WASHINGTON, D.C. (November 10, 2021)- Today, U.S. Secretary of Labor Martin J. Walsh of the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) awarded The Excalibur Group with the Gold HIRE Vets Medallion Award in a virtual ceremony.

The Honoring Investments in Recruiting and Employing American Military Veterans Act (HIRE Vets Act) Medallion program is the only federal award program that recognizes employers of all sizes who successfully recruit, hire, and retain veterans. Excalibur has demonstrated excellence in commitment to hiring veterans while ensuring they have long-term careers that utilize the skills acquired through their military service. This will be The Excalibur Group’s fourth consecutive year earning The HIRE Vets Gold Medallion.

For over a decade, The Excalibur Group has provided meaningful work opportunities for veterans. HIRE Vets commented that Excalibur has successfully “demonstrated both patriotism and recognition of the value veterans bring to the workplace.” Excalibur was selected alongside 175 other medium-sized employers in the U.S. to be recognized with the Gold award and is 1 of 48 organizations that has earned the award for four consecutive years.

The Excalibur Group successfully places veterans in meaningful positions around the country after their service and met all requirements necessary to receive the HIRE Vets Gold award, including hiring 7% of the company’s workforce with veterans who achieve a 75% retention rate. Excalibur exceeds both hire and retention requirements, with a 45% hire rate and over 90% retention rate.

Jessica Audsley, a U.S. Army Veteran, and Excalibur’s Director of Programs, leads the team which places transitioning soldiers in sustainable job positions. Jessica conveyed that “a goal of Excalibur’s is to provide transitioning soldiers with meaningful civilian careers so that they can continue to proudly serve their country. The skills and knowledge that our service members have from their time in the armed forces can perfectly translate into civilian careers. To be given this distinction again, demonstrates our program’s success.”

Excalibur has partnered with multiple Veteran support programs throughout the country boosting their resource offerings for transitioning service members. Excalibur has partnerships with over seven Soldier For Life Transition Assistance Programs (SFL-TAP) and has additional partnerships with the Marine for Life Network (M4L) and the Air Force Wounded Warrior Project (AFWW).  In addition, partnerships with Centriq; Post University; Nashville Software School; New Horizons; and the Military Officers Association of America provide a range of education and training resources for Excalibur candidates.

From 2020-2021 during the COIVD pandemic, Excalibur’s recruiters participated in virtual classrooms, sharing knowledge with graduating Veteran classes on how to approach job searches, negotiate employment terms, and how to expand their professional networks. Excalibur provided auxiliary services to partners such as resume feedback and career coaching, to buoy the broader networks advancement towards helping Veteran’s transition smoothly.

The Excalibur Group stated in their award brief “We believe hiring and engaging service members in meaningful work after active duty is both a privilege and a responsibility as a business.”

2021 DOL HIRE Vet Award Dedication

This year, The Excalibur Group has dedicated their award to employee Chilsai Fahrenkrog. Chilsai is a military spouse, who specializes in career coaching and Veteran employment,. Excalibur’s dedication noted her “commitment to not just placement, but the candidate’s sustainability to the role and access to resources, makes her and her candidates successful.” Chilsai commented upon award, “I am excited to accept this dedication and am inspired more than ever to continue to help find meaningful employment for our country’s Veterans.” Chilsai’s dedication can be found here.

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About the Excalibur Group

The Excalibur Group, a Washington DC based company, specializes in surge capabilities with effective placement of government contractors and consultants specializing in workforce, IT, defense and legal industries. Excalibur provides qualified professionals and teams to government agencies, state and local governments and corporations to satisfy both long and short-term project needs in a cost-effective manner. The Excalibur Group is a minority-owned small business. Visit www.TheExcaliburGroup.com for more information.

About the HIRE Vets Medallion Program

The HIRE Vets Medallion Award is earned by businesses that demonstrate unparalleled commitment to attracting, hiring and retaining veterans. The 2022 HIRE Vets Medallion Award application period will open to employers on Jan. 31, 2022. For more information about the program and the application process, visit HIREVets.gov. There are different awards for large employers (500-plus employees), medium employers (51-499 employees), and small employers (50 or fewer employees).