Veterans and employers alike will soon get a preview of what the future of veteran employment will look like – or at least at the initiative that aims to help shape the landscape of veteran employment.
The United States Department of Labor has announced a demonstration of the HIRE Vets Medallion Program.
The demonstration will recognize up to 300 employers from around the country for their investments in recruiting, hiring, training and retaining military veterans. The purpose of the demonstration is to raise awareness for the launch of the full HIRE Vets Medallion Program in 2019.
The program will recognize small, medium and large employers at the platinum or gold level, depending on how they meet the required criteria. The criteria by which employers will be judged is based on the the requirements of the HIRE Vets Act signed by President Trump in May 2017.
By using the same criteria as the full HIRE Vets Medallion Program employers will be able to fully prepare for the medallion award application when the program is officially launched in 2019.
Employers wanting to participate in the program demonstration can do so by applying at www.hirevets.gov on Jan. 31, 2018. There is no application fee for the demonstration round, which will be limited to the first 300 employers that apply across the three levels (small, medium and large businesses).
Employers with at least one employee are eligible to apply, and those employers who participate in the demonstration program will still be eligible to participate in the full program in 2019.
“Military service develops leadership skills, technical expertise, and problem-solving capabilities — all in demand by America’s companies,” said U.S. Secretary of Labor Alexander Acosta. “The HIRE Vets Medallion Program provides a tremendous opportunity for employers to recruit talented veterans and demonstrate support for those who have sacrificed so much for their country.”
The award is meant to give veterans peace of mind when considering a place of employment, knowing that the company cares about and invests in veterans.