Military recruiting was a recreational activity in the early 2000s. Maybe a dozen companies within the Fortune 1000 had any semblance of a military recruiting program.
In 2003, Military Friendly® set out to change that but putting a scoreboard on the field. The Military Friendly® Employer survey evaluated an employer’s policies and resource allocation to recruiting military veterans; and how well they performed. We then published those results in G.I. Jobs magazine, promoted the list and celebrated the high achievers. Other employers realized they were missing out and military recruiting in corporate America quickly became a competitive activity.
Within a few years, hundreds of employers were competing for the honor. In subsequent years, the Military Friendly® program was expanded to include military spouse employers, schools, states, supplier diversity programs, brands and more.
Military Friendly® started in 2003 as a ratings entity and that ratings entity still flourishes today as the gold standard in the space. Our ratings are determined via a rules-based algorithm with data gleaned from both public sources as well as through an organizational survey. Our ratings program is developmental, meaning that recognize that it takes time to build a meaningful ratings program within an organization.
Organizations can begin by taking a Pledge, then advance to full Designation and finally work to achieve Award level (Top 10, Gold, Silver and Bronze). Ratings are earned and are absolutely free to organizations. This is not a pay-to-play ratings entity. Military Friendly® is owned and operated by Viqtory, Inc., a certified service-disabled, veteran-owned business and not affiliated with or endorsed by the Department of Defense or any government entity. MilitaryFriendly.org is the home for Military Friendly® ratings.
The Military Friendly® Marketplace, found at MilitaryFriendly.com, is where America connects with the Military Community. Currently, our Marketplace consists of a Talent Exchange where members of the military community can access a vetted marketplace of employers who want to hire them because of their military background. All Military Friendly® Employers are given access to a free basic profile on the Talent Exchange.
We believe that veterans are better off for their service and so do the employers found on our Talent Exchange. Hiring veterans is a direct infusion of support into the military community because it builds capacity at a foundational level and in a sustainable way. In doing so, we unleash the immense talent and energy in this highly trained community of veterans, service members and military spouses.
Members of the military community can create a free membership on MilitaryFriendly.com and get to engage with employers who want to hire them because of their service.
The Military Friendly® Marketplace will expand to other civilian opportunities in the future.