Get a Real Welcome Home

CPT Jessica Crow — Fri, 18 Nov 2016 12:28:50 -0500

When I told my mom I was thinking about joining the military, her first response was, “Heck no.” I’m sure a lot of you heard that, too. But when I was trying to figure out college, an ROTC flyer changed my life – and eventually my mom’s opinion.

Like what happens in many campus organizations, I made incredible friends and became close to everyone. The ROTC wasn’t all yelling and pushups like I thought it might be. Instead, my weekdays taught me how I could serve, while my weekends ended up teaching me how I could lead. I learned how to prioritize, manage resources, and sign off on tasks. And I was shown how to make leaders out of others – a skill I still use to this day. Joining the ROTC turned into eight years in the military, where I toured in Iraq and Afghanistan. The lessons I learned from the ROTC were reinforced a thousand times over before I eventually got out.

Transitioning back was difficult, to say the least. My military background had a lot to offer in leadership, adaptability, and standing out. I was going to career workshops, paying people to look at my resume, and applying to over 50 companies. It was serious work that I was putting into it, and I never got a single interview in return. It wasn’t fun.

After handfuls of rejections, my brother suggested I join him at Walmart and, nearly three years after I first came home, I had my first interview. I started as a Development Store Manager, and it was kind of creepy how similar Walmart and the military were in terms of structure and hierarchy. Sure, it’s retail – but the way they built their structure felt the same to me. If I’m talking to someone who’s a company commander at Walmart, they can break down the store organization so it lines up to my background. For instance, we deal with a lot of standard operating procedures and decision-making, which is the same stuff we did in the military.

Why am I sharing all of this with you? Because Walmart has a program called the Veterans Welcome Home Commitment (http://rly.pt/walmart-welcome). Veterans honorably discharged since Memorial Day 2013 don’t have to struggle like I did. Instead, Walmart will guarantee you a position just as long as you meet the standard hiring criteria. It’s really, sincerely, just that simple.

Once upon a time, my brother helped me, and now I want to pay that forward to you. At Walmart, there are opportunities to do almost anything. If you’re a pilot, you can fly a plane for Walmart. There are careers in Technology, Logistics, Corporate – there’s so much more than you might initially think.

In the end, it’s a company that makes me proud because it’s a company that knows what we can bring to the table. And that they’re better off with us at their table. Let’s show them they’re right.

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Response by Capt Seid Waddell made Nov 18 at 2016 12:35 PM

Capt Seid Waddell — Fri, 18 Nov 2016 12:35:30 -0500

Thanks for the note! I will pass it on.

Response by SN Greg Wright made Nov 18 at 2016 12:50 PM

SN Greg Wright — Fri, 18 Nov 2016 12:50:32 -0500

Thank you, Captain. Welcome to RP!

Response by SPC Private RallyPoint Member made Nov 18 at 2016 3:57 PM

SPC Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 18 Nov 2016 15:57:03 -0500

Thanks for showing others this awesome opportunity, sir! And welcome to RP!

Response by Sgt Private RallyPoint Member made Nov 18 at 2016 5:11 PM

Sgt Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 18 Nov 2016 17:11:28 -0500

CPT Jessica Crow Thank you Ma'am!

Response by SFC George Smith made Nov 18 at 2016 8:03 PM

SFC George Smith — Fri, 18 Nov 2016 20:03:06 -0500

interesting...

Response by SPC Jim Johnson made Nov 29 at 2016 1:41 PM

SPC Jim Johnson — Tue, 29 Nov 2016 13:41:45 -0500

I agree, they are doing it. I have seen many veterans start working for Walmart and they are recognized by a blue tab. This is attached to their name badge.
Here is an example.

Response by SFC David Reid, M.S, PHR, SHRM-CP, DTM made Aug 18 at 2019 11:16 AM

SFC David Reid, M.S, PHR, SHRM-CP, DTM — Sun, 18 Aug 2019 11:16:16 -0400

WOW! This is great stuff! Apply today! Don't wait, the early bird gets the worm! All to often companies are just a collection of good ole boys! Consider joining Walmart in an setting that's more somewhat aligned with a structure that's similar to the military! HOOAH! Thanks for sharing this! CPT Jessica Crow