Every day, upwards of 550 servicemen and women are leaving behind a life they have dedicated themselves to selflessly, a life in which they have spent their time defending the liberties of each American citizen, equating in a debt that can never be fully repaid.

There is one industry however, doing their best to pay that debt back, by recognizing the potential these men and women have to utilize their skills and work ethics acquired from years of military training and service. The food service industry has welcomed these soldiers with open arms and utter excitement. From the top culinary institutions to the National Restaurant Association Educational Foundation (NRAEF), our veterans are being given a chance to fulfill the very American Dream they have defended.

Returning to Civilian life is not an easy transition for all veterans. Getting back into the normal swing of everyday life can be challenging, especially when it comes to finding employment opportunities.  Stigmas of post-traumatic stress disorder, still cloud the judgement of many employers throughout the country. Thankfully, the food service industry appears to march to the beat of their own drum on this matter.

Around 250,000 veterans work in the food sector, a number only expected to rise. You won’t just find our armed forces members in chef and waiter positions. They hold placements in finance, management, and even logistics. In fact, according to the NRAEF “Nineteen percent of veterans employed in the restaurant industry hold management positions, compared to just 10 percent of non-veterans working in the restaurant industry”.

But why is the foodservice industry such a great fit for soldiers returning to civilian life? The reason is almost solely due to the soldier themselves. Throughout their military careers they are instilled with key attributes that correlate directly with the foodservice industry. There is the need to take charge in high stress situations, the ability to absorb criticism and apply it to better themselves, and most notably, their discipline.

In a recent article from Task & Purpose, NRAEF Chairman Greg Hamer said “They’re young people — 19 and 20 years old — and the discipline they have, you just can’t get that in the civilian world,” Hamer added, “If we had two candidates apply, one of them a civilian and the other one military, we’d go with the one coming out of the military.” 

Here at MTI, we are excited for the opportunities that await our service men and women as they return to civilian life. We would like to extend a BIG THANK YOU to all those who have served and continue to serve by offering a special 10% discount on our web store, for all yearly maintenance packs, as well as a free bottle of Liquid Carbon Grease Remover by using promo code: VETERANS at checkout.

Of course, if you aren’t quite ready to order your yearly maintenance pack, you can still receive the FREE grease remover by emailing your name, business name, address and phone number to aftermarket@mtiproducts.com.