Amtrak sets goal to hire more military veterans

Amtrak officials have announced an employment goal that calls for military veterans to comprise 25 percent of new hires by 2015.

To help reach the target, the railroad will partner with recruiting groups that focus on veteran hiring, including the U.S. Chamber of Commerce's Hiring our Heroes, the Wounded Warrior Project, RecruitMilitaryband Army PaYS, Amtrak officials said in a press release.

In addition, Amtrak's human resources department will participate in more than 30 military job fairs across the nation.

Due to retirements and new projects, Amtrak anticipates hiring more than 3,000 employees over the next year. In fiscal-year 2012, more than 14 percent of Amtrak's new hires were veterans.

"The leadership, reliability and high-tech skills veterans bring to the job are a great resource to the operation of America's railroad," said Amtrak President and Chief Executive Officer Joseph Boardman, a veteran of the Vietnam War.

In setting the goal, Amtrak joins other U.S. railroads that have announced commitments to hiring more veterans.