{"id":23650,"date":"2026-03-23T19:55:57","date_gmt":"2026-03-23T23:55:57","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.hiringourheroes.org\/?p=23650"},"modified":"2026-03-31T22:05:39","modified_gmt":"2026-04-01T02:05:39","slug":"celebrating-15-years-of-impact-for-the-military-community","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.hiringourheroes.org\/stories\/celebrating-15-years-of-impact-for-the-military-community\/","title":{"rendered":"Celebrating 15 Years of Impact for the Military Community"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Fifteen years ago, veteran unemployment hit crisis levels. For too many transitioning service members, veterans, and military spouses, the path to a meaningful civilian career felt uncertain and isolating. In that moment, Hiring Our Heroes (HOH) began as a grassroots effort to help the military community translate service into opportunity \u2014 one conversation, one interview, one offer at a time.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Since then, the mission has stayed the same, but the way we deliver it has evolved dramatically. What started as a series of hiring fairs has grown into a comprehensive workforce solution that convenes nearly 2,000 American businesses and connects with tens of thousands of military\u2011connected job seekers each year, on military installations and online, wherever support is needed most.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

And the most important measure of all: over the last 15 years, Hiring Our Heroes has served more than 1 million veterans and military spouses, each with a different starting point, a different set of challenges, and a different definition of what “meaningful” work looks like.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Because numbers tell only part of the story. Behind each statistic is a person taking a brave next step. A service member preparing for transition months, or even years, before separation. A military spouse rebuilding momentum after a PCS move. A veteran pivoting into a new industry. A caregiver returning to the workforce. An employer learning how to recognize leadership that doesn’t always show up in a traditional r\u00e9sum\u00e9.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Today, as we mark HOH’s 15th anniversary, we are celebrating not only milestones, but the community of job seekers, employers, partners, and advocates who have shaped what this work can be.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A Timeline of Transformation <\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Click the arrows below to take a look back at our transformation over the last 15 years. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

2011 | A Mission Born from Urgency<\/strong><\/summary>\n
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In 2011, Hiring Our Heroes set out to close the gap between military service and civilian opportunity, one handshake at a time.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

When veteran unemployment reached crisis levels, with rates for young veterans climbing to 30 percent, the U.S. Chamber of Commerce partnered with the Department of Labor Veterans’ Employment and Training Service (DOL VETS) to launch Hiring Our Heroes. What began with hiring fairs in select cities quickly expanded into a commitment to host 100 events nationwide. This first chapter established a powerful truth that still drives HOH today: when employers and communities show up with intention, military talent rises.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

From the Archives: <\/h6>\n\n\n\n