Over 100,000 Veterans and Military Spouses Hired Nationwide in First Year of U.S. Chamber and Capital One Campaign

More than 900 Companies Have Pledged to Hire 212,000 Veterans and Military Spouses by the End of 2014 as Part of Nationwide Hiring 500,000 Heroes Campaign

NEW YORK, NY — The U.S. Chamber of Commerce’s Hiring Our Heroes program and Capital One Financial Corporation today announced that 108,000 veterans and military spouses have found jobs as part of the Hiring 500,000 Heroes campaign in the last year. Launched in March 2012 with the goal of engaging the business community in committing to hire 500,000 veterans, transitioning servicemembers, and military spouses by the end of 2014, the campaign has nearly reached nearly half of the commitments toward its goal in one year. 933 businesses of all sizes have pledged to hire 212,107 heroes by the end of 2014.

“Since we first launched this campaign with Capital One last March, we have been overwhelmed by the response from businesses large and small that  have committed to hire the men and women who served our country,” said Lieutenant Colonel Kevin Schmiegel (ret.), executive director of Hiring Our Heroes. “Reaching the 100,000 hire milestone is a remarkable achievement and a testament to employers who recognize the value in hiring veterans and military spouses. We intend to build on this momentum and I am confident that we can reach our goal of getting half a million hired by the end of 2014.”

Hiring 500,000 Heroes is the largest private sector effort of its kind. The campaign was made possible by a 3-year, $4.5 million commitment from Capital One to the U.S. Chamber of Commerce’s National Chamber Foundation. In addition to this effort, the funds have helped support the more than 450 Hiring Our Heroes job fairs for veterans and military spouses across the country. More than 18,000 veterans and spouses have been hired as a direct result of these fairs. Through the support of Capital One and the 35 members of the Chamber’s Veterans Employment Advisory Council, these hiring fairs and other career resources are free for both jobseekers and employers.

“At Capital One, we believe that hiring a veteran – or a military spouse – can be one of the best decisions a company can make, ” said James Covington, Capital One’s Market President for Manhattan. “We are committed to reaching the ultimate goal of Hiring 500,000 Heroes,  and it will take the participation of businesses of all sizes to join in this effort. It is clear that our veterans and military spouses have the skills and the will to succeed in any environment and now it is up to all of us to give them the opportunity.”

Schmiegel and Covington made the announcement at Hiring Our Heroes’ Two-Year Anniversary fair held at the 69th Regiment National Guard Armory in New York City. Joined by the U.S. Secretary of Veterans Affairs, Eric Shinseki, Medal of Honor recipient Sgt. Dakota Meyer, and the Adjutant General of New York, Major General Patrick Murphy, today’s fair connected hundreds of veterans and military spouses with more than 100 employers.

A list of companies that have committed is available here.

The National Chamber Foundation, a non-profit affiliate of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, is dedicated to identifying and fostering public debate on emerging critical issues. They provide business and government leaders with insight and resources to address tomorrow's challenges.

The U.S. Chamber of Commerce is the world’s largest business federation representing the interests of more than 3 million businesses of all sizes, sectors, and regions, as well as state and local chambers and industry associations.