Members of all 5 branches of the military honor guard

 

The men and women of the U.S. military are some of the best and brightest our country has to offer. We are incredibly proud of their accomplishments and thankful for their selfless service and sacrifice.– Sharon Dunbar, vice president of Human Resources (USAF Ret.)

May is national Military Appreciation Month and General Dynamics Mission Systems joins a grateful country in paying tribute to the service and dedication of our nations armed forces.

Military appreciation has deep meaning for us at General Dynamics. We take great pride in providing service members with tools they rely on every day to accomplish their missions and return home safely. Additionally, thousands of our employees are veterans who are now dedicated to ensuring their fellow warfighters have the technological upper hand, when and where it matters most.

Supporting Service Members Transition from the Front Line to Civilian Life

General Dynamics sponsors a number of programs to help transitioning military personnel rejoin the civilian workforce.

At General Dynamics, were focused on building a culture thats supportive of our veterans, says Don Moore, who served in the Air Force for 24 years before his current position as Military Outreach Coordinator. Were trying to show veterans how important they are to us, not just during Military Appreciation Month but throughout the year.

General Dynamics works with organizations such as the Sentinels of Freedom Scholarship Foundation and the Student Veterans of America (SVA). We work with Student Veterans of America to actively advise veterans what degrees they should pursue to become part of the civilian workforce after theyre done with their education, and we show them how they can put their skills to use at a company like General Dynamics, Moore says.

GD Mission Systems President Chris Marzilli and Vice President of Human Resources Sharon Dunbar with General Joseph L. Votel and Medal of Honor recipient Master Sergeant Leroy Petry at the Sentinels Of Freedom 2016 Gala.

Our Commitment To Hiring Veterans

Aside from supporting veteran causes, General Dynamics is committed to hiring those who served. We have signed on to the Joining Forces Initiative led by First Lady Michele Obama and Dr. Jill Biden, which aims to employ more than 110,000 veterans and military spouses in the aerospace, telecommunications and technology industries. For our part, General Dynamics has pledged to hire 5,000 veterans over the next 5 years. The company also works with the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs to host career fairs, where veterans can meet with General Dynamics recruiters and learn employment skills, such as writing effective resumes.

Hiring a veteran brings countless benefits to a company. Veterans generally represent a diverse population, have a practical set of skills, and carry with them years of experience. These valuable traits allow companies like General Dynamics to hire veterans into mid-level supervisory roles, as opposed to entry-level positions.

In many cases, veterans also have a level of familiarity with General Dynamics products from their experience in the military. We value the understanding and insight brought to us by veterans who have used our product in the field, says Moore. Many of them have sat with someone in khakis and a polo shirt that said General Dynamics, receiving practical training and assistance on how to use our products. They bring their hands-on knowledge when they come to work here, and help us innovate and further improve our technology.

If there is one thing that can truly set veterans apart, its an impeccable work ethic learned from military service. The ethos we have here at General Dynamics is all about transparency, honesty, alignment, and trust, says Moore. That fits military personnel perfectly and parallels what they were taught when they served. What better group of people to hire that will embody those values?

Preparing Veterans For Success At General Dynamics

General Dynamics is establishing a resource group that will coach veterans on how they can fit into and positively influence our culture of operational and people excellence. According to Moore, it would be the first such group within General Dynamics, and it would show how other veteran colleagues have built successful civilian careers.

Its important to grow talent, not just find talent, says Moore. Veterans play an important role in what we do here, and were trying to create a culture that supports our company becoming a long-term home for them.

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