On March 15, 2013, MSJDN Vice President Rachel Winkler hosted a table to connect with military spouse attorneys attending the most recent Hiring our Heroes event in Washington, D.C. The U.S. Chamber’s Hiring Our Heroes (HOH) program is helping veterans and military spouses by hosting job fairs all over the country and educating employers that veterans and spouses make for quality, skilled new hires.

In the past two years, Hiring our Heroes has hosted over 437 hiring fairs in 50 states. MSJDN is proud to be a partner in HOH’s efforts, and we congratulate the U.S. Chamber of Commerce and especially MSJDN Board Member Laura Demsey on her hard work as Director of Spouse Employment for HOH.

In more spouse employment news, First Lady Michelle Obama challenged America’s top CEOs to “think outside the box” and hire more veterans and military spouses:

“These men and women, our veterans and military spouses, have seen it all.  And in the process, they have gained the types of qualities and values that you simply can’t teach anywhere else –- a relentless commitment to excellence, the ability to juggle multiple priorities, the wherewithal to meet deadlines under every circumstance imaginable. 

They know how to develop and execute complex strategic plans, and they don’t give up until their mission is complete.  And when the pressure is highest, that’s when our veterans and military spouses are at their best.”

Recent corporate commitments include Wal-Mart’s promise to hire more than 100,000 veterans over the next five years and UPS’s commitment to hire 25,000 veterans and to serve more than 25,000 employee volunteer hours helping veterans and Veterans Service Organizations.