Cigna Corporation Chief Executive Officer and President David Cordani and FedEx Corporation Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Frederick W. Smith have joined together to promote a powerful message within the business community: companies that intentionally recruit, hire, support and retain veterans will benefit from their unique skillsets and perspectives.

“Veterans have so much to offer the business world, and we believe that it’s more important than ever that companies harness their talents,” Cordani and Smith wrote in a co-authored article to honor Veterans Day. “As leaders, they know how to take care of their troops — creating teams that are skilled, informed, and motivated to achieve the mission. Veterans also enrich corporate cultures by bringing military values like honor, integrity and commitment to their work.”

Cordani and Smith strongly recommend that other business leaders purposefully take steps to make their company an employer of choice, creating the type of organization where veterans want to spend their post-military careers. These steps include having specific initiatives dedicated to the recruitment and training of veterans, along with culture-based programming and community-building. Examples include creating Employee Resource Groups for military and service members, providing robust in-person and virtual resources to promote physical and mental well-being, and supporting active-duty and veteran community causes and philanthropies.

Both Cigna and FedEx are honored to be recognized by Military Times 2021 “Best for Vets” employer list, but more importantly, are proud and grateful to have so many colleagues who are veterans.

Smith is a U.S. Marine Corps veteran. Cordani has a longstanding commitment to supporting veterans and volunteers as a running guide for wounded veterans with the Achilles International Freedom Team.