Coca-Cola, getting it done for Veterans for 75 years

We were compensated for this post. All thoughts are our own.   This year the intersection of The Coca-Cola Company, the United States military and the United Service Organizations (USO) all have in common the number 75, but for different reasons. The USO celebrates their 75^th anniversary and it also marks that same number of years that The Coca-Cola Company has partnered with the organization and been committed to supporting the United States military.

I paid a visit to The Coca-Cola Company headquarters in Atlanta to help them stuff 10,000 care packages. They are custom made packages that contain soap, dental floss, toothpaste and other things that we take for granted but are in short supply in places far and wide. This is done every November and sent to service members who are overseas. It’s worth noting that the bags were custom made to be used in the field. They have a hanger that can be hung wherever the troops are stationed, are rip resistant and designed to be used by them after the supplies that they were packed with have been used.

Little did I realize the stuffing of the bags was just the tip of the iceberg in regards to Coca-Cola supporting our military. In World War II, The Coca-Cola Company received a request from General Eisenhower to provide 3 million bottles of Coke for the troops who wanted some creature comforts from home. Coca-Cola provided that number of product that was ready to drink-and then some, plus provided bottling facilities that were ready to assemble in theaters of combat.

The history behind the Coca-Cola art is a trip. In reality it was morale boosting, creative and gender neutral from the get go. @thecocacolaco #veteransday, #ad

A photo posted by Daddy Mojo (@treyburley) on Nov 9, 2016 at 8:33am PST

Fast forward to today and they’re helping our service members through veteran hiring and mentoring programs. One of the most impressive of these is a partnership between Coca-Cola and Army PaYs. It stands for Partnership for Youth Success and liaisons cadets who have finished their tours with businesses in the private sector that are in the program.  It does not guarantee them a job, but it does guarantee them an interview at a company in the program once their tour is completed. An interview, especially given all of the skills that they’ll learn in the military, could be all that a young person needs to get their professional life off to a fast start.

The Coca-Cola Company has also established hiring initiatives, setting a goal in 2012 to employ 800 veterans. They exceeded that goal, and in 2013 they increased the goal to 5,000 veterans in North America by 2018-and they’ve already accomplished that.

Did you know that World of Coca-Cola grants free admission to military members every day of the year? Bonus, this weekend (through November 13) any active, retired or reserve military member can bring four friends/family members with them for half price.

So what are some ways that you say ‘thanks’ to the military? It could be as simple as thanking a relative who served or sharing your story on social media this Veterans Day. However you do it, thanks for serving and know that you’re appreciated every day of the year, not just on November 11.