First lady and Wal-Mart team up for veterans initiative

A spokeswoman for Michelle Obama said Tuesday the first lady would work with Wal-Mart on a new initiative to employ veterans, after the company announced a pledge to offer a job to any honorably discharged veteran in his or her first 12 months off active duty.

"The first lady’s team was very excited and pleased by Wal-Mart’s new national commitment to employ America’s veterans and immediately expressed an interest in working with Wal-Mart and the entire business community to build upon and expand this commitment," Obama's deputy communications director Semonti Stephens said in an email.

Stephens said she hoped the initiative would spread to other businesses.

"In the next several weeks the White House will convene Wal-Mart and other major American employers to discuss Wal-Mart’s plan and encourage other businesses to make similar significant veterans employment commitments to train and employ America’s returning heroes," Stephens added.

Wal-Mart has estimated it could hire more than 100,00 veterans over the next five year in stores, clubs, distribution centers and its home office.

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