by Mitch Coopes, Government Relations Senior Specialist, Goodwill Industries International
Veterans Day is a time to reflect on the service and sacrifices of our nation’s veterans and military family members. President Joe Biden recently signed a proclamation designating November as National Veterans and Military Families Month. “To those who serve and those that serve alongside them — their families and caregivers — we owe a debt we can never fully repay,” said Biden. “We as a nation have a sacred obligation to properly equip and prepare our troops when we send them in to harm’s way and to support them and their families, both while they are deployed and when they return home.”
The Biden Administration has committed to implementing a whole-of-government approach to respond to the needs of veterans and military families. The Joining Forces initiative, led by First Lady Jill Biden, was launched by the White House to better support families of servicemembers and veterans through resources and public policies, and engage with government entities, community-based organizations, employers, and other stakeholders to promote military family health and wellbeing, military child education, and employment and entrepreneurship opportunities for military spouses.
Occupational skills and professional experience gained through military service are beneficial to both veterans and employers. However, veterans can struggle with transferring their skills to new career opportunities in the civilian workforce. Military spouses are also confronted with their own career and life challenges, such as frequent relocations, extended periods of unemployment, and the added financial and emotional strains of their servicemember’s deployments.
In 2020, the services across Goodwill organizations helped almost 70,000 veterans and people from military families with career assessments, planning and coaching, résumé prep, housing assistance, and other support services to help launch their post-service lives. Goodwill is committed to promoting high-quality career opportunities for veterans and military family members, while helping to alleviate barriers to economic success for those who have sacrificed in service to their country.
Goodwill is also working to advance policy solutions that will help improve employment outcomes for veterans and military spouses; empower women veterans, veterans with disabilities, justice-involved veterans, and other special veteran populations to achieve career success; and bolster holistic programs for veterans and military family members offered by community-based organizations. Take time this month to recognize the service of veterans and their families by becoming an advocate for veteran-serving programs at your local Goodwill.
