Southern Company saluted as top military employer

Southern Company has been recognized by three publications as a top employer for both active duty and military veterans, the company announced on Friday.

Southern was named a "Best for Vets Employer" by Military Times EDGE for the sixth consecutive year, "Most Valuable Employer for Military" by CivilianJobs.com and "Top 10 Companies for Veterans" by DiversityInc.

Southern was also among companies recently recognized by Joining Forces, an initiative led by First Lady Michelle Obama and Jill Biden, the wife of Vice President Joe Biden, to support the hiring and education of veterans and military families.

Ten percent of Southern Company's 26,000 employees -- and 15 percent of new hires in the first quarter of 2015 -- were veterans, guardsmen or reservists.

Southern Company President and CEO Mark Lantrip said there is no greater honor than serving the nation in uniform.

"The values our military hold in esteem match the attributes we seek in our employees throughout the Southern system,” Lantrip said. “Veterans are an important part of our diverse workforce, and these awards are a reflection of our company's long-standing commitment to the military."

Southern is also a founding partner of the Troops to Energy Jobs program, a recruiting source that links veterans to job openings in the energy industry and actively recruits members of the Navy as a Naval Nuclear Propulsion Program partner. The company also annually participates in more than 30 military recruitment events and partners with military transition centers across the country.