Re-posting - Brian Bender - The Veteran's Plight

Every job application I fill out asks: "Are you a veteran?" I check yes, feeling proud of my 16 years in the Air Force. But then I wonder—what happens to that information? If veterans are supposedly valued for being cool under pressure and highly capable, why does it feel like that checkbox leads to a dead end instead of an open door?

I spent my Air Force career in Public Affairs—managing communications, handling crisis messaging, coordinating with media, and ensuring clear information flow under intense pressure. These skills translate directly to PR, marketing, corporate communications, and dozens of other civilian roles. Yet somehow, the conversation often stops at "military experience."

Here's what I want recruiters and hiring managers to understand about what veterans bring to your organization:

We're natural leaders who've managed teams in high-stakes environments where failure wasn't an option.

We own accountability like it's part of our DNA—because it literally was drilled into us from day one.

We solve problems with creativity and resourcefulness, often with limited resources and tight deadlines. (Think MacGyver- it's amazing what duct tape can do)

We adapt faster than most because change was constant in our military careers.

We bring unmatched dedication to the mission—whatever that mission becomes in your company.

So why do many companies proudly display "veteran-friendly" badges while their actual veteran workforce remains disappointingly small? Why do recruiters seem to pass over qualified veterans, assuming we lack "industry-specific knowledge" or that our experience "doesn't translate"?

Maybe the real question is: Are we as veterans not getting the chance to tell our story? Are we not explaining our value clearly enough? Or are hiring decisions being made based on outdated assumptions about what military service means in the civilian world?

I'm challenging every recruiter and hiring manager reading this: Take a second look at that veteran checkbox. Don't just ask the question—act on the answer. That veteran sitting across from you (or on the other side of the video call) has probably solved problems you can't imagine, led teams through impossible situations, and delivered results when everything was on the line.

The question isn't whether we can do the job. The question is: Are you ready to see what we can really bring to your team?