Adapting the military “battle buddy” concept to the workplace helps veterans navigate uncertainty and boosts team performance. Hiring veterans in pairs and building well-led veteran cohorts foster trust, rapid problem-solving, and mutual support. A dedicated veterans program with onboarding buddies and mentoring strengthens belonging, improves productivity and morale, and reduces turnover.
Common Moments of Uncertainty
- Have you ever walked into an uncertain environment like your first day of college, a cocktail party, or even your new job and felt those first moments of anxiety?
- How about getting stuck on a project at work but not knowing who to ask for help?
- Or simply feeling out of place because there was no one in your office whom you felt a bond with?
I'm confident we've all had similar life experiences to the ones above. Yet, this feeling is even more pronounced for veterans in the workplace who have spent time in the military; as we shift to a corporate environment, what has become comfortable and normal to us no longer exists.
A Veteran’s Transition Experience
I remember when I first left active duty only three months upon returning from Iraq; I'd be sitting at a restaurant with my wife or wandering around the executive suites of downtown Minneapolis wondering where I fit in... right then I wished I had my body armor on, my rifle in hand, and my helmet strapped to my chin. It wasn't that I was physically scared, rather it was due to the comfort you have when you are in a known environment.
The Hidden Cost of Personal Factors at Work
How many times has a company lost worker productivity to some unknown personal factor? After leading teams for most of my adult life, I can say with much certainty that when there is a failure in performance, many times there are external issues interfering with the individual's work.
Leveraging Belonging: The Battle Buddy Approach
In a recent New York Post article, Genesis10 CEO Harley Lippman discusses the importance of having a battle buddy or someone you can implicitly count on. This is one of the greatest aspects of hiring a service member, and when hiring veterans two at a time, the inherent trust in each other and desire to solve problems together creates a much more powerful team.
Building a Cohort of Veterans in Your Organization
It is quite difficult, if not impossible, to replicate the camaraderie that exists between service members who are working in harm's way. Yet, there is a way to manifest this feeling in your organization by creating a dedicated, named, and most importantly ably led veterans program at your company — a culture where the individual feels like they are a part of something greater than themselves.
Leveraging their shared experiences means that service members, who are put in a cohort status, are quick to assist each other with technical questions, personal issues, or work problems, making them more productive, less likely to turn over, and with higher morale. Cohort-based support, onboarding buddies, and mentoring are effective veteran retention strategies that reinforce trust and belonging.
Q&A
What is the “battle buddy” concept and how does it translate to the workplace?
Answer: In the military, a battle buddy is someone you can implicitly trust to watch your back, problem-solve with, and lean on in uncertain or stressful situations. Brought into the workplace, this concept gives veterans a dependable peer from day one, reducing the anxiety of new environments, speeding up help-seeking, and improving problem-solving and performance across the team.
Why is hiring veterans in pairs or building veteran cohorts beneficial?
Answer: Veterans often arrive with built-in habits of trust, teamwork, and mutual accountability. Hiring in pairs and organizing veterans into cohorts leverages those strengths: they quickly assist each other with technical questions, personal matters, and work challenges, which boosts productivity, improves morale, and reduces turnover.
Can a company really recreate military-style camaraderie?
Answer: You can’t fully replicate the bond formed in harm’s way, but you can manifest its benefits by creating a dedicated, named, and well-led veterans program. When veterans feel part of something larger than themselves and are connected through cohorts, they experience stronger belonging and are more likely to thrive.
What are the key components of an effective veterans program?
Answer: Effective programs pair new hires with onboarding buddies, provide mentoring, and organize cohort-based support under capable leadership. These elements reinforce trust and belonging, help veterans navigate uncertainty, and address personal factors that can otherwise undermine performance.
How can organizations get started, and what role can recruiters like Genesis10 play?
Answer: Start by hiring veterans two at a time, establishing a named veterans program, and formalizing onboarding buddies and mentorship. Recruiters such as Genesis10 partner with employers to identify veteran talent, stay current on hiring trends, and help design supportive onboarding programs that set new hires up to succeed.
