Walmart Expanding Its Veteran Hiring Program

A giant discount retailer is pledging to hire more veterans.

Walmart says veterans will comprise one-fifth of its workforce by the year 2020.  The initial commitment by the company to hire 100,000 military veterans by 2018 was expanded yesterday when company executives said they would hire 250,000 veterans by 2020.

The initiative is part of the company's "Veterans Welcome Home Commitment" program which was launched on Memorial Day in 2013.  Since the original announcement was made Walmart has hired a total of 92,000 veterans.

While the program has received mostly positive response, not all veterans are eligible for this particular round of hiring.  In a written release of the announcement on May 20, 2015, Walmart says it will guarantee a "job offer to any eligible U.S. veteran honorably discharged from active duty since the commitment’s original launch on Memorial Day 2013. The previous commitment was for veterans within 12 months off active duty."

While generally still able to apply, those servicemembers discharged prior to May 27, 2013 will not be considered as a part of the "Veterans Welcome Home Commitment" program/

Walmart says it is also using its buying power and leverage to support programs that provide services to military veterans.  The chain is encouraging military and veteran-owned business to apply for its annual United States Manufacturing Summit and Open Call which will take place July 7 and July 8, 2015.