The Department of Labor hosted its virtual 2021 HIRE Vets Medallion Awards Ceremony on Wednesday to recognize businesses that hire veterans while maintaining high standards from the department.
During the event, three businesses each had a representative speak on their contributions to the veteran community by hiring a spectrum of veterans.
“Congratulations to this year’s 849 HIRE Vets Medallion Award recipients,” the Veterans' Employment and Training Service wrote on Twitter. “These employers have met rigorous employment and veteran integration assistance criteria.”
One of these representatives was Michael Kelly, assistant vice president of Military Affairs for the USAA (who was one of the 150 businesses who’ve received this award three times in a row). When asked how being a recipient benefits veterans and the USAA, he said the business wants others to hire veterans because of the skills they’ve developed while serving.
“At USSA, we look at it as an (Employee Resource Group]), not a diversity business group because of who we serve, the military community, we feel that any activity that a diversity business group does whether it’s our BOLD group for LGBT or our Alante for Hispanic employees, we always put that military flavor over top of all of those type of activities because we want the entire enterprise to know what it means to serve,” Kelly said. “I mean, who better to serve our members, 13 million members, than those who have worn a uniform, (and) who have walked in their shoes.”
Martin Walsh, U.S. secretary of Labor, ask questions of the business representatives during the event. He mentioned he spoke at the Pentagon the day before the event and that retention was a critical goal.
“This is an important program to me,” Walsh said. “ Every year, (approximately) 200,000 men and women transition from American military service into civilian life. They’re diverse, (and) our veterans look like America.”
With this award, the Department of Labor has now awarded the HIRE Vets Medallion to more than 1,400 businesses that have attracted, recruited, and retained veterans.
“Some call it that this transition is a smart business decision to hire, retain and support veterans,” said SEAC Ramón Colón-López, senior enlisted adviser to the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. “I wouldn’t call it smart. I would call it the right thing to do.”
On November 10, the U.S. Department of Labor awarded the 2021 Honoring Investments in Recruiting and Employing (HIRE) American Military Veterans Medallion Award to 849 employers.
The award ceremony was held online.
