Secretary Shinseki to the Private Sector: Hire our Veterans

This week, VA Secretary Eric Shinseki met with National Franchise business leaders in Atlanta to

promote Veteran employment. The effort was the part of the Obama Administration’s Joining Forces

Initiative, which aims for a simple yet important goal: To connect our Veterans and their families with

meaningful employment.

Secretary Shinseki talked about a win for everyone involved; a win for employers that receive great,

disciplined, and hardworking employees and Veterans, who have the ability to achieve their goals out of

uniform.

It’s all part of a plan to support Veterans, as the President said in the State of the Union, “so that America

is as strong as those who defend her.”

The International Franchise Association has pledged to hire and recruit 75,000 Veterans and their

spouses by 2014. With the example they set, I hope it’s a trend that continues across America.

Secretary Shinseki has made a strong case for Veterans in the workplace. “They make exceptional

employees and business leaders,” he told the collection of business leaders in Atlanta. “Let’s hire them.

Let’s find them work.”