Transitioning out of the military means translating years of specialized experience into a civilian job market that does not always understand what you did. The good news: a growing number of major employers actively recruit veterans, maintain dedicated transition programs, and publish hiring commitments they actually track.
This list draws on Military Times Best for Vets, VIQTROY Military Friendly Employers, Forbes Best Employers for Veterans, and each company's own veteran hiring data. Every employer listed below has at least one structured program — not just a careers page tagline — specifically designed for veterans and military spouses.
1. Amazon
Veterans hired: 40,000+ Industry: Technology, logistics, cloud computing
Amazon operates one of the largest veteran hiring pipelines in the private sector. Their AWS Military Apprenticeship program pays participants while they train for cloud certifications and technical roles, covering 95% of tuition for relevant credentials. The company's military skills translator maps Army, Navy, Marine Corps, and Air Force MOS codes directly to open positions across operations, logistics, software engineering, and security.
Warriors@Amazon, the company's veteran employee resource group, has 15+ chapters across fulfillment centers and corporate offices. Amazon also partners with DoD SkillBridge, allowing transitioning service members to spend their final months on active duty in paid internships that frequently convert to full-time roles.
Key programs:
- AWS Military Apprenticeship (paid training + cert coverage)
- DoD SkillBridge internship placements
- Warriors@Amazon ERG (15+ chapters)
- Military skills translator on the hiring portal
- Military spouse hiring commitment
2. Boeing
Veterans employed: ~25,000 (roughly 15% of workforce) Industry: Aerospace and defense
Boeing's military veteran population is one of the largest in aerospace. The company's Veterans Industry Training and Apprenticeship program provides pathways from military aviation, maintenance, and logistics roles into civilian Boeing positions without requiring a four-year degree.
Military Veteran Engagement (MVE), Boeing's veteran ERG, operates 30+ chapters and runs mentorship programs connecting new veteran hires with senior leaders who served. Boeing also directly maps MOS codes to job families — aviation mechanics, logistics specialists, and electronics technicians are common transition paths.
Key programs:
- Veterans Industry Training and Apprenticeship program
- Military Veteran Engagement ERG (30+ chapters)
- MOS-to-job family mapping for aviation, logistics, and engineering
- DoD SkillBridge partnerships
- Security clearance transition support (many roles maintain active clearances)
3. Lockheed Martin
Veterans employed: ~18,000 (roughly 20% of workforce) Industry: Defense and aerospace
Lockheed Martin has one of the highest veteran density rates among major defense contractors. Many positions — especially in Mission Systems, Aeronautics, and Space — require active security clearances that transitioning veterans already hold, making the clearance a direct hiring advantage rather than a barrier.
The company's veteran hiring target exceeds 1,000 per year, and their Patriots@Lockheed ERG provides community, mentorship, and networking. Lockheed also operates dedicated SkillBridge fellowship placements and transition workshops.
Key programs:
- Veteran hiring target of 1,000+ per year
- Patriots@Lockheed ERG
- SkillBridge fellowship placements
- Clearance maintenance — existing clearances are a hiring advantage
- Transition workshops and resume translation assistance
4. Northrop Grumman
Veterans employed: ~18% of workforce Industry: Defense and aerospace
Northrop Grumman's Operation: Welcome Home program helps transitioning service members navigate their first 90 days of civilian employment — covering benefits enrollment, team integration, and mentorship matching. Their Veterans Employee Resource Group (VERG) runs chapter networks at major sites.
The Mission Systems division in particular recruits heavily from veterans with signals intelligence, cyber operations, and systems engineering backgrounds. Like Lockheed, many roles require clearances that veterans already hold.
Key programs:
- Operation: Welcome Home transition program
- Veterans Employee Resource Group (VERG)
- Clearance-advantaged hiring for Mission Systems division
- Mentorship programs pairing veterans with senior leaders
- DoD SkillBridge partnerships
5. JPMorgan Chase
Veterans hired: 12,000+ since 2011 Industry: Financial services
JPMorgan Chase co-founded the Veterans Jobs Mission, a coalition of over 200 companies that jointly committed to hiring one million veterans — and exceeded that goal. Their internal Office of Military and Veterans Affairs runs the military fellowship program, which places transitioning service members in paid SkillBridge roles across technology, operations, and client-facing teams.
The Veterans Business Resource Group provides networking, community, and career development for veteran employees across all divisions.
Key programs:
- Co-founded Veterans Jobs Mission (200+ companies, 1M+ veteran hires)
- Office of Military and Veterans Affairs
- Military Fellowship Program (paid SkillBridge placements)
- Veterans Business Resource Group ERG
- Military spouse hiring initiatives
6. USAA
Veteran representation: ~25% of workforce Industry: Financial services and insurance
USAA was founded by military officers and exclusively serves the military community — so hiring people who understand that community is not a program, it is core to the business model. Their Military Affairs Advocacy team, staffed entirely by veterans, ensures that products and policies reflect the realities of military life.
USAA offers paid military leave for Guard and Reserve employees above what federal law requires, and their veteran transition training includes structured mentorship. Because the customer base is military, veterans bring direct domain expertise that civilian hires lack.
Key programs:
- Founded by and for the military community
- Military Affairs Advocacy team (all veterans)
- Enhanced military leave for Guard and Reserve
- Veteran Transition Training with structured mentorship
- Spouse employment programs
7. Siemens
Veterans hired: 7,500+ since 2012 Industry: Industrial manufacturing, energy, infrastructure
Siemens stands out for its military skills translator tool on the careers page, which maps specific Army, Navy, and Marine MOS codes directly to open Siemens positions. They also offer registered apprenticeship programs that accept GI Bill benefits, making it possible to earn while learning a trade.
Their partnership with Hiring Our Heroes provides fellowship placements for transitioning service members, and the company has committed to specific veteran hiring targets that it reports publicly each year.
Key programs:
- Military Skills Translator (MOS-to-role mapping)
- Registered apprenticeship programs accepting GI Bill
- Hiring Our Heroes fellowship partnerships
- Public veteran hiring targets with annual reporting
- Veterans ERG with chapter network
8. CVS Health
Military-affiliated hires: 50,000+ since 2013 (veterans, spouses, and dependents) Industry: Healthcare, pharmacy, retail
CVS Health's Military Talent Partnership program goes beyond traditional recruiting by reducing degree requirements for veteran applicants and focusing on skills-based hiring. This is especially relevant for medics, corpsmen, and health specialists whose military training maps directly to pharmacy technician and clinical roles.
Their Business Resource Group for veterans and military families provides community within a large, distributed workforce. CVS also partners with military spouse employment coalitions and offers flexible scheduling for Guard and Reserve members.
Key programs:
- Military Talent Partnership program
- Skills-based hiring (reduced degree requirements for veterans)
- PharmD and clinical role pathways via GI Bill partnerships
- Business Resource Group for veterans and military families
- Guard and Reserve flexible scheduling
9. Deloitte
Veteran hires: 6,000+ Industry: Professional services, consulting
Deloitte's MilVets ERG is one of the company's largest and most active employee networks. The firm's Armed Forces Transition Internship places SkillBridge participants in paid consulting roles that frequently convert to full-time positions in technology, risk advisory, and strategy.
Deloitte also runs the Veteran Catalyst Program, an accelerated development track designed to bring transitioning service members up to speed on consulting culture and client work faster than a standard onboarding path. The firm's pro bono practice dedicates significant hours to veteran-serving nonprofits.
Key programs:
- MilVets ERG (one of Deloitte's largest)
- Armed Forces Transition Internship (SkillBridge partner)
- Veteran Catalyst Program (accelerated development track)
- Pro bono consulting for veteran-serving nonprofits
- Military spouse fellowship program
10. Comcast and NBCUniversal
Veteran hires: 20,000+ since 2015 Industry: Media, telecommunications, technology
Comcast committed to hiring 21,000 veterans, military spouses, and Guard/Reserve members by 2025 and exceeded that goal early. Their Military Engagement Team handles sourcing and onboarding, with a military skills translator that maps MOS codes to roles across engineering, operations, sales, and content production.
VetNet, the veteran ERG, operates 15+ chapters. Comcast also partners with Hiring Our Heroes for fellowship placements and maintains Guard and Reserve leave policies that exceed federal minimums.
Key programs:
- Military Engagement Team (dedicated veteran recruiting)
- VetNet ERG (15+ chapters)
- Military skills translator on the hiring portal
- Hiring Our Heroes fellowship placements
- Enhanced Guard and Reserve leave policies
What the top employers have in common
Four patterns show up consistently across these companies:
- Skills translation — They do not expect veterans to figure out how their MOS maps to a job description. The best employers provide a tool or a person who does that translation automatically.
- Paid transition pathways — SkillBridge internships, apprenticeships, and fellowship programs let you start the job while you are still on active duty, with a paycheck from either the employer or DoD.
- Veteran ERGs — Employee resource groups give new hires an immediate community, mentors who understand the transition, and informal channels for navigating corporate culture.
- Public commitments with tracking — These companies publish veteran hiring numbers, set targets, and report progress. Vague statements about "valuing veterans" are not enough — look for employers that track and disclose.
How to evaluate any employer's veteran program
Before accepting an offer, check these four things:
- Do they have a named veteran program? Not just a website page — a program with a budget, a staff, and a hiring target.
- Is their skills translator specific? A generic "we value your service" banner is not the same as a tool that maps your MOS to open requisitions.
- Do they participate in SkillBridge? Employers who take SkillBridge fellows are serious about hiring transitioning service members, not just checking a diversity box.
- Can you find their veteran ERG? If the employee resource group has a public page with events, leadership, and contact information, it is real. If it is invisible, it may be lip service.
The employers on this list check all four boxes. Many other companies do too — check Military Times Best for Vets and VIQTORY Military Friendly Employers for annual rankings that evaluate veteran programs, retention rates, and culture beyond just the hiring number.