Transitioning from military service into civilian life poses a number of challenges, not the least of which is finding a job. The Department of Defense (DOD) has placed a heavy emphasis on making this process a bit easier, and one of its latest efforts is Hero 2 Hired, a website launched in 2011 that provides a place for job seekers to post their resumes for prospective employers, Army News Service reports.
Since its inception by the Office of the Secretary of Defense for Reserve Affairs, the website has been a popular tool. An estimated 109,000 soldiers have made use of the site, while more than 12,000 employers have visited to look for potential employees. Col. Rob Yost, director of Transition Strategic Outreach, says that the website can help highlight the many skills soldiers develop during their time in the military.
"In the infantry [and in other military occupational specialties], soldiers learn the value of teamwork, know how to lead a group and value mission accomplishment," he told the news source. "These are highly sought-after skills in corporate America."
Hire 2 Heroes is one of many initiatives meant to help bring down the unemployment rate among post-9/11 veterans, and several of them have paid off. However, the rate still sits at 9.6 percent – more than 1.5 percent higher than the civilian population.