Marc Penterman left a 20-year career in the Air Force to land a job at Walmart in Phoenix. Now, he鈥檚 quickly moving up the ladder in his 鈥渆ncore鈥 profession.
Initially, he was hired as assistant manager overseeing Home Lines where he quickly adjusted to being in charge. Eight months later, he鈥檚 now responsible for a team that restocks the shelves at the store.
鈥淲hen I started working at Walmart less than a year ago, they gave me a veteran badge to wear and it made me very proud,鈥 said Penterman, who was a security force officer in the Air Force. 鈥淭he badge is like a medal of honor. When both customers and employees see it, they treat me with such warmth and thank me for my service.鈥
Penterman is one of 265,000 veterans who have been hired by Walmart since it
introduced its Veterans Welcome Home Commitment in 2013, surpassing its goal to hire 250,000 new veteran associates by 2020. In Arizona, more than 6,400 have been hired
Hiring and promoting those who serve
The Welcome Home program started as a mission to hire those who served their country and help them move up the career ladder, said Brynt Parmeter, senior director for Walmart Military Programs.
Of the veterans hired, more than 44,000 have been promoted to roles of greater responsibility within a Walmart or Sam鈥檚 Club.
First announced on Memorial Day 2013, the Welcome Home program鈥檚 initial goal was to hire 100,000 veterans by the end of 2018. Two years later, the company expanded that goal to 250,000 by the end of 2020.
On Veterans Day 2018, Walmart also broadened the scope of its commitment to provide employment opportunities for spouses with its Military Spouses Career Connection. To date, the company has hired 19,045 associates and continues offering any military spouse hiring preference when applying for a job.
Stepping up its commitment to veterans
Parmeter is now looking to step up Walmart鈥檚 commitment to veterans and the communities they serve. He said his team is focusing on efforts to help veterans and their family members in employment, entrepreneurship, learning, and health and wellness.
鈥淲e鈥檙e proud of our achievements and the opportunities presented to the brave service members who鈥檝e honorably defended our country,鈥 Parmeter said. 鈥淣ow, it鈥檚 our responsibility to continue preparing these men and women for meaningful futures full of economic opportunity and overall well-being.鈥
Walmart and the Walmart Foundation have a long history of supporting veterans, service members and their families.
Since 2011, Walmart and the Walmart Foundation have invested more than $40 million in programs that support job training, education and public/private community-based initiatives.
About Walmart in Arizona
In Arizona, Walmart has 126 retail units and 33,616 employees. Last fiscal year, Walmart spent $1.6 billion with Arizona suppliers, supporting 32,767 Arizona supplier jobs.
During that time, Walmart and the Walmart Foundation contributed more than $24.5 million in cash and in-kind donations to local nonprofits in Arizona.
For more information about Walmart鈥檚 commitment to hire and promote veterans, service members and military families, visit: .To see all of the programs that Walmart is involved in to help veterans in communities worldwide, go to:
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