Schultz Family Foundation Archives

By Debbie Gregory.

More than 300 representatives of veteran employers attended a Starbucks’ hosted muster to discuss jobs for military veterans.

Starbucks and the Schultz Family Foundation brought participants together for their second muster, an Old English military term for the process of accounting for members of a unit, generally after a battle — to help with the transition from military service to civilian careers.

“Last time, we had about 150 people in attendance and one of the suggestions that we heard that resonated was that we need to broaden the conversation,” said Daniel Pitasky, executive director of the Schultz Family Foundation. “The idea was that each person who came to the last Muster would bring someone new to the conversation.”

The effort is a continuation of Starbucks’ commitment to hire 10,000 veterans and military spouses by the end of 2018.

Hiring veterans makes good business sense. Veterans have attributes that employers look for. They are leaders, committed to something greater than themselves. They understand diversity. They are able to accomplish a mission under the hardest of conditions.

Retired Army Gen. Ray Odierno said that while veterans are quick learners, they need assistance from their employers to close the military-civilian gap.

“We need the long-term civilian expertise within a company mentoring and helping veterans,” Odierno said.

Former Defense Secretary Robert Gates, who’s on the Starbucks board of directors, agreed that civilians and veterans need to get to know one another so that they can better understand each others culture.

In addition to addressing employing veterans, the subject of retention was at the top of the list.

JPMorgan Chase commissioned a study with the Center for a New American Security to survey companies about veteran retention. The results should be published around Veterans Day.

Another topic of discussion focused on employing military spouses.

Kathy Roth-Douquet, CEO of Blue Star Families, said,“The very best thing you can give a transitioning veteran is a spouse with a job.”

Military Connection salutes and proudly serves veterans and service members in the Army, Navy, Air Force, Marines, Coast Guard, Guard and Reserve, and their families.

Attention all Veterans, history buffs and avid readers: a book about Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans will be hitting store shelves and online retailers soon.

The book, “For Love of Country: What our Veterans Can Teach Us About Citizenship, Heroism, and Sacrifice” is a collaborative between long-time Veteran advocate and Starbucks chairman/CEO Howard Schultz, and 2006 National Book Award finalist and Washington Post editor Rajiv Chandrasekaran. The book will take readers through the struggles that Veterans face, both in combat and back home.

The book highlights the deeds and sacrifices made by Post-9/11 Veterans and their families, from acts of valor during the thick of the fight, to community leadership as civilian teachers, doctors, law enforcement and other occupations.

Since 2001, more than 2.5 million American Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen, Marines and Guardsmen have been deployed in support of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. Even with this seemingly high number, Veterans from this era only make up less than 1% of the American population. Schultz and Chandrasekaran co-authored the book in an effort to help the already sympathetic American public better understand what Veterans have and continue to experience as a result of their military service.

It has been reported that Schultz is donating his proceeds from the book to a charity. It is a foregone conclusion that the charity will benefit Veterans. Previously, Schultz pledged 10,000 jobs to Veterans and military spouses. With his wife, Sheri, he founded the Schultz Family Foundation that benefits Post-9/11 Veterans and “opportunity youth.” Earlier this year, the foundation donated $30 million for post-traumatic stress and traumatic brain injury research. These ailments have plagued Veterans, especially the ones from recent conflicts.

This is not the first book written by either author. In 1997, Schultz co-authored “Pour Your Heart Into It: How Starbucks Built a Company One Cup at a Time,” and in 2011, he co-authored “Onward: How Starbucks Fought for Its Life Without Losing Its Soul.”

In 2006 Chandrasekaran wrote “Imperial Life in the Emerald City: Inside Iraq’s Green Zone,” the inspiration for the film Green Zone, starring Matt Damon. In 2012, he wrote “Little America: The War within the War for Afghanistan.”

“For Love of Country: What our Veterans Can Teach Us About Citizenship, Heroism, and Sacrifice” is a recommended read for everyone. The book will be released on November 4, 2014. Advance copies are available for pre-order at your regular book retailers.

Military Connection proudly serves those who serve in the Army, Navy, Air Force, Marines, Coast Guard, Guard and Reserve, Veterans and their Families. We are the go to site for Veteran Employment and information on Veteran education. Militaryconnection.com provides Veterans with and Directory of Employers, a Job Board, information on the Post-9/11 GI Bill, and a blog that offers Veterans boundless information. Be sure to visit Militaryconnection.com, the go to site.