OPERATION HIRE: MARYLAND’S 100 DAY VETERAN HIRING CHALLENGE BEGINS

Governor O’Malley and Lt. Governor Brown announce statewide campaign to support veteran employment

ANNAPOLIS, MD – In keeping with the commitment to support veteran employment, Governor O’Malley and Lt. Governor Brown announced the start of Operation Hire: Maryland’s 100 Day Veteran Hiring Challenge, a statewide campaign encouraging employers to hire Maryland veterans. Operation Hire will complement the supportive services already in place for veterans who are seeking employment across the State.

“Veterans bring remarkable skill sets and qualities to our civilian work environment. They display fierce loyalties and commitment, a strong work ethic, excellent problem solving capabilities, and technical training,” said Governor Martin O’Malley. “Supporting veteran employment is not only good for our veterans and their families; it is good for our communities and our businesses. Today, I challenge our state and local agencies, as well as private businesses, to participate in Operation Hire.”

“While we owe them a debt we can never fully repay, Operation Hire will play a critical role in supporting the men and women who have given so much for our state and for our nation,” said Lt. Governor Brown. “As we continue to grow our economy and create jobs faster than any other state in our region, we must remain committed to ensuring that our Veterans can use the skills they learned defending our country to compete for good, Middle Class jobs throughout our state.”

One of the O'Malley-Brown Administration's 16 Strategic Goals is full employment for veterans by the end of 2015. In alignment with this goal, state and local agencies, and private businesses are encouraged to participate in Operation Hire by incorporating or expanding upon established veteran friendly hiring initiatives.

Starting June 1, businesses and agencies can visit http://veterans.maryland.gov/operation-hire-marylands-100-day-veteran-hiring-challenge/ for more information and to register as a participant in Operation Hire. Hiring toolkits and veteran employment resources will be available online and for 100 days, the Maryland Department of Veterans Affairs will share participant information and track hiring. In the early fall, businesses and agencies who participate in Operation Hire will be recognized for their efforts.
“The Maryland Department of Veterans Affairs is charged to serve our veteran community. We accomplish this mission by having the supports in place to help veterans successfully obtain civilian employment,” saidMDVA Secretary Edward Chow. “Employers must also have the resources they need to sustain their veteran work force. I appeal to our state and local agency partners and the business community to participate in this worthy campaign.”

Operation Hire builds on the efforts of the O’Malley-Brown Administration to serve Maryland’s veterans. Last year, the O’Malley-Brown Administration proposed and the General Assembly passed the Veterans Full Employment Act of 2013, which removes certain barriers to employment that service members often face when making the transition from military service to the civilian workforce. The Act also expedites the process for certain occupational and professional licensing for recently discharged veterans and spouses when a military family moves to Maryland.