Walmart Joins Army Spouse Employment Partnership

Partnership Aims to Provide Employment and Career Opportunities Nationwide

Walmart Press Release

Captain Lonnie Ryan

BENTONVILLE, Ark., October 6, 2009 – Walmart announced it joined the Army Spouse Employment Partnership (ASEP) as part of its ongoing commitment to provide employment and career opportunities to the military community.

Walmart made its participation official through an induction and signing ceremony that took place yesterday in Washington, D.C. during the Association of the U.S. Army (AUSA) Annual Meeting and Exposition. The ceremony featured Walmart Executive Vice President Susan Chambers, Global People Division; U.S. Army Secretary John McHugh; U.S. Army Assistant Secretary Thomas Lamont, Manpower and Reserve Affairs: and U.S. Army Brig. Gen. Reuben Jones, Commander, Army Welfare and Recreation Command.

 “From Walmart’s founder, Sam Walton, to many of our current executives and associates, our company has greatly benefited from the experiences our veterans and their families have brought to Walmart from their time in the military,” said Susan Chambers. “Walmart’s relationship with ASEP is a natural extension of our company’s efforts to be an employer of choice for military veterans and other important communities.” 

ASEP provides Army spouses with job opportunities, career mobility and enhanced employment options through partnerships with corporate and private partners looking to employ diverse and talented candidates. According to the Army, last year ASEP partners hired more than 8,200 military spouses, bringing the grand total of spouses employed to 42,100 since the program began in late 2003.

 "The Army recruits soldiers, but retaining families is part of the commitment ASEP and its partners have made toward helping our spouses establish and maintain careers," said U.S. Army Secretary McHugh.   "It is important to Army leadership, and I thank Walmart and all the ASEP partners for their commitment."

 Besides joining with ASEP, Walmart’s commitment to be an employer of choice for military communities is further demonstrated through the company’s partnership with the U.S. Army Reserve to offer career opportunities to serving Reserve Soldiers.  Walmart also launched last year the Junior Military Officer program, an initiative designed to recruit commissioned and non-commissioned officers transitioning into the civilian workforce to store management positions.  To date, more than 150 veterans have been selected to the program and will be serving in various store management capacities upon completion of their training.

 Walmart’s overall commitment to military communities extends beyond its stores and clubs and into the communities it serves. Through the Walmart Foundation, the company has been able to support programs to honor members of the armed forces and provide assistance to soldiers and their families. Some of these programs include honoring the memory of soldiers through Wreaths Across America, grants to veterans’ assistance programs through the American Council on Education and support for military families through Fisher House.

 About Wal-Mart Stores, Inc.

Wal-Mart Stores, Inc. (NYSE: WMT), or “Walmart,” serves customers and members more than 200 million times per week at more than 8,000 retail units under 53 different banners in 15 countries. With fiscal year 2009 sales of $401 billion, Walmart employs more than 2.1 million associates worldwide. A leader in sustainability, corporate philanthropy and employment opportunity, Walmart ranked first among retailers in Fortune Magazine’s 2009 Most Admired Companies survey. Additional information about Walmart can be found by visiting www.walmartstores.com. Online merchandise sales are available at www.walmart.com and www.samsclub.com.

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