Walgreens Honors Veterans With Ongoing Hiring and Free Flu Shot Campaigns

Walgreens Honors Veterans with Ongoing Hiring and Free Flu Shot Campaigns

On Nov. 11, our country will honor the sacrifice of veterans and their families. Walgreens, one of the country’s largest retailers with more than 9,200 locations nationwide, is leveraging its business to deliver employment opportunities and health services, so veterans can live healthy and productive lives in civil society.

Walgreens on a Mission to Hire 5,000 Veterans in Five Years

At the end of 2018, Walgreens announced a new initiative called the Helping veterans with Educational and Retail Opportunities (HERO) program, an effort to hire 5,000 veterans over five years. The program is designed to create opportunities for veterans to translate skills gleaned from military life into store leadership roles such as shift leads and assistant manager roles, with the goal of positioning them to become store managers.

Walgreens HERO program also provides participants with opportunities to pursue bachelor’s degrees online through Southern New Hampshire University. Program candidates receive tuition discounts which can be applied to educational credits they may have previously obtained through the GI Bill.

Morgan D., who recently completed a six-year commitment with the North Carolina Army National Guard, is part of the HERO program.

“What attracted me to Walgreens’ HERO program was my desire to move up into a shift lead position,” said Morgan. “Since becoming a shift lead, I have enjoyed learning new tasks that come with my position as well as the opportunity to help my teammates grow within the company.”

Darnell S., who is also in the HERO program, served in the Army for more than a decade prior to joining Walgreens. He plans to pursue a degree through Southern New Hampshire University. 

"Even before the Army, I had always loved working with people and learning new skills,” said Darnell. “I know that all my years of work, added with my experience in the military, have prepared me to be successful."

Walgreens Continues Free Flu Vaccination Program, Reaching Thousands of Veterans

In addition to the HERO program, Walgreens and the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) are once again providing thousands of flu shots to veterans enrolled in VA care – at no cost – in the communities where they live. Veterans can visit any Walgreens pharmacy or Duane Reade pharmacy to receive a free quadrivalent flu vaccine by presenting their Veteran Health Identification Card and a photo ID.

Through eHealth exchange, Walgreens pharmacists are able to integrate vaccinations into veterans’ electronic medical records to avoid immunization duplication. Walgreens is the only provider to share immunization records through the exchange.

“Our veterans and their families have made significant sacrifices in service to our country and we owe them a tremendous debt,” said Kristin Oliver, Walgreens senior vice president and chief Human Resources Officer. ”I cannot imagine a more worthy endeavor for Walgreens than working to make sure veterans have the opportunity to pursue their goals, support their families and thrive in their communities.”

If you are a veteran or know of a veteran who could be interested in Walgreens HERO program click here.  To learn more about the veteran flu immunization program at Walgreens, click here.