Those in the Veteran Hiring space are likely aware that the Veteran Jobs Mission (VJM) is the elite coalition spearheaded by JPMorgan Chase that highlights best practices for hiring military veterans across the United States. For organizations to become a part of the coalition they must have a proven veteran recruiting strategy, a determination to increase their veteran hiring numbers and the ability to showcase their retention techniques. The coalition bands together to share strategies, success stories and lessons learned. With the world’s largest military membership audience and an unparalleled resource for transition assistance and veteran employment, Military.com is honored to serve as a veteran employment advisor for this coalition.
When Jason Wright was hired into the VJM to help spearhead veteran employment initiatives for the coalition, we jumped at the opportunity to interview him and highlight the wealth of information he brings to the table as a prior Army Infantry Officer.
Military.com: What is your military background?
Jason Wright: On active duty I was an Infantry officer, serving as a platoon leader, executive officer and in operations. I am now in the Army Reserve as a military intelligence officer and I completed company command earlier this year and moved to staff.
Why did you join the military?
My family has a history of military service. Multiple family members served in WWII and Vietnam. My cousin’s son recently joined the Air Force, so I was glad to see that we have kept the tradition going.
What is your current role?
I support veteran employment initiatives on the Military and Veteran Affairs team at JPMorgan Chase.
How did you end up in this position?
I have two friends from the Army at JPMorgan Chase who referred me for the position. Fortunately the team found I was a good fit and I was able to join.
Why were you interested in this position?
I, along with most of my former Army peers, have all separated within the last two years, so veteran transition is still very relevant to me. This position with JPMorgan Chase focused on helping veterans. [This] affords me a great opportunity to contribute to the often challenging process of transitioning from the service to the civilian workforce, where I’m lucky to assist both employers and veterans.
What is the goal of the Veteran Jobs Mission?
The Veteran Jobs Mission was founded in 2011 by 11 companies with a goal to hire 100,000 veterans by 2020. The [original] 100,000 Jobs Mission far exceeded expectations and met this goal in less than one year. We’ve since increased the goal to hire one million veterans by 2020, and the coalition has currently has more than 235 members with more than 400,000 veteran hires.
As our efforts continue, the Veteran Jobs Mission is committed to a comprehensive strategy focused not only on hiring but on supporting service member transition, recruiting, integration and retention, as well as business and employee resource groups.
Where do you hope to take the Mission in the future?
Our goal is to continue to grow the coalition and our collaborative efforts of corporate mentorship with other employers who share the commitment to integrating veterans into the fabric of their organizations.
One million service members are forecasted to separate from the military over the next five years. It remains critical that we continue to learn from our best practices to support further career development and successful transition into the workforce.
Military.com aids in vetting companies in the coalition, meaning we can advise on best practices, etc. since we have a pulse on programs across the nation. How do you envision Military.com helping you with growth?
Military.com offers a wide range of support to service members and their families. I remember doing research on Military.com when I joined the Army and then researching resources when I was transitioning.
Military.com continues to be a strong resource for our coalition employers to utilize in support of their organizational veteran hiring initiatives. We hope Military.com will continue to attend our national meetings to help educate coalition partners on some of the latest trends within the veteran talent acquisition space!
