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A message from Comcast NBCUniversal to veterans, Guard and Reserves

By J.M. Simpson on December 13, 2018

Comcast NBCUniversal has long been at the forefront of respecting and honoring the sacrifices made by veterans to protect the freedoms Americans enjoy.

"We've been hiring veterans for decades," retired Brig. Gen. Carol Eggert, senior vice president of military and veterans' affairs, wrote in an email. "Our company founder, Ralph Roberts, was a World War II Navy veteran, and many of our current executive leaders also served in the military."

Roberts coined the name Comcast by combining the words "communications" and "broadcasting" in 1969.

A 30-year Army veteran who was hired by Comcast NBCUniversal in 2015, Eggert labors to change the perception that veterans are "broken heroes, people who are likely to be unemployed, undereducated, homeless, and experience mental health issues."

She emphasized that Comcast NBCUniversal is not engaging in veterans' issues because it's the nice thing to do.

"Our veterans and our currently serving Guard and Reserve members are not a needy or entitled group; they are deserving," continued Eggert.

There still is work to be done in getting this message across.

An estimated 1 to 1.5 million veterans will transition from military service into the civilian workforce over the next three to five years. Some of them will need help finding employment opportunities; others will continue to serve in the Guard or Reserves.

"These are individuals who volunteered to serve in uniform, so it follows that when they return home they volunteer to serve in their communities," explained Eggert.

While Comcast NBCUniversal works to hire transitioning servicemembers, the company also focuses on providing employment information to Guard and Reserve members.

"We highlight our National Guard and Reserve employees' benefits on a military-focused Comcast Careers page to let those who want to keep serving know that they are valued here and that their continued service is recognized and encouraged," she continued.

"Since 2010, we have hired more than 15,000 veterans, National Guard, Reserve members and military spouses. We are committed to military hiring because it strengthens our team, and our long-standing support of military and veteran organizations across the country."

In 2017, Military Spouse magazine ranked Comcast NBCUniversal as its number one Military Spouse Friendly Employer.

To do this, Comcast has educated its recruiters, hiring managers and employees about its commitment to, and benefits for, its Guard and Reserve employees.

To make its message clear, Comcast works with the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation's Hiring our Heroes program and the Department of Labor's Veterans program.

Eggert said that civilian and military community members need to understand each other's perspective as potential employee and future employer.

"Get engaged in your community and help bridge the civilian-military divide, which I believe is the biggest challenge our nation faces in better understanding its defense forces and the people who constitute it," concluded Eggert. "I feel personally responsible for helping spread the message."

To learn more about Comcast NBCUniversal's commitment to veterans, the Guard and the Reserves, visit: military.comcast.com or ComcastCareers.com/Military.