After leaving the military, joining the workforce is an important part of the transition to civilian life for veterans. Among national economic policy issues, the majority (95%) of veterans surveyed supported investments in skills and technical training, according to a 2019 report by ALG Research, on behalf of the National Skills Coalition.

The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) offers a program, Veteran Employment Through Technology Education Courses (VET TEC), which helps veterans develop high-tech skills for in-demand jobs. However, the VA announced Nov. 5 that VET TEC has run out of funds and may not return until its funding is replenished in October 2021.

Companies that hire veterans, however, can provide tech training and pathways for career development. Leaders at Accenture and PepsiCo shared with HR Dive how their organizations are meeting the challenge and creating inclusive environments for veterans in the professional services and food and beverage industries.

A smooth transition

In 2015, Accenture set a goal to hire 5,000 veterans by the end of 2020, Kate Hogan, chief operating officer, North America at Accenture, told HR Dive in an email. The company, which has ranked on Military Times' best employers for vets list for eight consecutive years, met its goal ahead of time, Hogan said. Through several partnerships, the company provided veterans with upskilling opportunities.  For example, in 2016, Accenture began supporting NS2 Serves, a nonprofit founded by SAP National Security Services Inc., to train veterans for high-tech careers at no charge. This move helped Accenture expand its hiring of veterans, according to the company.

[for the remainder of this article, please visit HR Dive]