Serving Those Who Have Served Us: Introducing Salute

Serving Those Who Have Served Us: Introducing Salute

This series highlights GM Financial's team member-led employee resource groups (ERGs), which serve as resources for employees, ensure professional development, and positively impact the community by fostering a diverse and inclusive workplace. Each ERG is a grassroots initiative created and managed by employees, for employees.

Salute, GM Financial's newest ERG, is on a mission. The objective: Establish a culture where U.S. military veterans, active-duty service members and their allies are embraced and supported for their service to our country and what they bring to the table as team members.

This Veterans Day, we spotlight Salute and its contributions to GM Financial's reputation as a veteran-friendly employer.

Driven by passion

Salute owes its existence to many throughout GM Financial who have long wanted a military ERG. "I've received many emails and calls asking about ways to honor the military outside of Veterans Day," says corporate sponsor Kyle Birch. "Supporting Salute was an easy choice because my dad served in the Korean War and now lives and receives excellent care at a veterans center."

Co-chairs Ashley Monroe and Josh Foster lead Salute with passion born from personal experiences. Ashley's dad instilled her love for the military, often reminding her that "freedom doesn't come free." She's also married to a Marine Corps veteran, so she's no stranger to the challenges and sacrifices of military life.

Josh's journey took a different path. He joined the military to pay for college and served in the U.S. Army. His experience gave him an appreciation for veterans, but his urgency to serve them came long after he left the Army. "Twenty years after I left the Army, I didn't feel connected to my time of service, and that was hard for me," he says.

Drawn together by a common bond

Salute offers the opportunity to connect with others who understand the military experience. "Service members often build strong bonds during their time in the military," Josh says, "and returning to civilian life can feel alienating."

Finding purpose and readjusting to civilian life can be difficult for veterans, often leading to isolation. Salute offers a supportive community that understands the military experience, providing familiarity and camaraderie. In any given meeting, you'll see heads nodding and faces smiling as people share their military stories or use the occasional military slang.

Josh and Ashley emphasize that Salute is not a "members only" ERG. "People can be intimidated to join because they haven't served," Ashley says. "But you're not an impostor if you want to support your country. It's bigger than all of us." Parents, loved ones or anyone who wants to support our nation's finest are encouraged to join.

Salute reflects the diversity of beliefs and opinions in the U.S. military. "We want everybody to be there. It's a group of people who want to serve those who have served us. It's apolitical patriotism," says Josh.

Looking for veterans

Transitioning into the civilian workplace can be challenging for veterans. Service members often have highly marketable skills, but employers may not know how to leverage their experience.

"An ERG like Salute can remove barriers that service members might feel," Josh says. "We want to shift the message from, 'we can fit you in somewhere' to 'we've been waiting for you.'"

Salute fosters veteran career growth through networking and development opportunities. Veterans are valuable contributors to both national security and the success of GM Financial.

Whether you're a veteran, active-duty military or service member ally, all U.S.-based team members are invited to join Salute in serving those who have served us.

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