Every Veterans Day, Americans say, “Thank you for your service.” But, while it may be heartfelt, it’s not enough. If you really want to honor veterans, don’t say “thank you” — ask, “How can I help?”
Each year, roughly 200,000 service members transition out of the military and back into civilian life, only to find themselves in the midst of a different kind of battlefield — one filled with underemployment and a dangerous loss of purpose. They were trained to lead under pressure, manage million-dollar equipment, and make life-or-death decisions in seconds. Yet, too many return home to dead-end jobs that waste their potential, if they can find employment at all.
Veterans aren’t broken; our perspective on their skills is. We took the most capable and disciplined workforce on earth and failed to build a runway for them to land on.
THE PENTAGON’S ACQUISITION PROCESS IS BROKEN
I say this not as an observer, but as one of them. I’m a Marine. I’ve lived this transition. And now I listen to veterans every single day at VetComm, where our mission is to make sure no warrior is left behind. Every call, every message, every plea tells the same story: veterans feel useless and disconnected. They are desperate to be plugged back in so they can serve and belong again.
When I meet veterans on the street — men sleeping in tents, women clutching photos from their service days — I always ask, “How did it get to this point?” And the answer is heartbreakingly consistent: It started the day they got out. The moment that sense of purpose was gone, the slide began slowly, quietly, behind closed doors, with missed opportunities and jobs denied. A mission lost.
This problem isn’t about charity. Veterans don’t need pity; they need purpose.
And the stakes couldn’t be higher. The veteran suicide rate is 57% higher than that of nonveterans. The first year after separation is the deadliest, with nearly 46 suicides per 100,000. Meanwhile, more than 35,000 veterans are homeless on any given night — a 7.4% increase from just last year. Behind those numbers are leaders, warriors, and patriots who once carried this country on their backs.
Purpose is the missing link. When a Marine, soldier, sailor, or airman loses their mission, the consequences are devastating. Work isn’t just about income; it’s identity and belonging. And it’s the new battlefield for America’s veterans.
I founded VetComm to help veterans land on their feet and secure the VA benefits they’ve earned. But that’s only Phase 1. Now, we’re partnering with SkillBridge programs and industry leaders to train and place veterans in high-demand careers in cybersecurity, technology, and skilled trades because the same discipline, vigilance, and grit that win wars can rebuild America.
America needs to start recognizing and valuing veterans for their potential for meaningful contributions. We cannot continue to walk past the people who selflessly protected us as they languish on the streets. So, to every business owner and policymaker shaping our nation, stop overlooking the talent that already saved your country once.
Veterans aren’t a statistic. They are the most dependable, resilient, pressure-tested workforce in America. You don’t have to teach loyalty, work ethic, or leadership under fire — it’s already there.
AMERICA’S HEROES SHOULD NEVER BE WAITING FOR A PAYCHECK
This Veterans Day, let’s shift the conversation. Don’t stop at gratitude. Take action by hiring, training, or mentoring a veteran. Partner with organizations like VetComm that are building real bridges from service to success.
Because the next great American workforce isn’t “emerging.” It’s already here, holding a DD-214, and waiting for a mission. All we have to do is give them one.
Kate Monroe is a U.S. Marine Corps Veteran and the CEO of VetComm.
