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About 200,000 men and women leave the U.S. military annually and transition back to civilian life. They become one of America’s approximately 18 million veterans as of last year.
Many of them continue working in the civilian workforce after their military service ends. In 2023, about 8.39 million veterans in the civilian labor force were employed, according to data from the U.S. Department of Labor. Data from last year showed that 8% of veterans worked in the retail industry.
“Retailers are committed to supporting America’s veterans and creating opportunities to help them transition their careers to the private sector,” Adam Lukoskie, the National Retail Federation’s senior vice president and foundation executive director, said in emailed comments to Retail Dive.
“The skills and work ethic former service members offer make them valuable additions to the retail workforce, and high-demand skills they provide include leadership experience, a team-oriented mindset, purpose-driven mentality and strong organizational and operational skills,” Lukoskie said. People who switch from a career in the armed forces to a civilian career in retail have an opportunity to develop new professional skills, Lukoskie said, including business management, foundational knowledge on profit and loss, sales techniques and marketing.
Each year, the U.S. pauses every Nov. 11 to celebrate Veterans Day. The observance dates to World War I, when fighting formally ceased on the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month. The holiday is meant to honor all who have served in the military. As the day approaches, here are the stories of three people who have stepped into retail after serving in the military.
Editor’s note: These interviews have been edited for clarity and brevity.
Pedro Medrano
Veteran, U.S. Marines. Medrano is a Sam’s Club market manager overseeing Virginia, West Virginia and North Carolina. He has been with the company for 23 years.
RETAIL DIVE: How did you wind up going from a military career to retail?
I began my career as a cart attendant while attending college back when I was 19. Throughout my life, I always wanted to be a United States Marine. With 9/11 and the events happening in Iraq and Afghanistan, I felt the need to support our country and joined the Marines in December of 2004. Sam's Club supported...