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Look out your office window, and you may notice many of the cars in the parking lot sporting a “Support the Troops” yellow ribbon magnet. Your HR department asks about military service on job applications. You may even recall the donations canister in the break room for a few months before Christmas. Is that what it means to be a military friendly company?

In general terms, military friendly companies make it possible for military reserve and guardsmen, along with recently separated servicepersons, to work while providing support for their families. The first way to check on your companies’ military friendly status is to go to www.GIjobs.net and access the list of this year’s Top 50 Military Friendly Companies.

What criteria are used to select these companies? An annual survey focuses on areas such as company assets dedicated to military hiring, company policies in regard to the reserve and national guard, the percentage of new hires who are veterans and the overall vet training and support programs in place.

This current economy is demanding new and different ways of doing business. Fresh ideas depend more on the relationships built with employees and customers than ever before. So, why should your organization strive to be a military-oriented company?

National recognition – The Employer’s Support of the Guard and Reserve (ESGR) recognizes military-friendly companies on their Web site (www.ESGR.org). There is also a map that takes visitors to a list of companies that are considered “Supportive Employers.” These companies have signed and posted a statement of their continued support of military employees.

Marketing – GIJobs.net features military companies on a “Top 50 Military Friendly Company” list. This drives new customers to your site because people like to patronize companies that understand how military knowledge, support, and real-world experience have a positive affect their bottom line.

Money – Opening your company to a great new customer base is often a result of being a military friendly organization. Military customers are loyal and appreciative of those who “give back” to service members and their families. More than 200 companies offer military discounts.

Great employees – Recently, a national news program discussed the qualities that make military personnel perfect employees, and why many companies choose to hire them. They are dedicated, disciplined people who know the value of following procedures and accepting responsibility. Military employees often have valuable skills and technical knowledge they have learned through their service. They understand motivation and teamwork, work well under pressure or stress, and work well despite adversity. They are a diverse group with integrity and a strong work ethic. It costs your company much less to retain a good employee!

To put this in perspective, United Services Automobile Association (USAA) (4)* makes the Fortune 500, as well as the ESGR list, the GIJobs.com Top 50, and the Top 10 military spouse friendly employers lists this year, and they’ve focused on the value of the military family since 1922. Here’s what they say about the military worker: “‘We know what it means to serve’ is more than a slogan. We respect and honor what the men and women in our military risk for us, and what their families go through to support them. Not only have you proven yourself in service to our nation, but you also know our members better than anyone – and can share your unique experiences through service to our members.”

Johnson Controls is proud to be ranked No.1 on G.I. Jobs’ “Top 50 Military-Friendly Employers®” list and believe candidates with military experience bring ingenuity and state-of-the-art training to the workplace. Here’s what they share about the military worker: “We know the importance of having a highly qualified and diverse pool of talent to recruit from, both now and for the future. That’s why Johnson Controls is pleased to be a member of the U.S. Army’s Partnership for Youth Success (PaYS), established to provide America’s youth with the opportunity to match the skills they acquire serving their country with employers like Johnson Controls.”

Whether your organization is striving to be more military friendly, or if you are already on the Top 50 list, here’s what you can do to foster the company/military relationship on a daily basis: