AEP-supported effort to hire 100,000 military veterans reaches goal 7 years early

A coalition of more than 130 employers, including AEP, that had a goal of hiring 100,000 U.S. military veterans by 2020 has announced it surpassed that mark by the end of 2013.

The 100,000 Jobs Mission announced that its coalition members hired a total of 117,437 U.S. military veterans by the end of last year, surpassing the group’s original goal seven years early. The 131 companies now involved have now revised their pledge, to hire 200,000 veterans by 2020.

“AEP is dedicated to recruiting, hiring and supporting military veterans, and we are pleased that this effort has been so successful and that it will continue,” said [Scott Smith], AEP senior vice president – Transmission Grid Development & Portfolio Services. “Military veterans and reservists compose about 11 percent of AEP’s workforce throughout our 11-state service territory.”

AEP has also been recognized for many years, including 2014, as one of the nation’s top 100 “military-friendly” employers by G.I. Jobs Magazine.

“Reaching this important milestone is great news for veterans and employers alike,” said Maureen Casey, director of Military and Veterans Affairs at JPMorgan Chase, a founding company in the 100,000 Jobs Mission. “We have been able to make a difference in the lives of so many of our nation’s veterans, and those veterans bring tremendous skills and experience to the workplace.”

In early 2011, 11 companies launched the mission to hire at least 100,000 veterans by 2020. Since then, 120 more companies, including AEP, from nearly every sector of the U.S. economy have joined forces. The companies also have pledged to share best practices with other coalition members; many are on the 100,000 Jobs Mission website, JobsMission.com.