Press Release

“Operation VETS Connect” is an annual program organized by New Hampshire Employment Security during which veterans, returning service members, as well as their spouses are connected with hiring employers from New Hampshire’s business community.

New Hampshire is committed to supporting veterans, returning service members and their spouses’ employment. During the period of November 1, 2016 and continuing until November 30, 2016, New Hampshire employers are challenged to incorporate or expand upon their established veteran hiring initiatives.

The ultimate purpose is to enhance current efforts to support veteran, returning service members and their spouses hiring in New Hampshire and use it to build greater awareness of veterans, the unique skills they bring to the workforce and the countless benefits employers obtain in hiring them.

While providing reemployment services to our veterans, returning service members and their spouses is a year round effort at New Hampshire Employment Security, this program is a targeted, and vigorous, effort coinciding with Veterans’ Day to increase awareness amongst the business community as to the strengths and skills veterans bring to the workplace.

Discipline, teamwork, a strong work ethic -- these are often referred to as “soft skills” and are not always easily teachable. Yet, for our veterans, these are natural strengths that they have spent years perfecting in their military careers. The intangible skills that veterans bring to the job do not immediately translate onto a resume and are not always easy to demonstrate in a job fair environment. That is why we are encouraging New Hampshire’s employers to participate in “Operation VETS Connect” so that they can experience first-hand the many strengths our veterans have to offer.

"New Hampshire’s veterans, service members and their families sacrifice bravely in defense of our freedoms, and we must ensure that they have the resources they need to thrive in civilian life,” Governor Hassan said. “Our veterans represent the very best of our deep talent pool, possessing a wide variety of transferable skills proven in real-world situations, including leadership, collaboration and determination to accomplish goals. Operation VETS connect is an important program that helps connect New Hampshire employers with veterans, recognizing the unique skill set they bring to the workforce and the benefits employers obtain in hiring them. I am proud to support this critical initiative that helps to strengthen our civilian workforce, to boost our economy and to ensure that our veterans and their families have access to the employment opportunities that they deserve."

In order to gain a better understanding of a veteran’s intangible skills, employers can bring a veteran into a job opening without any cost and without any risk through the “Return to Work” (RTW) and “On the Job Training” (OJT) programs. The RTW program allows an employer to bring a prospective employee on board during an initial six week trial period for up to twenty-four hours per week without payment of wages. The prospective employee would continue to collect unemployment benefits during this time. However, the program is open to a prospective employee regardless of whether they are receiving unemployment benefits. The state also provides workers compensation coverage.

There is nothing more unfortunate and unacceptable than an unemployed veteran. We urge New Hampshire’s business community to join “Operation VETS Connect” and demonstrate their support for our veterans and returning service members. Registration information for the “Operation VETS Connect” program can be found at www.nhes.nh.gov/media/job-fairs/index.htm.