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Small Business and the Military Community

Adam Groff

July 23, 2014

When military members return home after serving the country, job placement is a top priority, which is where your small business comes into play.

Not only does offering a job to military service members help the economy, it also helps them start their civilian life off on the right foot.

With new beginnings in mind, here are just a few benefits of hiring veterans:

Natural Leadership

In the military, everyone is a leader in some capacity.

For your small business, hiring a veteran means you'll have someone on your team who is responsible, goal-oriented, and an inspiration to others.

Leadership qualities like these are a great influence to have in a working environment.

Team Spirit

Don't let the leadership role above fool you, because military service members are also teamwork experts.

Whether working with other soldiers on the field or with your staff to make sure your business runs smoothly, veterans thrive in a team environment.

In addition, veterans know the importance of using everyone's strengths to overcome weaknesses.

This means you'll have someone on your team who can get everyone on the same page and ready to tackle projects and other business objectives.

Fostering a Valued Member of Society

Making the transition from military life to civilian life is difficult for veterans, especially if they've served back-to-back for a long period of time.

But, providing veterans with work when they return home helps them earn a living, which is important considering the unemployment rate is 12% for veterans according to the Bureau of Labor statistics.

Likewise, as the following article shows, a job provides a steady stream of income, which makes everything from owning a home to making college courses accessible to military service members and veterans a possibility.

In other words, with a veteran on your team, you are gaining a valued employee while fostering a valued member of society. 

Expert Time Management Skills

Military personnel live by the clock and if you want an employee who completes tasks in a timely manner, then a veteran is the way to go. Meeting deadlines is one thing, but time management is a skill and talent that's hard to come by.

Veterans look at their work life as a game of chess where every move is calculated and timed.

Hiring a service member not only means you'll have a dependable employee, but also someone who will likely have insights into improving your small business's existing time management infrastructure.

Learning Ability

When it comes to hiring a new employee, someone who learns and catches on quickly is an asset.

Veterans are accustomed to taking orders, adapting to work environments, and learning rapidly. Hiring a veteran means you'll have someone on your team who is ready for the job at hand on the first day.

Business Incentives

All the benefits above aside, hiring a veteran could also lead to significant tax incentives for your small business.

Through the Vow to Hire Heroes Act, businesses that hire veterans are eligible for a number of tax credits depending on the service member's military background. This, of course, isn't the only reason to hire a veteran, but it's definitely another benefit for your small business.

With an influx of military service members returning home from active duty, hiring veterans is just one way your small business can say thanks.

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