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An Employer Speaks
The USPS’s Potter: Trained for Service
“The role of veterans in our business has been critical,” says John E. Potter, Postmaster General and CEO of the United States Postal Service (USPS). “In many respects, they have led the way in terms of proving employee value. Today veterans are among the best-trained candidates in the job market.”
Potter views the U.S. military as the “world’s largest and most comprehensive training system” with many veterans receiving “professional and technical training experience that translates well to postal work.” The USPS has active policies regarding hiring veterans of America’s armed forces, such as aggressive recruitment, veterans’ preference, and reasonable accommodation for those with disabilities.
“Today we are proud to have over 200,000 employees who have traded their military uniforms for postal uniforms,” says Potter, noting that veterans are key employees in post offices and plants as well as at postal headquarters.
“The Postal Service has had excellent experiences with veterans in all areas, including leadership positions,” says Potter, whose organization believes in promoting from the ranks. He points to “many, many veterans who began their postal careers in entry-level positions and have advanced through the ranks as managers, supervisors, and officers.” An example is the USPS Vice President of Employee Resource Management, who is a Vietnam veteran who served in the Army with the 101st Division.
According to Potter, America’s armed forces and the Postal Service “have a lot in common.” The USPS culture has traditionally been one of career public service and dedication, which are essential values that Potter feels employees with military backgrounds possess.
“Almost one quarter of our career employees have veterans’ preference eligibility," says Potter. “They have been part of the heart and soul of our organization for more than two centuries.”
Potter points to a critical need at the Postal Service for new automotive mechanics, electronic technicians, maintenance mechanics, and building maintenance personnel. Yet he affirms that many Postal Service positions benefit from the discipline and skills the military instills. He specifically cites “technical skills, a strong work ethic, determination, leadership skills, resourcefulness, flexibility, dedication, a sense of urgency, and the ability to quickly absorb, process, and retain information.”
He adds, “Military personnel bring skills and values that fit perfectly with our employee development management philosophy.”
Hire a veteran now.
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