WASHINGTON NAVY YARD – Service members leaving the military have skills, experiences, and qualifications that make them stand out in today’s labor market. 

National Hire a Veteran Day is recognized annually on July 25th. The goal is to raise awareness about civilian opportunities for transitioning service members and veterans, and to be a nation-wide call to action for employers to hire veterans. 

Strategic Systems Programs (SSP) released data showing its success in hiring veterans to create a robust and experienced workforce. Veterans currently make up 47% of SSP’s civilian workforce. From 2022 to 2023, veterans comprised 36% of all new hires across the Navy. The command deeply appreciates the organizational knowledge and technical excellence that veterans bring from their time in uniform.

"Veterans fit seamlessly into the SSP civilian workforce as they bring a familiarity with the mission and a sense of duty and responsibility to the command,” said Rashmi Singh, a Human Resources Officer at SSP. “Veterans have valuable skills in leadership, teamwork, and problem solving. They are able to adapt in changing situations, possess a strong work ethic, and understand Navy norms and protocol."

Continuing to work within the DoD as a civilian allows veterans to maintain a sense of mission pride and stay connected to their military community. Anastasia McDowell, an Air Force veteran and current civilian, echoed the positive role that SSP’s leadership and community have on those making the jump. 
“Moving from the military to the civilian world can be daunting, but SSP makes it less overwhelming,” she said.   

Every year, approximately 200,000 men and women leave U.S. military service and return to life as civilians, a process known as the military to civilian transition. Department of Labor data shows that in 2020, veterans made up 5.6% of the U.S. labor force, with the highest percentage of veterans transitioning into careers in the management, business, and finance sectors. The unemployment rate for veterans has steadily declined since is peak in 2020. In June 2023, the rate was 2.7%, lower than the national civilian unemployment rate of 3.6%. 

SSP is committed to partnering with service members serving in the command. SSP actively recruits veterans and works with service members within the command to identify employment opportunities as they start the transition to civilian life. 

 “It is an honor to be able to use the experience and skills I learned in my extended Navy career to be continue to contribute to an organization and mission critical to our national survival,” said Michael Beatty, a Navy veteran and current SSP civilian. “I am able to continue to interact with our active duty and reserve personnel.  Although I don't wear the uniform anymore, I can still maintain associations with the military team!”

SSP’s sea based strategic deterrence mission attracts veterans from all services. Strategic deterrence is not confined to a single branch, and veterans are empowered by working within a program that underpins all other areas of DoD. 

“The Air Force instilled in me a sense of mission and adaptability, and I wanted to continue serving our warfighters,” said Maria Poletis, an Air Force veteran and current civilian employee at SSP. 

 “At SSP you continue to have the pride and satisfaction for doing work that is vital to national security,” said Tom Young, a Marine Corps veteran and current SSP civilian. “You are part of an organization that values the unique experiences and perspective of your military background, and goes out of its way to take care you professionally and personally." 

In 2022, Secretary of the Navy Carlos Del Toro recognized the positive impact that his active duty service had on his civilian career.  

“I am so incredibly thankful for the skills, education, experience, and resilience I gained during my 22-years of active duty,” Del Toro said. “Following my retirement, those attributes were essential during my transition to a small business owner and industry partner of the Department of Defense, and even today as Secretary of the Navy. I encourage everyone who is able, to consider serving in or partnering with our armed services.”

That expertise and experience enables service members leaving the military to stand out in today’s labor market. That, combined with a connection to SSP’s mission, creates a supportive environment for career growth. 

“SSP's mission offers veterans the opportunity to join an organization whose history and accomplishments have revolutionized our national security for over 60 years,” said Joel Martinez, an Army veteran.  “As our mission continues to evolve, veterans will have an opportunity to make meaningful contributions and help broaden the aperture of SSP's mission through their expertise and experiences.” 

USAJobs is a resource for veterans embarking on the next chapter of their career. Those who served on active duty and were separated under honorable conditions may be eligible for veterans’ preference, as well as other veteran specific hiring options, according to USAJobs. Another resource for veterans and employers are the Veteran Employment Program Offices under OPM’s Feds Hire Vets initiative. OPM’s website includes a Directory that connects veterans with information on jobs and opportunities across multiple federal government agencies. 

Veterans can find career openings at SSP by going to the SSP website or looking at command opportunities on USAJobs.  

Strategic Systems Programs is the Navy command that provides cradle-to-grave lifecycle support for the sea-based leg of the nation’s nuclear triad. This includes training, systems, equipment, facilities and personnel responsible for ensuring the safety, security, and effectiveness of the nation’s Submarine Launched Ballistic Missile (SLBM) Trident II (D5LE) strategic weapon system.