Veterans Are Much More than ‘Feel Good’ Hires And Shouldn’t Be DEI Tokens

More companies have opened their doors to veterans in recent years, often as part of a broader push for diversity, equity and inclusion. At first glance, this shift seems promising, a step toward recognizing veterans' value to the civilian workforce. But as we dig deeper, a question lingers: Are veterans merely DEI hires?

The well-intentioned efforts to include veterans sometimes end up treating them as little more than a box check for diversity. Organizations tout their veteran hires as proof of their inclusive ethos, but far too often, these hires are made for the wrong reasons. 

There’s a notion that veterans should be hired, because they’ll “show up on time, work hard and do what they’re told;” or worse, veteran hiring centers on an altruistic tendency, cemented in patriotic fervor. Both these notions grossly diminish and underestimate what veterans truly bring to the civilian workforce.

Let’s set the record straight. Veterans aren't just employees who will dutifully follow instructions -- they are leaders, problem solvers and team players with experience few civilians can match. Veterans are exactly the kinds of employees companies should want to hire, not merely feel compelled to hire for publicity. They have operated in some of the most high-stakes environments imaginable, made decisions under pressure and led teams to complete complex objectives. These experiences breed not just resilience but a relentless adaptability and a capacity to thrive in challenging situations.