Honoring Veterans

Tis the season of gratitude. Veteran’s Day is just as important of a time to give thanks. Who better to show our appreciation to than the people who bravely serve and sacrifice for our nation? Veteran’s Day is to acknowledge all those who are currently serving or are serving in the military either during wartime or times of peace.

To celebrate our veterans, we decided to share 22 statistics about veterans in the US as well as their service to government. Or take the time to thank a veteran today by sending them an ecard that GovLoop created.

General

• As of 2014, the number of veterans in the US is approximately 22.5 million (Veteran’s Inc).Tweet this

• There are currently over 2 million female veterans in the US (DoSomething.Org).Tweet this

• Female deployment increased: 41,000 in the Gulf War to 182,000 in Operation Enduring Freedom and Operation Iraqi Freedom (Veteran’s Inc).Tweet this

• In 2013, there were 38, 140 veterans who served through all the World War II, Korean War, and Vietnam War eras (DoSomething.Org).Tweet this

• Nearly 10 million veterans are 65 or older.Tweet this

• 3 states are home to more than a million veterans: California (1.8 million), Florida (1.5 million), and Texas (1.7 million).Tweet this

• Mortality at present is low: In WWII, 30% of the Americans injured in combat dies. In Vietnam, the proportion dropped to 24 percent. In Iraq and Afghanistan, about 10% of those injured have died (HonoringOurTroops.Org). Tweet this

Federal Government

• 56,000 out of 195,000 (28.9 %) of federal employees hired in 2012 were veterans (OPM).Tweet this

• A veteran is more than twice as likely as a non-veteran to hold a job in public administration (HonoringOurTroops.Org).Tweet this

• As of October 2013, there are 111,512 military contractors working for the Department of Defense in Iraq and Afghanistan.Tweet this

• The Labor Department projects that 1.5 million service members will be making the leap from active duty to a civilian job over the next 5 years.Tweet this

• In 2014, nearly 1 in 3 employed veterans with a service-connected disability worked in the public sector (BLS).Tweet this

• The number of veterans serving in Congress is at its lowest point in 40 years (HonoringOurTroops.Org).Tweet this

• The US Postal Service is the largest single employer of veterans.Tweet this

Hard Facts

• Veterans represent 11% of the adult civilian population, but 26% of the homeless population (Homeless Research Institute 2007).Tweet this

• The unemployment rate of post 9/11 veterans is 6.2 % (DoSomething.Org).Tweet this

• Every month, nearly 1,000 veterans attempt to take their own lives – more than one attempt every hour (HonoringOurTroops.Org).Tweet this

• The Veterans Crisis Line has answered more than 890,000 calls and made more than 30,000 life-saving rescues since its launch in 2007.Tweet this

• More than 2 million American children have coped with a parent going to the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan.Tweet this

Fun Facts

• Today’s military consists of an all-volunteer force. The U.S. military draft ended over 40 years ago in 1973.Tweet this

• Cities with a high percentage of veterans include: Killeen, Texas; Clarksville, Tennessee; Jacksonville, North Carolina; Fayetteville, North Carolina; and Hampton, Virginia.Tweet this

• 26 of our Presidents came to office as Veterans, including William Henry Harrison, Ulysses S. Grant, Harry Truman, Dwight Eisenhower, and most recently, George W. Bush.Tweet this

Take the time to thank a veteran today by sending them an ecard!