FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
July 25, 2019
USO Pathfinder® Bolsters Offering with Addition of Hire Our Heroes
Leading military service organization adds Hire Our Heroes and Skillsoft to transition services
Arlington, Va. (July 25, 2019) – The USO honors National Hire a Veteran Day with the announcement of adding Hire Our Heroes to its USO Pathfinder® program. Hire Our Heroes, a nonprofit organization founded in 2013 by Marine veteran Dan Caporale and retired Marine Master Gunnery Sgt. Tim Kirk, has connected more than 100,000 service members to valuable training resources - all free of charge. As a demonstration of commitment to helping service members and their families transition from the military, Caporale also started the nationally recognized date of July 25 as National Hire a Veteran Day to increase awareness among employers of the value that veterans provide in the workforce.
The USO is proud to build upon the impressive foundation laid by Caporale and Kirk, and the mission of Hire Our Heroes will live on as an extension of the USO Pathfinder program. Specifically, this will include leveraging the generous partnership that was established between Hire Our Heroes and Skillsoft. The USO plans to elevate that offering via its broader USO Pathfinder network and add Skillsoft’s cloud-based learning and certification training opportunities to its roster of education support services.
“We are so grateful to these two Marine veterans for their dedication and success in developing transition resources, and the USO is proud to grow upon the legacy built,” said Jeremy Albritton, USO vice president of programs. “The USO continues to create innovative educational opportunities for transitioning service members and their spouses. By working together with other organizations in this space, we will achieve the best outcomes for the men and women who have served and who are most deserving.”
USO Pathfinder is a robust transition program that includes digital resources and in-person learning at more than 200 USO locations around the world, intended to ensure service members and military spouses have the skills and certifications they need for the next step in their journeys. From cybersecurity training to real estate licensure support to project management certification, the USO builds strategic programmatic partnerships that increase its reach and ensure a breadth of educational opportunities that are as diverse as the population it serves.
As Marine Corps veterans who have become successful entrepreneurs, Caporale and Kirk have a passion for ensuring fellow veterans have the skills they need to become thriving civilians.
“When we started Hire Our Heroes, it was always bigger than any of us,” Caporale said. “Through the years, we have continued to look for ways to offer more to the veteran population.”
“The move made sense in today’s highly competitive nonprofit space. It was a win-win for veterans and veteran spouses,” Caporale said. “We are honored to be a part of this newfound partnership, allowing us to integrate Hire Our Heroes into the USO Pathfinder program. We are grateful in knowing that the offering to our veterans and their spouses continues to become greater and that the Hire Our Heroes legacy will continue through the USO Pathfinder program.”
About the USO
The USO strengthens America’s military service members by keeping them connected to family, home and country, throughout their service to the nation. At hundreds of locations worldwide, we are united in our commitment to connect our service members and their families through countless acts of caring, comfort and support. The USO is a private nonprofit organization, not a government agency. Our programs, services and entertainment tours are made possible by the American people, support of our corporate partners and the dedication of our volunteers and staff. To join us in this important mission and to learn more about the USO, please visit USO.org or follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
