You’ve asked us on My Starbucks Idea to share what we do to support our troops. It’s a great question that gives me the opportunity to talk about an effort I’m especially proud of, the Starbucks Armed Forces Network (AFN).
Launched and led by veterans in 2009, the purpose is to support Starbucks military partners and their families, transitioning military; and to create a military-friendly workforce. A primary focus is to support people transitioning back to civilian life by equipping them to enter the workforce on equal footing with others.
The truth is, this is an exceptionally qualified group. Often these folks have led more people under more stressful conditions with greater achievement than the majority of their peers, but you might not gather that from the resume.
Take my background, for example: After attending the Marine Corps Officers Basic Course, I was assigned to the air defense officers course in Fort Bliss, Texas. I was then assigned to Second Marine Aircraft Wing, MACG 28, 3rd LAAM Battalion at Marine Corps Air Base, Cherry Point, NC. I served as a platoon commander, firing platoon commander and a Battery Executive Officer (XO).
The description may be unclear for some one who hasn’t served in the military, but you can probably tell that leadership is involved. A focus for the AFN is to help translate military experience into a dialect that potential employers will understand, and I’m proud to say our number of success stories is growing, and veterans are finding positions, not just at Starbucks, but in companies throughout the state.
Right now, the reach of our network is primarily local, but we’re working to establish a presence among military partners that spans our nearly 7,000 company-owned stores across the United States.
As a company, we’re proud of all the other ways we support the military – like sending hundreds of thousands of pounds of coffee and millions of packs of Starbucks VIA to troops overseas – but it’s our success through AFN that makes me stand taller.
In honor of this Memorial Day weekend, I want to thank all of you for making the welfare of America’s heroes a priority, and invite you to keep the ideas coming, and the conversation going.
Sincerely,
Mick
Inspired by your ideas:
Care packages for troops overseas
posted by Plee