Epitomizing “The Legacy of Loyalty and Service”
At UG2, we are deeply proud and inspired by the colleagues who have served our country. This year’s theme — The Legacy of Loyalty & Service: Service Beyond the Military — could not be more fitting when it comes to capturing the skill and commitment our veterans bring to the work they do on behalf of our customers, and the way they show up for their coworkers, time and time again.
If you are fortunate enough to work or live alongside military veterans, you might have noticed that many are quite humble and tend to be private about their past service. For as much pride as they may take in their country, you won’t typically find the veterans employed on our teams boasting about all they have done to protect our freedom.
Every November, we take Veterans Day as an opportunity to highlight the contributions of our team members who have served, inviting regional leaders to nominate employees for us to highlight on our social media channels. And every year, after these posts are published, we hear from people around the company who work closely with those highlighted who say they were previously unaware their coworker had even served. Quietly committed, always contributing. That is what we hear again and again.
For Veterans Day 2024, we asked three of our veterans to share a few words from their experiences and perspectives. Michael Bova served in the United States Air Force and Army Reserves, Rolando Muniz the Army, and Chris Hernandez the Marine Corps. Our UG2 veterans shared a few thoughts about their views, from how the core principles they honed through their service continue to inform their work and world view, to the importance of teamwork, accountability, and responsibility in their professional and personal lives.
“The military taught me that teamwork and a clear chain of command are crucial for mission success, with everyone playing their designated role. These principles are presented as valuable lessons for today’s youth, who can benefit from understanding their place in society and how they can make a difference. I believe that accountability, responsibility and collaborative effort are especially important now.
“My military career has influenced my approach to volunteering. My background gives me a sense of pride and sincerity in helping those in need. At my local church, I volunteer in the Care Center where we help identify different services for those that are seeking assistance. Volunteer work is also something I highly encouraged my daughter (15) and son (14) to do.”
We have come to know our UG2 employees who are also military veterans as thoughtful, effective mentors to their coworkers. They are creative problem solvers who are also passionate about the people and causes close to their hearts, and they exemplify principles like respect and teamwork in their work and relationships. It is no exaggeration to say that these are the people who keep this country running. They do so without seeking special recognition, but we are immensely grateful for their service and their ongoing efforts to make the world a better place. We hope you will join us in keeping their contributions in mind, today and every day.