Salesforce Deepens Commitment to Military Community and Partners—Contributes More than $1M to Help Veterans and Military Spouses Skill Up

Before COVID-19, military spouse unemployment rates were approximately eight times higher than for all adult women, while last month, more than one million veterans filed for jobless benefits. Veterans and military spouses overcome many obstacles to employment and in a time of uncertainty, the employment landscape will present even more obstacles and quite possibly fewer opportunities for all job seekers.

At Salesforce, we know that veterans and military spouses offer unique skills that make them exemplary employees. Since its launch in 2014, Salesforce Military has upskilled and reskilled a growing community of more than 30,000 military Trailblazers with high-demand technology skills and certifications to land meaningful careers in the Salesforce ecosystem.

Today, we deepen that commitment by contributing $1M to the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation’s Hiring Our Heroes (HOH) to fund a new Salesforce Fellowship Program that will help provide work to unemployed veterans and military spouses. This program is a proactive approach to what is only the beginning of the ramifications of the pandemic on military family employment.

“This fellowship will put money directly into the pockets of military families at a time many are experiencing uncertainty,” said Ann Weeby, head of Salesforce Military. “Our customers and partners benefit from incredible talent and our military Trailblazers get valuable work experience — truly a win-win.”

In partnership with Hiring our Heroes, a nationwide effort to connect veterans, service members and military spouses with employment opportunities, the Salesforce Fellowship program will allow veterans and military spouses to participate in paid, remote, 12-week fellowships at Salesforce partner and customer companies. Those selected for the fellowship will gain hands-on experience as certified Salesforce professionals that provides a competitive edge to help them prepare for a career.

“Hiring Our Heroes is honored to join Salesforce in delivering this innovative experiential learning initiative to equalize opportunity for the military community,” said Eric Eversole, Hiring Our Heroes president and a vice president at the U.S. Chamber of Commerce. “Salesforce certifications provide a unique pathway to meaningful employment with high demand skills and upward mobility to any veteran or military spouse, regardless of previous experience. The 12-week program also supports employers in building skilled and diversified workforces as they recover from an unprecedented economic landscape. We are grateful for Salesforce’s commitment to workforce development and excited to blaze a trail to the future together.”

Any Salesforce customer or partner company can apply to host a fellow at no cost to their organization. By participating, host companies will gain access to skilled, certified, military community professionals, while also developing a more comprehensive understanding of the veteran and military spouse job market.

Salesforce’s continued commitment to military service members, veterans and spouses

Salesforce is also giving a total of $65K to enable high-touch job training and mentorship through Merivis and to coordinate local and national support for military families through Blue Star Families.

“I could not be more grateful for what Salesforce Military has given me and my family… a meaningful career that I can maintain while also supporting my active duty husband in his,” said Ciara Skiles, Senior Consultant, Salesforce Certified, Cirrius Solutions Inc. “Within months of starting on the platform, I was able to secure a well paying, fully remote position with an amazing company that I love. Getting started on Trailhead was the best professional decision I have ever made and would encourage anyone who is interested, regardless of their professional background, to also take that leap.”

Salesforce Military (formerly Vetforce) offers self-paced training with Trailhead, Salesforce’s free online learning platform, and certification exams at no cost for active duty military, veterans, and military spouses. We connect our talented pipeline with partner companies to help grow, strengthen, and diversify their workforces.

In 2019, we launched the Salesforce Military Alliance to create a larger movement to prioritize and accelerate the interviewing and hiring of veterans and military spouses for Salesforce ecosystem jobs. Since its launch, 20 companies have joined the alliance and are guaranteeing interviews to any veteran or spouse who earns an administrator certification. These companies don’t require a college degree to qualify for an interview. Over 60 veterans and military spouses are now working at Salesforce Military alliance partner companies.

To learn more about Salesforce Military, visit: salesforce.com/military

Hiring Our Heroes (HOH) is a 501(c)3 organization under the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation. The non-profit launched in March 2011 as a nationwide initiative to help veterans, transitioning service members, and military spouses find meaningful employment. Working with the U.S. Chamber of Commerce’s vast network of state and local chambers and other strategic partners from the public, private and nonprofit sectors, Hiring Our Heroes has helped hundreds of thousands of veterans and military spouses find meaningful employment through its comprehensive training and hiring events, fellowship programs, and online tools. HOH programs and services are available in all 50 states, Puerto Rico, the District of Columbia, and on military installations around the world. For more information on programming and initiatives: HiringOurHeroes.org; @HiringOurHeroes on LinkedIn, Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.