Shilo Harris – Why Veterans Should Be At the Top of Every Employer’s List

by Ben Heinemann Military veterans are very much in need of a morale boost when they return from war. Those that have not been in service, who have never fought in Iraq or Afghanistan or have not been stationed thousands of miles away from home can never truly understand what it’s like to go through the experience and then return home only to worry about what to do next. “Some of these people get into the military and they are physically and mentally ready to take on all of the challenges that go along with service,” said Shilo Harris, a military veteran who served two tours in Iraq. “Unfortunately, some of these men and women get injured while serving, and this can take their confidence away.” On February 19, 2007, Harris was in command of a vehicle with five other soldiers sent to investigate a possible IED. Without warning, the IED exploded directly beneath the vehicle, killing everyone but Harris and his driver. Both sustained unimaginably horrible injuries, with Harris sustaining third degree burns to 35 percent of his body. As a result, Harris lost his ears, three fingers and the tip of his nose. Doctors had to perform 20 operations. Harris now travels the country as a motivational speaker and is perhaps the biggest proponent the military and our veterans have, especially when it comes to getting our veterans back to work and re-integrated with society when they return from deployment. “No matter how discouraged these men and women may seem, their core still remains,” he said during a phone interview, seeming almost perplexed as to why so many veterans remain unemployed, or, worse, viewed as unemployable by businesses. “Integration back into society, into normal civilian life is so important, and it’s not just the soldier’s responsibility,” said Shilo. “It’s society that has to help the veterans and their families too.” When a soldier returns home, they often don’t know where to start when it comes to securing employment. “Especially our younger service members that don’t have a family or family structure to return to, they can easily find themselves in a rut,” he said. “And yet they still have so much to offer.” This is where franchising opportunities. Throughout our coverage this month at 1851, we have found that veterans often make for some of the best franchise owners in their respective systems. Harris also believes that franchises provide some of the best opportunities and a solid structure for a returning veteran, especially the entrepreneurial aspect of the business. “I think that franchises and the people within franchising that are willing to invest in veterans and give them that entrepreneurial opportunity are great. It’s a great environment to encourage all these men and women that have so much knowledge and training and drive to get back out there in society.” Not only does franchising provide our veterans with excellent business opportunities and the prospect of being their own business owner, but it can also show our veterans that we still believe in them and provide just the morale boost they need. “If they see people showing interest in them and showing them trust, it will most certainly be encouraging to them. They then start saying ‘I can do this and I’m going to take care of myself and my family and be part of a winning team.’” Above all else though, Harris says it’s key that business owners regard veterans as incredible assets to their business, and never as a burden. “Especially with our wounded veterans, sometimes you see a person, this man or this woman, in a wheelchair or with a prosthetic leg, and I think a lot of the time business owners look at this as more of a problem than an asset,” Harris said. “However, it’s these people, these people that are missing a limb or disfigured, that have so much heart, and if they are putting themselves out there and applying for a job despite these setbacks, they already have the will and more drive above a lot of others. They are trying not to let those disfigurements or handicaps hold them back, and they are just trying to carry on with their normal lives. These people followed their hearts and represented our country, and they shouldn’t be the ones suffering because of that.” For more information on Shiloh's story, visit http://www.justshilo.com/. To learn more about opportunities for veterans within the franchising community, visit VetFran.com