SEPTEMBER 20, 2017, Fort Knox, KY – Recently, the Soldier for Life – Transition Assistance Program (SFL-TAP) held its first ever social media campaign to bring awareness to the hiring of transitioning Soldiers, reaching almost 4 million Twitter users in a single day.
The events included Facebook Live guest speakers sharing their transition experience and advice, various graphics, reasons to hire a Soldier segments, and a contest with the winner announced by the Sgt. Maj. of the Army Daniel Dailey. Companies joining in the social media events shared advice, best practices, and job seeking tips for transitioning Soldiers throughout the campaign. They reported receiving resumes from Soldiers participating and that the interview process had begun for qualified participants.
The high-point of the campaign was an online Twitter Chat with civilian companies and Soldiers on resume writing and job seeking skills. The hashtag the SFL-TAP office created to spark the campaign (#HireaSoldier) began “trending” on the sidebar of the platform as a suggested conversation to join and reached almost 4 million Twitter users in a single day, according to online hashtag tracking programs.
“SFL-TAP has started to expand to new ways to connect transitioning Soldiers to companies, including where the Soldier is currently stationed, as well as online both nationally and internationally,” said retired Col. Walter Herd, Director of SFL-TAP.
The Hire a Soldier Twitter Chat and Campaign was supported by Partnership for Youth Success (PaYS), the Benefits Administration of Veterans Affairs (VA), Warrior Care and Transition (WCT), the National Guard’s Citizen Soldier for Life (CSFL), the Army Reserve’s Private Public Partnership (P3), and the Department of Labor Veterans Employment and Training Services (DOL VETS).
“The Hire a Soldier Campaign brought both sides together virtually, so that no matter where a Soldier or company was located, they could join in the conversation online,” said Jenny Hale, SFL-TAP’s Strategic Communications contractor and Hire a Soldier Campaign lead.
SFL-TAP plans to host more social media events this fall to help Soldiers find employment after Army active duty. Companies and Soldiers interested in participating in the online events can follow SFL-TAP’s Facebook (@ArmySFLTAP), Twitter (@SFLTAP), and LinkedIn Group (Soldier for Life – Transition Assistance Program Connection Group) for up-to-date information. Companies can contact usarmy.knox.hrc.mbx.tagd-sfl-tap-comm@mail.mil to receive email updates on future online events.
Story by Jenny Hale
U.S. Army Human Resources Command