Local vets mixed reaction on Walmart jobs

ALBUQUERQUE (KRQE) - Walmart announced this week that it wants to hire 100,000 veterans all across the country.

The Veterans and Military Affairs Advisory Board from the Albuquerque Mayor's Office For Veterans Affairs met Wednesday and the major topic of discussion was Walmart's announcement.

Walmart officials released a press statement which states beginning this Memorial Day, the company will start to fill 100,000 positions that it already has open for  veterans who've gotten out of the military in the last year. 

The company also says veterans would be a perfect fit in their workforce as "quick learners and team players."

Meanwhile, veterans here were concerned if the jobs would be full time and how much they would be paid.

Another big concern was for veterans just out of the service a year and how it may be too soon for them to start working.

"Sometimes, veterans need more than a year to adjust and determine where it is they would like to go," says retired U.S. Air Force Colonel Brian Leen. "In general we feel that it's a very positive thing."

Walmart says this is only the beginning and plans to make the hires over the next five years. They also say it's going to buy $50-billion more of items made in America during the next ten years.