This is an archived article and the information in the article may be outdated. Please look at the time stamp on the story to see when it was last updated.

BENTONVILLE, Ark. — Walmart says it will begin giving hiring preference to military spouses under a new initiative the retail giant is launching.

Walmart announced Monday the start of the Military Spouse Career Connection, an effort to recruit and hire military spouses. Walmart says the initiative complements an effort it launched in 2013 to hire 250,000 military veterans by 2020, a goal the company says it’s on track to surpass next year.

Walmart already offered military spouses and veterans the ability to transfer from one Walmart or Sam’s Club location to another when a spouse is transferred because of the military. The company says that beginning Monday, it will offer any military spouse with a current Uniformed Services Identification Card hiring preference when they apply.

All candidates must meet the standard hiring criteria.