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USAA Tops Military Friendly Employers List


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SAN ANTONIO--November 12, 2012: --USAA, long recognized as a leading financial services provider of the military and their families, is the top military friendly employer in the nation, according to G.I. Jobs Magazine. Additionally, for the fifth straight year, USAA retains its No. 1 ranking as the leading Military Spouse Friendly company, according to Military Spouse Magazine. It's the first time one employer has been ranked at the top of both lists in the same year.

“They are mission-oriented, have a sense of duty, they are agile, and have the ability to adjust to new and different situations. They also share USAA's core values of loyalty, honesty, integrity and service. They are a perfect fit for our association.”

This marks the 10th year in a row USAA has been included in the Top 100 Military Friendly Employers® list, which was compiled from a data-driven survey sample of 5,000 companies whose annual revenues exceeded $500 million. Criteria for selection to the Top 100 list included the strength of company military recruiting efforts, the percentage of new hires with prior military service, retention programs, and company policies on National Guard and Reserve service.

"Our experience at USAA proves that veterans are precisely the kind of employees companies should hire," said USAA President and CEO Joe Robles, himself a retired Army major general. "They know how to lead -- and be led. In or out of uniform, veterans know how to get the job done. Our hope is that more and more companies and public agencies will join USAA in making it a priority to hire those who have given so much in service to our country."

USAA's goal since 2009 is that one out of every four new employees hired is a veteran or the spouse of a veteran. To achieve this goal, USAA actively sources military talent leveraging a multifaceted approach and various channels. Additionally, USAA hiring and transition processes are designed to identify qualified military talent and align their skills to USAA jobs to ensure fit and retention. Military experience is a preferred qualification and essential in helping USAA serve and meet the needs of the military community. Since 2009, USAA has hired nearly 3,100 veterans and spouses and attended more than 400 job fairs, transition assistance workshops and conferences to find those who share a common culture and understanding of the military lifestyle USAA values so highly.

"They not only make great employees, but they instinctively understand the needs of the military families we serve," said Robles. "They are mission-oriented, have a sense of duty, they are agile, and have the ability to adjust to new and different situations. They also share USAA's core values of loyalty, honesty, integrity and service. They are a perfect fit for our association."

USAA has implemented a variety of programs to not only recruit veterans and their spouses, but to help these new employees make a successful transition into the civilian workforce. USAA's Wingman Program provides mentoring from veterans to new military hires, while VetNet -- an employee community of veterans -- leverages their diverse military experience to impact business decisions and provide a centralized source to connect with peer veterans.

USAA also pioneered a program that, depending on business need or the nature of the job, supports retaining employee spouses of active-duty service members who must relocate because of reassignment.

Additionally, the organization developed a wounded warrior and disabled veteran recruiting effort led by a wounded Afghanistan War veteran. And it has built a culture of follow-on support by providing reserved parking spaces for Purple Heart recipients, a peer-support group for wounded warriors, and veteran recognition at employee meetings, military holidays and ceremonies.

"USAA has long recognized the business value of recruiting veteran and military spouse employees," said Rich McCormack, G.I. Jobs Publisher. "USAA pioneered best practices for on-boarding and retaining both veterans and spouses, which is why it's the first company to earn the top spot on both the 2013 Top 100 Military Friendly Employers list and the Military Friendly Spouse Employers list in the same year. Congratulations to USAA for two very well-deserved honors!"

USAA has remained on the Top 10 Military Friendly Employers list since the award's inception in 2003 and has consistently been the No. 1 Insurance company on the list. Military Spouse Magazine has ranked USAA the top Military Spouse Employer since 2009. Both magazines will publish their respective lists in their December issues.