The Virginia Values Veterans (or “V3”) program was established out of a need to promote Veteran talent in the civilian community. Virginia has had one of the fastest growing Veteran labor forces in the past five years – and this growth is expected to continue! With dozens of military installations throughout the state from all branches of service, many initiatives were able to assist transitioning service members entering the civilian workforce, but none really captured the need to educate employers on the skills that Veterans were bringing to the table.
On December 23, 2010, Executive Order 29 directed the Virginia Department of Veterans Services to create a program to develop employment opportunities for Veterans, and shortly thereafter, the V3 program came into being. VMSI is proud to be a V3-certified employer and whole-heartedly supports the valuable work that this program provides within the Veteran community.
VMSI’s Director of Human Resources, Katherine Hansen, attended the 3rd Annual Summit of the V3 program, which was held in Richmond, Virginia, on August 27, 2015. As an SDVOSB, VMSI is always seeking new opportunities to hire veterans to give back to the men and women who have served our great Nation. The V3 program provides companies like VMSI great insight on ways to leverage the skillsets and experience that our Veterans learn and hone while serving in the military.
During the summit, a number of notable speakers addressed the audience, including Virginia’s Governor, the Honorable Terence R. McAuliffe, to discuss the plight of transitioning Veterans and the untapped resources that the Veteran community offers today’s employers.
A panel discussion was held on Veteran recruiting, hiring and retention practices; a second panel explored the new V3 Veterans Employment Grant program. Summit attendees were encouraged to actively participate in the discussions, which lead to some great brainstorming and sharing of ideas for expanding the role that Virginia employers play in supporting the Veteran community.
To find out more about the Virginia Values Veterans program, please visit www.dvsv3.com.
