November 8, 2018 – The U.S. Department of Labor has recognized FASTPORT as a leading Veteran-ready and military-friendly employer by naming it a recipient of the inaugural HIRE Vets Medallion Award. The Award recognizes leadership in recruiting, employing, and retaining our nation’s Veterans.

FASTPORT joins 239 recipients of the 2018 HIRE Vets Medallion Program Demonstration Award ranging from small businesses and community-based non-profits to leading Fortune 500 companies from 42 states, the District of Columbia, and Puerto Rico.

The HIRE VETS program came about when President Trump signed into law Representative Cook’s (a former U.S. Marine) bill, H.R. 244, the HIRE American Military Veterans Act) creating the HIRE Vets Medallion Program. Representative Cook said, “It’s an honor to see this legislation come to fruition. Today’s recipients deserve to be recognized for making significant strides toward hiring more veterans. Veterans who serve this country honorably shouldn’t struggle to find employment, and this bill creates an innovative system to encourage and recognize employers who make veterans a priority in their hiring practices. I look forward to seeing full implementation of the program next year.”

Today, the U.S. Department of Labor recognized FASTPORT as one of the recipients of the 2018 HIRE Vets Medallion Program Demonstration Award during an award ceremony at the U.S. Department of Labor. The HIRE Vets Medallion Program is the only federal-level award that recognizes job creators who successfully recruit, hire, and retain America’s Veterans.

“FASTPORT is a Veteran-ready employer with a laser-focused goal to enable other employers to reach that same status,” said FASTPORT Vice President of Military Engagement Adam Rocke. “Becoming Veteran-ready is more than just achieving a point-in-time goal, though. We and our partner employers are making constant strives to increase military affinity programs, paid training programs such as Registered Apprenticeships, and other initiatives that provide a cycle of high-quality employment and care to Veterans as they begin a new career so they can flourish in the civilian job market.”

The HIRE Vets Medallion program is the result of the Department of Labor’s mission to honor employers who hire our nation’s Veteran community. The program set out a rigorous list of criteria each employer needed to fulfill to showcase the organization’s commitment to the life-cycle of Veterans’ careers, which includes their hiring, retention, and long-term development. Taken together, these attributes signal to the military community that an employer is committed to and supports their careers.

“It is significant that the DOL awarded FASTPORT the HIRE Vets Medallion so close to Veterans’ Day,” said FASTPORT CEO Bill McLennan. “That day is upheld to celebrate America’s Veterans for their love of country, honor their willingness to serve and to recognize their sacrifices. FASTPORT believes that Veterans need more throughout the year, including aid to translate their knowledge, skills and abilities learned in the service into potential civilian careers. When our Veterans understand their own employment value and employers understand how Veterans can lead and grow within their organizations, the growth opportunities are limitless for them both.”

One of the ways FASTPORT has helped educate employers and help them attract these Veteran candidates is an annual Employment of the Guard and Reserve (ESGR) Statement of Support signing ceremony where organizations across multiple industries gather at the Pentagon in Washington D.C. This year’s event will take place on Friday, December 14th when Veteran employment leaders will affirm or re-affirm their understanding of USERRA laws and their commitment to follow them as they employ members of the Guard and Reserve. To join this employer coalition, register here: https://www.fastport.com/pentagon-statement-of-support-ceremony/.