been able to be more strategic in recruiting Veterans, military spouses and family members” said Wesley Abington, Chief of Employee Relations for CONUS, who asked teams to help with the initiative. “We’re taking the opportunity to host events on Hire a Veteran Day. Hiring Veterans is our core and it is only fitting that we take the opportunity, as an organization, to recognize and celebrate this day.”
The Exchange has hired more than 57,000 Veterans and military spouses since 2013 and has set a goal of reaching 75,000 hired by 2030. Military Times has named the Exchange a Best for Vets Employer for nine consecutive years. For the past three years, the Exchange’s commitment to supporting Veterans has earned it a 4-Star Employer Award from VETS Indexes.
Abington said that what individual locations do to commemorate National Veteran Hiring Day is up to them.
“Each Exchange has different needs, so it might be on the spot hiring/interviews; it could be a virtual event such as via Facebook Live, ” Abington said. “Whatever they want to do, I want us to acknowledge the day and really capitalize on it this year.”
He added that most stores will set up a table with a display, allowing interested customers to walk up and ask for information. Some teams might approach customers with brochures at the store entrance. HR field representatives and recruiters will anchor the events, possibly joined by general managers, main store managers or other members of the store teams. Distribution centers will also host events.
The Exchange’s social media team has also been promoting the event via posts on Facebook and LinkedIn.
Abington said that the team plans to make National Hire a Veteran Day an annual event for the Exchange, which was established on July 25, 1895.
“Typically, we’ve done a National Day of Hiring the beginning of fourth quarter,” he said. “Going forward, we are looking to have the National Day of Hiring the same day as National Hire a Vet Day.”
Send us your #HireAVeteranDay pictures! Email photos of you store’s event to exchangepost@aafes.com and socialmedia@aafes.com and we’ll put them in a special Flickr album.
