CVS joins White House effort to hire vets, military spouses

WOONSOCKET, R.I. — CVS Caremark announced that it was among several national companies represented at an event hosted on Tuesday by President Obama, VP Joe Biden, First Lady Michelle Obama and Dr. Jill Biden as part of the Joining Forces initiative.

During the event, the administration asked companies participating in the Joining Forces initiative to hire and train 435,000 veterans and military spouses over the next five years, after nearly tripling its original goal of hiring 100,000 veterans and military spouses by the end of 2013.

CVS Caremark noted that it has been a supporter of hiring veterans and has been recognized for its work to hire and train veterans, guard and reserve members and military spouses. As part of Joining Forces, CVS Caremark stressed its commitment to hire veterans and military spouses for 25% of its new hires in logistics and distribution centers over the next four years.

"With millions of service members transitioning out of the military over the next several years, CVS Caremark is poised and ready to hire and train qualified veterans and military spouses," stated Larry Merlo, president and CEO of CVS Caremark. "We recognize and appreciate the values, experience and skills service members have, and know hiring veterans and military spouses not only strengthens our business, it also enhances our existing workforce." 


David Casey, VP and chief diversity officer for CVS Caremark and a former United States Marine, and Alfredo Ruiz, a supervisor in CVS Caremark's Vero Beach, Fla., distribution center and a retired U.S. Army soldier, attended the announcement on behalf of the company. 


CVS Caremark recently was recognized by DiversityInc as one of the Top 10 Companies for Veterans. The company also received the Pro Patria Award from the Rhode Island Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve. The Pro Patria Award is presented to one small, one large and one public sector employer in each state that has demonstrated the greatest support to Guard and Reserve employees through their leadership and practices. Rhode Island ESGR also nominated CVS Caremark for a Secretary of Defense Employer Support Freedom Award. The Freedom Award is the highest recognition given by the U.S. Government to employers for their support of employees serving in the Guard or Reserve.

Earlier this year, CVS Caremark signed the Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve's Statement of Support on behalf of the company, reiterating the company's support for servicemen and women and their families.