EIGHTY FOUR, Pa. — 84 Lumber, the nation's largest privately held building materials supplier, proudly supports U.S. veterans and calls on companies to recognize the importance of National Hire a Veteran Day on July 25, 2024. This day serves as a critical reminder for employers to consider hiring American military veterans transitioning into civilian employment. 

The call center will be open on Thursday, July 25 — National Hire a Veteran Day — from 10 a.m.-12 p.m. EDT. Call 724-228-1885 to speak with a live recruiter. 

According to the U.S. Department of Labor, roughly 200,000 veterans enter the civilian workforce each year. Finding a job and finding a purposeful career tops their list of challenges. National Hire a Veteran Day, founded in 2017 by Marine Corps veteran Dan Caporale, is one way to remind potential employers that the best way to honor a veteran is to hire one.

Michelle Horn retired from the Army in 2019 after 21 years of service. Her last assignment was as a spokesperson and press officer for the Office of the Secretary of Defense at the Pentagon. Michelle was also a transportation officer and commanded a transportation company that deployed three times to Kuwait and Iraq. As a truck platoon leader in Germany, she deployed to Kosovo.

Horn knows all about the transition to civilian life. She is currently vice president of communications at Fisher House Foundation in Rockville, Maryland, which builds comfort homes where military and veteran families can stay free of charge while a loved one is in the hospital.

"Veterans face unique challenges when entering the civilian workforce," said Horn. "Many transitioning veterans have never applied for a job since so many join the service straight from high school or college. On top of that, many civilian employers aren't educated about the specifics of military life and are unaware how a veteran's broad military experiences translate into private sector employment skills."

"Amid today's talent shortage and the need to find people who will engage, commit, and deliver tremendous value to your organization, veterans may be among your best choices to hire," she said. "Military veterans share a common set of characteristics that make them great civilian employees, including leadership, initiative, self-discipline, teamwork, and an excellent work ethic," said Horn.

Horn also stressed the importance of veterans' transferable skills.

"Veterans have developed problem-solving skills through their military service, learning to think on their feet and identify solutions quickly. This intuitive thinking is highly valued in business, where a simple mistake can cost a company thousands, if not millions of dollars. Military life also trains individuals to communicate respectfully and effectively with people from diverse backgrounds."

According to a poll from Employ Inc., 81 percent of hiring professionals are having trouble filling jobs.

"Veterans should be the first stop in filling those open roles in today's competitive job market," said Joe Jena, director of talent acquisition at 84 Lumber, who emphasizes the company's commitment to veterans.

Ultimately, it's about respect for their service and their training.

"Veterans bring extremely competitive skills to civilian jobs, along with core values military service cultivates like dedication, teamwork, and pride," he said.

"Veterans are key contributors to 84 Lumber," continued Jena, observing these individuals are not afraid of hard work and are willing to do what it takes to get the job done. "With our 'Promote from Within Culture', individuals who have served in the U.S. military thrive in 84 Lumber's environment and move up the ladder quickly," he said. "Individuals receive hands-on training, allowing them to utilize the vast skillset acquired during their service. "We've found that 84 Lumber aligns very well with the values of military veterans. When someone retires from the military, they're typically used to a very structured, hard-working environment where they can grow and move up the ranks. That's why veterans tend to thrive at 84 Lumber and become some of our most successful associates," explained Jena.