Joining Forces

Joining Forces
Name	Joining Forces
Formation	2011
Founder	Michelle Obama, Jill Biden
Type	Initiative
Headquarters	Washington, D.C.

Joining Forces is a national initiative established in 2011 to support families of service members, veterans, and caregivers. Founded by Michelle Obama and Jill Biden, the initiative sought to coordinate public, private, and non-profit efforts to address employment, education, and wellness needs of military-connected families. It operated through partnerships with corporations, foundations, federal agencies, state governments, and community organizations to amplify resources and policy attention.

History

Joining Forces launched during the administration of Barack Obama with a public announcement at the White House. Early allies included Department of Defense, Department of Veterans Affairs, and nonprofit organizations such as United Service Organizations and Wounded Warrior Project. The initiative's timeline intersects with events like the Iraq War, the War in Afghanistan (2001–2021), and the post-2010 drawdowns that increased focus on veteran transition. High-profile corporate campaigns and philanthropic pledges paralleled efforts by figures such as Gates Foundation affiliates and leaders from Chamber of Commerce–affiliated employers. In 2017, aspects of the initiative informed policy discussions in the United States Congress and influenced programs coordinated with state governors and mayors, including offices in New York City and Los Angeles. Revival efforts and continuations involved collaborations during the 2020 United States presidential election period and subsequent administration engagements.

Mission and Objectives

The stated objectives centered on securing employment, education, and wellness for military families. Employment goals aligned with corporate commitments similar to those by Walmart, Home Depot, General Electric, JP Morgan Chase, and Google to hire veterans and military spouses. Education objectives coordinated with institutions such as Department of Education, Post-9/11 GI Bill, Purdue University, Arizona State University, and community colleges. Wellness and caregiver support connected to programs at Veterans Health Administration, American Red Cross, Blue Star Families, and university medical centers like Johns Hopkins Hospital and Mayo Clinic. Policy advocacy interfaced with legislation discussed in committees of the United States Senate and United States House of Representatives.

Structure and Leadership

The initiative was co-chaired by first ladies Michelle Obama and Jill Biden and coordinated through White House staff offices and liaison teams. Administrative alignment included partnership officers who engaged corporate executives from firms like Microsoft, Verizon Communications, and AT&T, as well as philanthropic leaders from Ford Foundation and Rockefeller Foundation alumni. Operational contacts spanned federal agencies including Small Business Administration, Department of Labor, and Department of Veterans Affairs, and connected with nonprofit directors at Boy Scouts of America, Girl Scouts of the USA, and veteran service organizations such as American Legion and Veterans of Foreign Wars. Advisory boards featured academic experts from institutions like Harvard University, Georgetown University, University of California, Berkeley, and Stanford University.

Programs and Initiatives

Programs emphasized employer pledges, credentialing, mental health resources, and spouse employment support. Notable initiatives resembled corporate hiring campaigns with companies such as Starbucks, Target Corporation, and UPS committing hire targets. Education-focused projects partnered with online platforms like Coursera and edX and universities including University of Phoenix and Columbia University to streamline credit transfer and certifications. Health and caregiving collaborations involved organizations like Tricare, National Institutes of Health, Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, Wounded Warrior Project, and advocacy NGOs including Disabled American Veterans. Financial literacy and entrepreneurship tracks linked with SCORE, Small Business Administration, and veteran-focused incubators such as Bunker Labs.

Partnerships and Collaborations

Joining Forces cultivated broad partnerships across sectors: corporate partners included Amazon (company), Microsoft, IBM, Accenture, EY, and Deloitte. Philanthropic partners involved Kellogg Foundation, Carnegie Corporation, and regional community foundations. Collaborations with veteran service organizations included Blue Star Families, Operation Homefront, Hire Heroes USA, and Team Rubicon. Educational partnerships featured Student Veterans of America, American Council on Education, and the National Association of Veteran-Serving Institutions. Internationally, parallels and exchanges connected with allies such as the Ministry of Defence (United Kingdom), Canadian Armed Forces, and non-governmental groups operating in NATO partner countries.

Impact and Criticism

Impact assessments cite increased corporate hiring commitments, heightened public visibility for military family issues, and expanded public–private programs with measurable placement metrics reported by partners like Booz Allen Hamilton and Accenture Federal Services. Independent evaluations by think tanks such as Brookings Institution, RAND Corporation, and Center for a New American Security examined outcomes on employment transitions, certification portability, and caregiver support. Criticism targeted reliance on voluntary corporate pledges, variability in implementation across states, and concerns raised by advocacy groups like National Alliance on Mental Illness and American Civil Liberties Union regarding gaps in mental health access and benefits portability. Scholars at Yale University and University of Michigan discussed sustainability challenges and the need for statutory reforms debated in hearings before Senate Committee on Veterans' Affairs and the House Committee on Veterans' Affairs.

Category:United States military support organizations