G.I. Jobs magazine has named Union Pacific Railroad the nation's top Military Friendly Employer for 2005.

The magazine commended Union Pacific's resource-laden effort and high performance results in recruiting transitioning military personnel. According to G.I. Jobs, "The company, which ranked sixth on last year's list, improved an already excellent program by committing full-time recruiters to the effort."

Rich McCormack, publisher of G.I. Jobs, said, "Union Pacific also has four recruiters who spend 50 percent of their time on military recruiting, and they have an excellent reserve and guard policy."

This is the third year G.I. Jobs has issued its list of the Top 25 Most Military Friendly Companies. The list is drawn from a sample of Fortune 500 companies and based on criteria that includes the strength of company military recruiting efforts, the percentage of new hires with prior military service and company policies toward National Guard and reserve service.

"We are very honored G.I. Jobs has again recognized our efforts and placed us at the top of its list this year," said Barb Schaefer, senior vice president-Human Resources. "We actively recruit and hire former military people because their skills and lifestyles are a great fit for our railroad -- and because they make excellent employees."

Union Pacific targets military personnel for several reasons. Many of the railroad's technical jobs -- such as diesel locomotive mechanics and electricians, and railcar mechanics -- are well suited for military members who have developed similar skills working with Armed Forces large equipment.

Lifestyles and working conditions also are similar between the military and the railroad. Many positions at Union Pacific involve outdoor work with non-traditional working hours. Military personnel tend to be flexible when it comes to relocation, enabling the railroad to maintain service when business volumes shift geographically.

Union Pacific job recruiters actively seek military personnel by attending military job fairs and transitional assistance programs, and regularly visiting major military installations.

About 450 Union Pacific employees indicated on their employment applications that they have reservist or National Guard affiliations. Currently, 98 are serving in Operation Iraqi Freedom, 220 have served and returned; and 16 are helping with Hurricane Katrina recovery, 26 have served and returned. Some of them might be recalled, along with retired military members now working at the railroad.

Union Pacific is dedicated to its reservists and National Guard members. Immediately following the Sept. 11, 2001 terrorist attacks, UP Chairman Dick Davidson reaffirmed the company's long-standing policy of making up any difference in pay or benefits between what UP employees receive while serving in the military, and what they would have received on the job. Davidson expressed his belief that UP employees called to service should be free to focus on their military tasks without having to worry about their financial or medical situation at home.