AT&T is looking to put more veterans to work. The nation’s second largest wireless carrier has set a goal of hiring 10,000 veterans and their family members of the next five years.

AT&T is hoping to draw on the technical expertise of veterans who are segueing back to civilian life for IT roles, with a bulk of those jobs at their Jacksonville Mississippi technical center.

About 55 percent of the veterans hired by AT&T this year made their transition to the private sector as technicians. Project Velocity IP, the company’s investment plan to expand and enhance its IP broadband networks, is driving technician hiring needs.

Other veterans and their family members are finding positions across AT&T as IT professionals, retail and call center representatives, project managers, financial analysts, supply chain managers and more. And a select corps of junior officers and college-educated noncommissioned officers are being recruited into AT&T leadership development programs.

The importance of hiring veterans in Mississippi was highlighted earlier this year when Mississippi Gov. Phil Bryant proclaimed 2013 as the “Year to Hire Mississippi Heroes.”

“AT&T has a long standing tradition of honoring and valuing our veterans,” said AT&T Mississippi President Mayo Flynt. “We are proud to help returning servicemen and women transition from active duty to civilian careers here in Mississippi.”

AT&T’s goal of hiring 10,000 veterans and their family members over the next five years doubles a goal it set in April with the White House’s Joining Forces Initiative. AT&T also announced then that it is leading an initiative with JPMorgan Chase and the 100,000 Jobs Mission to create the veteran talent exchange, www.vtx.jobs.The exchange enables active-duty military and veteran job candidates to “opt-in” to a talent-sharing database to facilitate the sharing and referral of veteran candidates among participating 100,000 Jobs Mission member companies.

Veterans can look for jobs at AT&T at their Veteran Career Center.