A Military Ready Culture: Moving Beyond Military Friendly  

By George Darby III, Per Scholas Director of Veteran Recruitment and Partnerships

In recent years, companies across industries have increasingly sought to position themselves as Military Friendly, offering veterans hiring preferences, policy changes, and publicly voicing support for those who have served. My statement is not to be confused with the Military Friendly designations offered by the good folks at Viqtory Media. I am speaking of a culture shift within your organization. While these gestures are well-intentioned, being Military Friendly alone only opens the door. If we want to retain military veterans, their spouses, and their families long-term, we must shift our thinking and actively work to build Military Ready organizations.

Why Being Military Ready Matters

Veterans and their families bring an extraordinary array of skills to the workforce—discipline, resilience, adaptability, and leadership. However, transitioning into civilian roles can present unique challenges. Veterans often find themselves stepping into organizational cultures that are vastly different from the structured environments they are accustomed to. They may face invisible battles such as PTSD, physical injuries, or difficulty in translating military skills into civilian job functions. Spouses, too, have unique needs, often dealing with career interruptions due to relocations and requiring flexible work arrangements.  While the national unemployment average is below 5%; military spouse rates consistently are between 20-22%. 

A Military Ready organization does not merely invite veterans and spouses to join; it is prepared to help them thrive. This readiness is defined by understanding and addressing the nuances of military life, cultivating a culture that values their skills, and putting the resources in place to support their unique journeys.

Building a Military Ready Culture

To foster a Military Ready culture, companies must take several intentional steps:

1. Understand Military Life

The military world is defined by clear roles and a structured chain of command, making the unstructured nature of some civilian workplaces feel overwhelming for veterans. Organizations can start by offering onboarding programs that go beyond job-specific tasks, integrating mentorship, veteran peer groups, and clear communication channels to ease this transition.  Many successful organizations have a Veteran or Military Spouse on staff that maintains oversight for these initiatives.

2. Train Leaders and Teams  

Equip managers and teams with training in military culture, trauma-informed care, and the value of military job roles and skills. This education should extend to HR, ensuring staff understands veteran benefits such as the GI Bill and how to support military families through available resources.  

3. Policy Flexibility for Military Spouses

Military spouses represent an untapped workforce that often faces gaps in employment due to relocations and limited job flexibility. Military Ready companies provide remote or portable work options, adjust leave policies for family relocations or deployment absences, and support career development for spouses through training and scholarships.

The Role of Per Scholas in Supporting Veterans and Military Families

At Per Scholas, we are proud to contribute to this effort by offering no-cost technology training that is tailored to veterans. We recognize that many veterans have transferable skills but need additional support to pivot into tech roles. Our programs, such as Cybersecurity training, along with the CompTIA certificate are designed to bridge these skill gaps, helping veterans transition smoothly into tech careers. We also extend these opportunities to military spouses, providing flexible, remote learning options to accommodate their lifestyles.

Per Scholas’ commitment is illustrated through our success stories: veterans who, upon completing our training, enter meaningful tech careers, and military spouses who develop valuable skills, allowing them to maintain career momentum despite frequent relocations. 

Moving from Transactional to Transformational

The shift from Military Friendly to Military Ready represents a shift from transactional to transformational culture. Rather than seeing veterans and their families as another hiring demographic, a Military Ready organization builds an inclusive environment where they can thrive long-term. This transformation requires top-down commitment, continuous education, and a focus on retention and growth. By embedding veteran-friendly policies in every layer of the company—from leadership to onboarding and team support—organizations can develop into spaces where military families are genuinely supported and celebrated.

A Call to Action

Being Military Ready is more than a recruitment strategy; it’s a commitment to the people who have served and continue to support our country in unique ways. I urge organizations to take the steps necessary to understand, respect, and nurture the skills, strengths, and challenges of military veterans and spouses. Together, we can build workplaces where veterans and their families are not only welcomed but empowered to excel.