Abandoning the Stereotypes: "When we change how we perceive the veteran population and fulfill our obligation to be both patriots and good corporate citizens, the results can be astounding, profitable, and life-enriching for all.".

• Author: Davies, Melissa
• Position: THE WORKPLACE

MOST PEOPLE will expound a patriotic stack of adjectives when it comes to veterans: honor, valor, courage, loyalty, and selflessness. These popular terms line parade routes, cause us to bow our heads in moments of silence, inspire speeches during holidays, and generally make us feel better about the world. Yet, when it comes to hiring men and women transitioning from the military into the civilian world, we do not know how to fit honor and valor into our companies' bottom lines. Instead, we fall back on a different set of ideas, such as disabled, rigid, and a resume full of nontransferable skills.

Veterans' issues always have been a national concern. However, our understanding about what vets face largely comes from the media and popular culture. In 2014, the Department of Veterans Affairs was shown to be grossly negligent in treating Veterans' healthcare needs. Compound those alarming headlines with a search on post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) in movies and television and the results yield a long list. What comes through is an image of the broken veteran, male or female, who is mentally and physically unable to cope in society.

This rendition is horribly wrong. When it comes to entertainment, the traumatic is dramatic. PTSD and disabilities are real, but they are manageable. Most individuals who suffer with PTSD do so by going inward, dealing with their own depression--not by coming to work and holding the breakroom hostage. As a society, when we choose to open our minds--and workforce--to veterans transitioning back into civilian life, we all benefit.

Additionally, businesses that hire veterans may be able to take advantage of several tax breaks, including the Work Opportunity Tax Credit, Returning Heroes Tax Credit, and Wounded Warriors Tax Credit. The money saved can be used for support and training services that benefit the entire organization.

Census data indicates that there are close to 22,000,000 vets in the U.S., almost 40,000 of whom are homeless, although that number is decreasing. The National Coalition for Homeless Veterans points to issues of PTSD and substance abuse as a cause. The VA does provide social, medical, and financial support but, as we know, the system is plenty flawed.

Another problem is employment. Highly skilled military personnel may have a difficult time finding work. Veterans can have trouble transferring their skills, and oftentimes do not look beyond the service branch they are transitioning from or...