My Reflections on Military Appreciation Month

Although National Military Appreciation Month may be coming to a close, at National Vision we honor the service, sacrifices and courage of those who have served and are serving not just throughout May, but everyday.

Recognizing the unique challenges facing veterans as they transition out of the military and into the civilian world, we made a commitment in October 2014 to ensure veteran partnership and inclusion was a priority across all sectors of our organization.

A very important part of that commitment has been to hire a minimum of 500 veterans and veteran spouses over the next five years. Since June 2015 we have hired 309 veterans.

Joining Forces CommitmentJoining Forces event

It has now been a year since I had the privilege of visiting the White House and pledged the commitment of National Vision to hire a minimum of 100 military veterans and/or veteran spouses in technology-focused positions as part of the White House Joining Forces initiative.

The event was an experience I will always remember, and the promises made by so many companies to hire military veterans and their spouses were inspiring.

As a veteran myself, I don’t think we can do anything better as a company than to hire veterans. They paid a price to help us and we should do everything we can to honor their sacrifice. At National Vision, we are proud to do our part, giving veterans good jobs upon their discharge from the military.

At the end of the day, it’s not about us as a company, it’s about helping people, especially our veterans.

Next Steps

In the past year we have also made great strides in our efforts to expand our presence within the veteran community and have continued to learn from our men and women in uniform, and those that support them.

We recently supported the 7th Annual Service Above Self Golf Invitational Tournament. This local event benefits the SHARE Military Initiative – a program that provides free medical and rehabilitation care for members of the military who have sustained traumatic brain injuries (TBI).

We have also participated in multiple hiring and recruiting events throughout the country in an effort to reach those military members searching for new opportunities.

I am excited for what 2017 and the future hold for National Vision. It is an honor to work alongside all the veterans at National Vision. Please join me in honoring their service as well.

Bruce Steffey

Bruce Steffey

President & COO at National Vision
Bruce Steffey has served as the President and Chief Operating Officer of National Vision since October 2002. With more than 30 years of retail experience and a deep understanding of consumer needs, Mr. Steffey has led an operational team that has played an instrumental role in National Vision’s growth and rapid expansion throughout his tenure with the company. Mr. Steffey is also a U.S. Army veteran.
Bruce Steffey

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