Walmart hires 42,000 veterans in first year of 'Welcome Home' commitment

On Memorial Day 2013, Walmart announced its Veterans Welcome Home Commitment, vowing to hire 100,000 workers in five years.

Just one year later, the foundation announced in a press release that they had already hired 42,000 veterans, fulfilling nearly half that commitment -- four years early.

But that's not all. According to the same statement, Walmart promised that, in continuing its commitment to veterans and their families, it is pledging an additional $20 million through 2019 to "support veteran employment and transition programs" -- this on top of the $20 million pledge Walmart made in 2011 meant to "help veterans and their families get through those challenges with assistance from programs that provide job training, transition support and education."

As part of last year's launch, Walmart U.S. president and CEO Bill Simon said, "We have a generation of veterans who have built a legacy of incredible service and sacrifice to our nation." In the same statement, Simon claimed Walmart had "hired veterans at every career stage and in every part of [their] company, from stores and distribution centers to the home office and Walmart.com," adding that he believes they bring "invaluable skills including leadership, commitment and hard work, which make [their] workforce even stronger."

In this year's press release, Veteran Casey Mormen attested to the benefits of the program. "People don't realize how hard it is for veterans to find employment, and I received a call almost immediately after applying," said Mormen, who was hired at a Mich. store, adding Walmart has been supportive throughout her time with the company. "I started as a fitting room associate and have already been promoted to a department manager. I truly believe that you can go as far as your hard work will take you at Walmart, and the leadership team supports you along the way."

According to Walmart's corporate site, the program projects Walmart will hire more than 100,000 veterans in five years. For more on that five-year plan, check out this video.