Speaking to an audience of more than 200 attendees on Monday at the Defense Credit Union Council's 49^th Annual Conference in Denver, NCUA Board Member Michael Fryzel challenged credit unions to hire 1,000 veterans.

 Fryzel's challenge builds on a recent Washington Post op-ed by former Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Admiral Michael Mullen. In the piece, Mullen reminded Americans that veterans are a tremendous human capital resource, but also that the unemployment rate for the youngest veterans returning from war has been close to 30%.

Not every credit union is in a position to hire an extra person, Fryzel said, but both large and small credit unions could contribute to the effort by either hiring vets or making loans that aid in job creation for veterans.

“Credit unions should lead the way in this veterans' job-creation effort – and not be modest about publicizing it,” Fryzel said.

He called upon defense credit unions to lead the way, saying, “Show the men and woman who have served their country in uniform that no one cares more about them than you.”