D'Aniello Institute for Veterans and Military Families

Come January 3rd, 2025 when the 119th Congress is sworn in and begins its work, it will do so with one hundred veterans among its 535 members in the House and Senate. While this isn’t quite a historic number of veterans in Congress (there were 102 in 115th Congress in 2017), it does represent a nearly 25% increase over the 82 veterans of our previous congress.

Job hunting isn’t fun, and if you’re just transitioning from military service, it’s probably been a while since you looked at your resume. The bad news is, it’s much worse than you think. The entire hiring landscape has shifted since you swore an oath. That said, the veteran unemployment rate is still lower than the national average. Check out the D’Aniello Institute for Veterans and Military Families’ (IVMF) ongoing research into veteran employment here.

Syracuse University recently hosted the 2nd Annual ‘CUSE50 Alumni Entrepreneur Award Ceremony, which celebrates the accomplishments of alumni who have excelled as business leaders and innovators who have enjoyed significant growth in the last year. Among the honorees this year were four graduates of the D’Aniello Institute for Veterans and Military Families (IVMF) entrepreneurship programs, whose entrepreneurial spirit and dedication to excellence continue to make an undeniable impact in their local communities, and the veteran entrepreneur ecosystem.

It’s Native American Heritage Month all November, and to celebrate, we’re looking at some of the standout founders from the broad portfolio of Entrepreneurship programs here at the D’Aniello Institute for Veterans and Military Families (IVMF). These incredible companies are leading the way in a variety of industries, and showcase the diverse talents and contributions from the Native American veteran and military spouse entrepreneurship community to America’s business landscape.

For many Americans, Veterans Day serves as a once-a-year opportunity to recognize the tiny minority who volunteer, on behalf of the many, to serve the cause of our nation’s defense. Today there will be ceremonies, speeches, free coffee, and maybe a sale at your favorite store. If you sense that my words are tinted with a bit of cynicism regarding what’s become of our annual Veterans Day traditions, you’re right.

November 10th is a sacred day for every Marine—a day when leathernecks everywhere come together to celebrate the Marine Corps' birthday. It’s a time to honor the grit, determination, and tradition of a branch that’s been storming beaches for 249 years. But as anyone who knows a Marine can confirm, once they set their minds on something, they’re in it for the long haul. These qualities don’t just disappear after hanging up the uniform—they just get a fresh mission: starting and running their own businesses.

It’s the holiday season, and Syracuse University’s D’aniello Institute for Veterans and Military Families (IVMF) is ready to help you cross names off your list with our big end of year holiday update to our Gift Guide. This one-stop-shopping resource makes it easy for anyone to shop veteran- and military spouse-owned businesses.

It’s spooky season, and to celebrate we’re going to talk about some of the most terrifying aspects of business ownership! Owning a business can be a high-pressure experience. This pressure can create fear and anxiety around almost anything. While military personnel are often cited for bravery, and generally have more risk tolerance than the average civilian, it doesn’t mean these fears don’t impact us at all.

The IVMF is excited to welcome 67 newly-selected AAPI, Black, Latinx, and female entrepreneurs from across the United States to the Breaking Barriers in Entrepreneurship Program (BBiE). These entrepreneurs are joining a community of passionate and innovative individuals who are facing systemic barriers and creating solutions to today’s business problems.

For the Navy's 249th birthday we are showcasing some of our Entrepreneurship program alumni that also happen to be Navy veterans.