(NAPSI)—After serving their country, many veterans face another kind of battle when they return home—the struggle to find a job.

According to the latest data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the unemployment rate for recently returned veterans is more than 12 percent.

Fortunately, some of our nation’s companies are making an extra effort to support veterans and help them find work.

For example, Walmart has made a five-year, $20 million commitment to the military and veteran communities to address the critical needs of our nation’s heroes, with a special emphasis on access to job training and careers.

A recent two-year, $750,000 grant to Veterans Green Jobs will help provide hands-on experience and educational opportunities to veteran green-job seekers, as well as job placement, preparation and training.

“The idea that our nation’s heroes are being forced to transition from the front lines to the unemployment line is one of the worst realities we can imagine,” said retired U.S. Army Brigadier General Gary Profit, senior director of military programs at Walmart. “We want to help ensure our veterans have the support they need and the career opportunities they deserve.”

The company is a lead sponsor of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce’s “Hiring our Heroes” job fairs, helping to put on more than 100 job fairs where employers have the opportunity to recruit veterans and those transitioning out of the military. To date, nearly 45,000 veterans have been connected to job opportunities.

The company also recently launched www.walmartcareers withamission.com, an innovative resource that helps transitioning military and veterans match their skills to careers within the company.

The Walmart Military Family Promise guarantees a job at a nearby store or club for all military personnel and military spouses employed at Walmart and Sam’s Club who move to a different part of the country because they or their spouse has been transferred by the U.S. military. The program also ensures that associates called away to active military duty will be paid any difference in their salary if the associate is earning less money during his or her military assignment.

For more information, visit www.walmartcareerswithamission.com.

 

On the Net:North American Precis Syndicate(NAPSI)