The definitive guide to hiring and retaining members of the military community by the foremost authority on the transition from military to civilian work life. "Having led the veteran hiring programs at multiple Fortune 100 companies, I can personally attest to the value of the process Matt has laid out in this book. If you or your business leaders seek to leverage the skills and abilities of this nation's military service members, Hiring Veterans is your guide." --Sean Passmore, Head of Military Talent Strategic Sourcing and Enterprise Military and Veteran Initiatives, Wells Fargo Bank, N.A. Hiring Veterans makes the clear case for the value of employing members of today's military community. Veterans represent a real-time talent pool of experienced, trained, and dedicated professionals that, when properly harnessed, comprise an instant means of improving your competitiveness and productivity. Case studies of organizations both large and small clearly demonstrate how leveraging a veteran talent-based strategy is a business imperative resulting in organizational growth. Hiring Veterans covers important topics such as how to successfully: Organize and staff a veteran support program Identify and recruit candidates Onboard, deploy, and retain veteran hires Capitalize on financial incentives for veteran employment Apply for military-friendly recognition programs Comply with regulations impacting veteran employment Hiring Veterans is a practical guide for prospective employers who want to hire veterans. It addresses this primary question: How can employers better prepare for and employ transitioning service members to improve the productivity and competitiveness of their organizations? "This book helps give employers the practical tools they need to hire and retain our well-qualified veterans and fully utilize the skills they acquired while serving in the Armed Forces. From leadership and work ethic to managing diverse teams in high-stress environments, our veterans bring to the workforce capabilities that can ultimately prove invaluable to an organization." --COL Brad Wenstrup, USAR, Member of Congress

Approximately 4 million U.S. service members took part in the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq. Shortly after troops started returning from their deployments, some active-duty service members and veterans began experiencing mental health problems. Given the stressors associated with war, it is not surprising that some service members developed such mental health conditions as posttraumatic stress disorder, depression, and substance use disorder. Subsequent epidemiologic studies conducted on military and veteran populations that served in the operations in Afghanistan and Iraq provided scientific evidence that those who fought were in fact being diagnosed with mental illnesses and experiencing mental healthâ€"related outcomesâ€"in particular, suicideâ€"at a higher rate than the general population. This report provides a comprehensive assessment of the quality, capacity, and access to mental health care services for veterans who served in the Armed Forces in Operation Enduring Freedom/Operation Iraqi Freedom/Operation New Dawn. It includes an analysis of not only the quality and capacity of mental health care services within the Department of Veterans Affairs, but also barriers faced by patients in utilizing those services.