Big Box Retailers Supporting Veterans & Military Spouses
Veterans and military spouses getting ready to transition into civilian life may not know that many major companies and corporations have career transition programs and policies designed to make the move easier. If you’re unsure about your options as you prepare to embrace civilian life, some of the options below may help you pick a direction for your first post-military work.
Retailers Supporting Transitioning Veterans and Military Spouses
Home Depot, Lowe’s, Amazon, and others offer post-military opportunities through the Department of Defense’s SkillBridge initiative for transitioning service members. Others have military-friendly hiring, training, and/or mentoring programs, as we discover below.
Amazon
Does Amazon have a program for military communities? Yes, Amazon has a Military Fellowship Program that partners with both the DOD’s SkillBridge initiative and Hiring Our Heroes.
How long is Amazon’s Military Fellowship Program? Active-duty service members get the chance to participate in a 12-week fellowship.
Are military spouses eligible for Amazon’s Military Fellowship Program? Yes, military spouses are eligible for many of these roles.
Is there a specific contact for Amazon’s Military Fellowship Program? Yes, interested individuals can reach out directly with questions or to apply via militaryskillbridge@amazon.com.
What are Amazon’s technical apprenticeships? These are paid programs that combine formal training with up to 12 months of on-the-job experience, designed for those without a traditional IT background who want to enter tech.
What are Amazon’s military pathways into AWS and Project Kuiper? These are specific career tracks for veterans interested in working with Amazon Web Services or Project Kuiper, often involving roles supporting the U.S. Intelligence Community or building satellite broadband.
What is Amazon’s Military Pathways Program? This is a three-year development track focused on leadership, starting as an Area Manager in fulfillment centers and progressing to more senior roles.
Home Depot
What is the Home Depot SkillBridge program? The Home Depot partners with the DOD’s SkillBridge program to offer hands-on fellowships for transitioning service members during their last 180 days of service. This allows them to gain real-world experience in areas like corporate offices, supply chain management, technology, or store leadership.
Is there a cost to participate in the Home Depot SkillBridge program? No, transitioning service members do not have to pay a fee to participate in the Home Depot SkillBridge program.
Does Home Depot offer programs for military spouses? Yes, Home Depot partners with Hiring Our Heroes to offer hands-on fellowships for military spouses.
What is Home Depot’s “Mission Transition” program? Mission Transition is a program offering a series of free, self-paced online courses designed to help transitioning service members polish their resumes, build a personal brand, and sharpen their interview skills, with advice tailored to veterans and military spouses.
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Lowe’s
Does Lowe’s participate in the SkillBridge program? Yes, Lowe’s offers a 12-week SkillBridge Fellowship in partnership with the Department of Defense for active-duty service members preparing for civilian life.
What areas can military members gain experience in through Lowe’s SkillBridge Fellowship? Military members can get hands-on experience in corporate roles, store leadership, supply chain, or tech.
What is the job offer rate for those who complete the Lowe’s SkillBridge Fellowship? According to the article, 96 percent of people who finish the fellowship receive full-time job offers at Lowe’s.
Does Lowe’s offer programs for military spouses? Military spouses can take advantage of a special fellowship through Lowe’s partnership with Hiring Our Heroes.
Are there opportunities for student veterans at Lowe’s? Yes, Lowe’s offers internships to help student veterans build resumes and receive mentorship while completing their degrees.
How can active-duty service members apply for the Lowe’s SkillBridge program? Interested individuals should work with their command and submit their application through Lowe’s SkillBridge site.
How can military spouses find Lowe’s fellowship openings? They can check the Hiring Our Heroes website for Lowe’s fellowship opportunities.
How can student veterans apply for internships at Lowe’s? They can apply directly through the company’s internship listings.
CVS Health
What is CVS Health’s “Heroes2Careers” program? It supports the military community through opportunities like DoD SkillBridge.
What types of roles are available through CVS Health’s SkillBridge program? Transitioning service members can gain hands-on experience in roles such as store management, retail operations, clinical positions, and technology.
Are CVS Health SkillBridge programs available year-round? Yes, these programs are available throughout the year.
Does CVS Health offer programs for military spouses? Yes, in partnership with Hiring Our Heroes, CVS Health offers a 12-week paid fellowship program for military spouses.
What does the CVS Health military spouse fellowship offer? It provides professional training and hands-on experience across various departments within CVS Health, helping spouses build portable careers.
What is the CVS Health Talent Connect Center at Fort Bragg? It is a resource center for the military community that provides resume writing assistance, virtual interview preparation, and direct connections to hiring managers.
What is the BRAVE Colleague Resource Group at CVS Health? BRAVE is a group focused on mentoring and career development for veterans and military-connected employees within CVS Health.
Where can military members find more information on available positions at CVS Health? Visit CVS Health’s Careers page
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7-Eleven
Does 7-Eleven offer franchise opportunities for veterans? 7-Eleven has a “Franchises for Veterans Program” designed to help transitioning service members become business owners.
What franchise fee discounts does 7-Eleven offer to veterans? Veterans who have left the military in the last five years can get 20 percent off the initial franchise fee (up to $50,000). If it has been over five years, they may still receive 10 percent off.
Does 7-Eleven provide financing help for veteran franchisees? Yes, 7-Eleven can finance up to 65 percent of the franchise cost.
Beyond franchising, how else does 7-Eleven support veterans? 7-Eleven supports veterans through organizations, including the Johnny Mac Soldiers Fund.
Dollar General
What is Dollar General’s “Paychecks for Patriots” program? It is a nationwide program that helps veterans and their families find civilian work by organizing annual job fairs across various states.
What benefits do veterans and military spouses receive at “Paychecks for Patriots” job fairs? These events feature priority access, on-site resume assistance and career counseling, and opportunities to network with hiring managers across various industries.
How can I find information on “Paychecks for Patriots” events? Information can be found through your state government’s website or career resource websites.
Does Dollar General actively hire veterans? Yes, Dollar General is not only a founding partner of Paychecks for Patriots, it also actively hires veterans
Walmart
Does Walmart offer career programs for veterans? Yes, Walmart has launched a career fellowship program in collaboration with the Hiring Our Heroes initiative, offering hiring summits and fellowship opportunities to veterans and their families.
Does Walmart support military spouses? Walmart’s Military Family Promise policy helps military spouses keep their jobs even when relocating for a servicemember’s assignment.
Does Walmart support veteran-owned businesses? Walmart collaborates with organizations like the National Veteran Business Development Council (NVBDC) and the National Veteran-Owned Business Association (NaVOBA).
Walgreens
What is Walgreens’ HERO Program? HERO (Helping Veterans with Educational and Retail Opportunities) is a program developed in partnership with Southern New Hampshire University that helps veterans find jobs and offers educational benefits. Participants can pursue discounted degrees while building a career.
What is Walgreens’ military leave and bridge pay policy? Walgreens will make up the difference between military and civilian pay for up to 42 months if called to active duty.
What happens to medical benefits at Walgreens during military leave? Medical, dental, and prescription coverage can continue at the same rate as an active employee for up to 42 months.
Does Walgreens offer benefits to military families? Yes, Walgreens extends employee store discounts to spouses and eligible dependents and offers job opportunities for military spouses across its nationwide store network.
Is it easy for military spouses to transfer roles at Walgreens when relocating? Yes, due to Walgreens’ large number of locations (over 8,300), it is often easy to transfer roles when a family has to relocate due to a service assignment.
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