Establishes SkillBridge training programs on military installations in Virginia and Hawaii
Company celebrates first anniversary of Fort Bragg employment and training facility
WOONSOCKET, R.I., July 18, 2018 /PRNewswire/ — In its continuing commitment to hire our nation’s veterans, CVS Health (NYSE: CVS) today announced the expansion of the company’s participation in the Department of Defense SkillBridge Initiative, which helps service men and women transition from military life to private sector civilian careers, to new locations in Hampton Roads (Virginia) and Schofield Barracks (Hawaii). Active duty military at these bases can begin training with CVS Health within 180 days of their separation from military service.
“The U.S. Department of Defense estimates approximately 1,300 new veterans and their families return to civilian life every day, many of whom are looking for the opportunity to find meaningful employment after serving,” said Lisa Bisaccia, Executive Vice President and Chief Human Resources Officer, CVS Health. “We’re proud to be expanding our opportunities for transitioning veterans while also helping to build a pipeline of talent with the unparalleled skills and experience that veterans provide.”
As part of the SkillBridge Initiative, transitioning service members are connected to a dedicated CVS Health colleague to learn about available job opportunities with the company and how their skills can translate to a meaningful career at CVS Health. Participants complete classroom curricula and a 12-week internship at a nearby CVS Pharmacy location and take part in a virtual job tryout to practice their interviewing skills. Following the completion of military service, veterans are eligible to apply for a position at any CVS Pharmacy across the country.
The announcement of the career skills training in Virginia and Hawaii coincides with the one year anniversary of the company’s first training and employment facility in Fort Bragg, North Carolina. The CVS Health Talent Connect Center, which opened in July 2017, combines hands-on support with state-of-the-art virtual reality technology to guide veterans and their spouses through the opportunities available within the company across the country. In one year, fifty percent of participants who have completed the curriculum and training program have been hired by CVS Health, with the majority of others using the skills they gained to find other employment.
Former U.S. Air Force Staff Sergeant Jessica Johnson was the first Air Force transitioning veteran to graduate from the CVS Health Talent Connect Center and she is now a store manager-in-training at CVS Pharmacy in Winterville, North Carolina.
“The CVS Health Talent Connect Center gave me a plan for life after the military, with an opportunity to grow professionally,” said Johnson. “I am able to apply my leadership techniques and my customer service skills, and I look forward to seeing where my career with CVS Health takes me.”
CVS Health has established a legacy of recruiting, hiring, training and retaining veterans to build a pipeline of workforce talent. Since 2015, the company has hired almost 12,500 people with military experience and more than 3,400 military spouses.
“Through the Talent Connect Center and the SkillBridge Initiative, we gain access to an often over-looked pool of talent,” said David Casey, VP, Workforce Strategies and Chief Diversity Officer, CVS Health, who served as a U.S. Marine in Operation Desert Storm. “We’re dedicated to providing veterans with a meaningful career after serving and the chance to help deliver on our company’s purpose of helping people on their path to better health.”
CVS Health has a long history of standing with those who serve our country, including active duty military, military retirees, veterans, National Guard, reservists, and their families. CVS Pharmacy has more than 150 stores within 20 miles of a major U.S. military installation, while 76 percent of the U.S. population lives within five miles of a CVS Pharmacy. CVS Health also supported the enactment of the VA Mission Act, which enhances veteran access to community care through the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, and builds upon several successful programs CVS Health has implemented in coordination with the Department to increase veterans’ access to health care services through walk-in care from qualifying community providers.
The company continues to deliver philanthropic support to military and veteran-focused organizations, including Fisher House, Operation Gratitude, Operation Homefront, ThanksUSA and the USO, while maintaining Valor, a colleague resource group comprised of over 500 employees with a passion to serve those who have served our country.
