How to make Tennessee veteran ready
Veterans are more likely to volunteer, vote and take active roles in their communities, but post-9/11 combat veterans find transition to civilian life more difficult than pre-9/11 veterans.
This September, the world marks 20 years since 9/11 and many are wondering where we go from here.
In Tennessee, we have a clear answer to that question — honor the more than 435,000 veterans living in our state who have sacrificed for the cause of freedom in recent and other conflicts.
We can join with numerous communities, universities, and businesses already in the trenches to make Tennessee more than just veteran friendly, but veteran ready.
Tennessee needs the talents and resources veterans bring.
Research by the Bob Woodruff Foundation's Got Your 6 Local Partner Network indicates that veterans are more likely to volunteer, vote and take active roles in their communities.
Yet according to Pew Research, post-9/11 combat veterans find transition to civilian life more difficult than pre-9/11 veterans.
This is what veteran ready means
So, what is the difference between veteran friendly and veteran ready?
Veteran-friendly communities honor citizens with military service. Veteranready communities come alongside those veterans to help them as they transition from service.
Veteran-ready communities invest in all aspects of civilian life: government, professional, nonprofit, and private sector.
For example, Nashville Metro Council is taking extra steps to support veterans by commissioning a 15-member committee to examine both gaps and opportunities in veteran services in Nashville.
Montgomery County recently held a community engagement fair specifically designed to connect veterans with volunteer opportunities like Big Brother Big Sisters and the Humane Society.
The Knoxville Chamber houses the East Tennessee Military Affairs Council to support and advocate for military, civilian, and veteran interests. At Operation Stand Down TN, we are connecting veterans to each other and their community through veteran meetups, volunteer projects and events.
How companies and colleges are helping veterans enter civilian life
Veteran-ready universities create spaces and places for veteran students to integrate into the diversity of people and ideas found on campus.
Belmont, Middle Tennessee State University, Austin Peay, Lipscomb and University of Tennessee each have robust veteran centers offering spaces for those with military backgrounds to connect with each other and with resources to support their success in academia and beyond.
Vanderbilt has made significant investment in the veteran community through its Bass Military Scholars Program, which awards up to forty $25,000 scholarships for select military veterans pursuing graduate or professional degrees at the university.
Veteran-ready companies create systems in which military veterans will thrive.
Data suggests that 84% of 25- to 34year-old employees feel that employee resource groups have a positive impact on their engagement at work.
Companies like Amazon, Tractor Supply, Phillips, Bridgestone, Altria, and Alliancebernstein, are working hard to create community for veteran employees through vibrant veteran resource groups.
Operation Stand Down TN has launched programs connecting veterans and military spouses to professional experiences and networks. The Veteran Fellowship Program launches this month with Smiledirectclub, Ingram Barge, Stansell Electric and the Nashville Predators providing industry experience during a paid fellowship.
The program combines experiential learning with academics and fellows will earn a Certificate of Business Acumen from Belmont University's Jack C. Massey School of Business.
Tennessee has proven that it is veteran friendly and at the 20-year anniversary of 9/11, we can, and should, re-double our efforts to become veteran ready.
Across the spectrum of community, academia, business and government, great things are happening in this state.
Let's never forget that we can all do more together.
Eden Murrie is a Brigadier General, U.S. Air Force (Retired), CEO of Operation Stand Down Tennessee and chair of Metro’s Special Committee on Veterans.