Your military employees’ deployments and emergency call-ups for big natural disasters don’t have to mean major headaches. With the right strategy and forethought, those workers’ colleagues will be able to fill any gaps left by those who are serving. The good news is, cross-training and skill-set development will not only reduce the impact felt by missing workers, they will make your whole workforce stronger. The key is being prepared.

It starts by understanding their perspective. Morale improves among those who continue to serve in the National Guard and Reserve when you demonstrate that you know about their world. Even if they are gone for a weekend of training and it doesn’t affect their work hours with you, your remote support and encouragement means a lot and is critical to their success.

The military has its own culture, complete with its own language. Knowing a few basics about that culture (and just a few of its thousands of acronyms) will help you interpret resumes, find the strongest applicants and understand what the heck your interviewees are talking about. For more of an education, sign up for one of the Hiring Our Heroes employer webinars that are led by highly experienced trainers who can provide insight on recruiting, hiring and retaining service members.

Myths surround the veteran hiring marketplace, and savvy employers must wade through them to get to the truth of the matter. Read this blog to learn the truth about just a few of these myths and don't forget to comment on the blog if you can help other employers learn more!