2026 Location Revealed
We’re going to West Point.
December 14–15, 2026 · West Point, New York
More Than Military Friendly
Be more than military friendly. Become Veteran Ready.
The annual gathering for employers, military leaders, and workforce partners raising the standard for veteran hiring, retention, and advancement.
150+
Attendees
50+
Speakers
6+
Industries
1
Standard
About the Summit
The Veteran Ready Summit
Most organizations want to hire veterans. Far fewer are equipped to retain and develop them. The Veteran Ready Summit exists to close that gap.
Each year, employers across every industry join military leaders, training institutions, and workforce associations to share what’s actually working — in recruiting, onboarding, retention, and apprenticeship — and to raise the collective standard for veteran employment.
With 150+ attendees and 50+ speakers, the summit delivers the tools, peer learning, and senior-level perspectives needed to build a veteran hiring program from the ground up — or sharpen one that already exists.
“
I attended the Vet Ready Summit this past year for the first time and looking forward to the next! The sessions felt fresh and distinct from typical veteran-focused events. I especially valued connecting with people across a wide range of industries and backgrounds.
Melinda Gomez
Manager, Workforce Engagement & Military Initiatives — SEMI Foundation
Why It Matters
Beyond Military Friendly. Be Veteran Ready.
Military Friendly looks like…
- A checkbox on a job posting
- Attending one job fair per year
- No structured veteran onboarding
- High turnover among veteran hires
- No clear pathway for skills development
Veteran Ready looks like…
- A dedicated, organization-wide hiring strategy
- An active, year-round veteran talent pipeline
- A DOL-registered apprenticeship program
- Structured retention & advancement planning
- Cross-functional HR & workforce training
- Engagement with Veteran Employment Resource Groups (VERGs)
For Employers & HR Professionals
What you’ll leave with
01
A veteran hiring strategy you can use immediately
Practical frameworks shared by industry leaders for sourcing, interviewing, and onboarding veteran talent — ready to adopt the same week.
02
A clear path to a DOL-registered apprenticeship
Summit experts walk attendees through the full enrollment process. Many organizations leave with a signed agreement and launch timeline in hand.
03
Direct access to a pre-screened veteran talent pipeline
Connect with veteran-focused workforce partners at the summit to begin matching transitioning service members to open roles.
04
Federal incentive & funding guidance
Hear directly from policy and workforce experts on WOTC credits, apprenticeship grants, and DOL funding streams available to committed employers.
05
Peer benchmarking across industries
Hear from employers across sectors about what’s working — and what isn’t — in veteran talent acquisition, onboarding, and long-term retention.
06
Recognition as a Veteran Ready employer
Organizations that commit to actionable veteran hiring goals at the summit receive recognition through the Veteran Ready employer network.
Call for Speakers
Help shape the 2026 program.
Submissions are open now through September 7, 2026 — earlier is better. We welcome proposals from employers, workforce experts, government agencies, educators, military leaders, VSOs, and non-profit partners. All accepted speakers receive a 10% ticket discount for their organization.
Prefer to fill it out in a new tab? Open the form here.
2026 · Save the Date
West Point, NY
United States Military Academy
December 14–15, 2026
Lead the charge.
Sponsorship places your organization at the center of the conversation reshaping veteran employment.
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