Johnny Wilson: Veterans are strong assets for employers
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Semper Fidelis is Latin for “always faithful.” It is a fitting credo by which every United States Marine lives — “an eternal and collective commitment to the success of our battles, the progress of our Nation, and the steadfast loyalty to the fellow Marines we fight alongside.”
As someone who served and wore the uniform of the United States Marines for eight years, this motto still guides me today. And the lessons I learned while serving remain a staple in every aspect of my life, including in my professional career.
Some of the most valuable lessons I learned while serving in the military have helped me become a better leader in any environment, including civilian life. Luckily for me, I found an employer in Amazon that embodies many of the beliefs and core values that drew me to the Marines.
The company’s leadership principles offer structure, guidance and goals that I set for myself daily to succeed. As a result, I am entrusted with instilling in my co-workers, many of whom are just starting their professional careers, the lessons I learned during my military experience. I also lead efforts to support my veteran co-workers and their families through the Warriors@Amazon employee resource group, which offers fellowships, mentorships, military spouse support and many more programs.
But this piece is not about Amazon (even though the company is actively seeking more veterans to join our ranks — 45,000 and counting!). Rather, this piece is about Veterans Day and what employers can expect when they bring a veteran into the fold.
To put it bluntly, employers can expect an individual who knows how to lead and collaborate, works hard and is self-sufficient, and adheres to the highest professional standards.
When an employer hires a veteran, on Day One, the company can expect someone who is willing to take the baton and run with it. The military prides itself on instilling leadership skills in every veteran, which carries over once a service member returns to civilian life. Veterans have a keen ability to understand what a mission entails and how to succeed. They are also willing to guide those around them in order to meet any objective. The hierarchical environment that veterans come from prepares them to not only give instructions, but how to follow them.
Veterans understand the importance of collaboration, diversity and inclusion. It is nearly impossible to succeed at a goal in the military or in a professional setting without leaning into teamwork. Empowering people from different backgrounds creates camaraderie within the team. And once everyone feels like they have skin in the game, work environments thrive, co-workers go to bat for one another, and morale increases and the ability to meet your goals and supersede them becomes an even higher probability.
Veterans bring a strong work ethic and eagerness to learn to professional settings. In my experience, there is no substitute for the desire to work hard and get the job done. Through our military involvement, service members receive rigorous training and have to live a lifestyle that requires us to be on time every day and practice an ownership mindset. This translates to employers rarely having to worry about a veteran not giving 100% at work. In hiring a veteran, employers are getting someone who is works resourcefully, effectively and strives for the highest quality and continuous improvement.
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, there are currently 10.4 million open jobs nationally. Hundreds of thousands of veterans are actively looking for rewarding employment.
This Veterans Day, if you are one of the many employers hiring, I hope you will consider all of the unique qualities that have shaped veterans into true leaders, and you’ll make a concerted effort to hire them for your teams.
And to all my fellow veterans out there, thank you for your service. And, as always, Semper Fi.
Johnny Wilson is a learning area manager for Amazon at its Imperial Fulfillment Center.