Admiral McGann is correct in her assessment that the problem lies in the fact that Americans with military experience or direct knowledge of the military are becoming increasingly rare, with a corresponding decline in interest in military service on the part of our youth. The effect in the workplace is so severe that former members of the armed forces, because of civilian ignorance of the military, are actually victims of what can accurately be described as discrimination. Very few senior managers have had military experience or any knowledge of the value of military training and experience, and even fewer have any interest in reaching out to men and women with military backgrounds. I have never met one hiring manager with military experience. Almost none have family members in the armed forces and few even know anyone who serves in the armed forces.
Military training is at best ignored and at worst denigrated.
What I have learned is reinforced by some sad facts. In a time of historic low unemployment, in which business leaders are crying out for quality workers, the Department of Labor reports that former men and women of our armed forces experience unemployment rates almost twice that of people who haven't served. And it gets worse. The effect on recruiting is devastating. We all know that a youth's propensity to enlist is greatly affected by conversations with veterans.