One of the foundational pillars of our mission is veteran employment. Veterans can face unique challenges when returning from their service and moving back into the civilian sector. Even though veteran unemployment has been lower than the national rate for the last few years, working to promote veteran employment remains critical: living-wage employment supports housing, family life, and mental health.
This is a good trend for our veterans, but our mission is not complete and we need to continue focusing our efforts on veteran employment and on meaningful career pathways for veterans. Many veterans are working below their skill level with 15.6 percent more likely to be underemployed than civilians. We all benefit if we fully recognize and leverage our veterans’ tremendous leadership and skill sets.
The drop in veteran unemployment is not a surprise given our nation’s work for the past decade to encourage hiring of transitioning 
service members, veterans, and their families. Not only is it the right thing to do, it’s the smart thing to do for companies. Studies show that 59% of employers reported that veterans perform “better than” or “much better than” non-veteran peers.
Organizations can change these statistics. At Tee It Up for the Troops, we strive to work with organizations that help with veteran employment by tackling problems and allowing for a smoother return to the civilian workforce. Since our founding in 2005, we’ve donated over $11,000,000 to many organizations, including those that support veteran employment.
One such company we partner with is Disabled American Veterans, an organization that works with veterans and employers to connect them with jobs that are the best fit. They also support and host in-person and digital job fairs to help veterans find the jobs they need to continue their journey outside of the military.
We also partner with On Course Foundation. Their vision is to use the game of golf as a vehicle for successful recovery. Through the confidence that the game of golf brings. The OnCourse Foundation Employment Program aides members in the transition from military service to a career in the golf industry. The skills acquired through military service produce outstanding individuals that are exceptionally employable regardless of injury or illness.
The last organization that we will highlight is Combat Veterans to Careers (CVC). CVC offers viable solutions and structured plans for addressing employment responsibilities and educational demands. They work directly with veterans to ensure they obtain the necessary certifications, specialized training and/or continued education needed to obtain meaningful employment.
Tee It Up for the Troops makes veteran employment one of its pillars because steady work makes so many other parts of life easier: owning or renting a home, having a family, and building purpose.
Help us build on this pillar by participating in a golf fundraiser or other event near you, or even let us help you start your own event!
