On October 21, 2011, President Barack Obama announced “After nearly 9 years, America’s war in Iraq will be over.” At the time, America had already withdrawn nearly 100,000 troops from Iraq, leaving nearly 40,000 “non-combat” troops to come home by the December 31 deadline set in 2008. Referencing plans for troop withdrawal in Afghanistan as well, Obama declared that “the tide of war is receding” and that the number of troops deployed “will continue to go down.” As we welcome our veterans home, here are some facts about that population from the U.S. Census Bureau:
- In 2010, there were 21.8 million military veterans in the United States.
- In 2010, there were 7.6 million Vietnam-era veterans. Thirty-five percent of all living veterans served during this time (1964-1975). In addition, 4.8 million served during the Gulf War (representing service from Aug. 2, 1990, to present); 2.1 million in World War II (1941-1945); 2.6 million in the Korean War (1950-1953); and 5.5 million in peacetime only.
- In 2010, 26 percent of veterans 25 and older had at least a bachelor’s degree. In comparison, 28 percent of the total population had a bachelor’s degree or higher.
- In 2010, 92 percent of veterans 25 and older had a high school diploma or higher, compared with 86 percent of the population as a whole.
- In 2010, there were 9.6 million veterans 18 to 64 in the labor force.
As families and communities welcome back their veterans, it’s time for employers to prepare for the return of the troops as well. Returning soldiers have rights under the Uniformed Services Employment and Reemployment Act of 1994 (USERRA), and their families most likely qualify for leave under the Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA). Besides those legal responsibilities, employers should also consider a broader ethical obligation to those who have fought to protect our country and their families. To learn what you need to know about USERRA and the relevant part of the FMLA as well as why you should consider hiring veterans and how you can effectively integrate those wounded during their service into your organization, download the latest HR Hero White Paper “Welcome Home: Your Legal and Ethical Obligation to Returning Troops and Their Families.”