Georgia Employer Receives Top DOD Award

Southern Company received the 2010 Secretary of Defense Employer Support Freedom Award for going beyond the federal law requirements in support of Guard and Reserve members. A Southern Company employee who is an Army Reserve First Lieutenant nominated his company for the award.

Southern Company, the only Georgia employer to top the list, competed against thousands of U.S. employers for this award.

Southern Company is the nation’s largest producer of electricity and serves more than 4.4 million customers in the Southeast. The company’s “Support our Troops” project has sent more than 500 pounds of personal care items to military members in Iraq and Afghanistan. After returning from deployment, the employees were honored at the company-wide dinner hosted by the chief executive officer. Southern Company and its subsidiaries have received numerous Patriot Awards, Above and Beyond Awards and the ESGR Pro Patria Award.

The Secretary of Defense Employer Support Freedom Award is the highest recognition given by the U.S. government to an employer for supporting employees who serve in the Guard and Reserve.

Since 1996, only 130 companies have been presented with the prestigious Freedom Award. Previous honorees from Georgia include Home Depot, Home Depot Southern Division, United Parcel Service Airlines and First Data Corporation.

About ESGR & the Freedom Award

This year marks the 15th anniversary of the Secretary of Defense Employer Support Freedom Award instituted in 1996 under the auspices of ESGR. Nominations for the 2010 Secretary of Defense Employer Support Freedom Award were accepted from November 2009 through mid-January 2010.

ESGR is a Department of Defense agency established in 1972 whose mission is to gain and maintain employer support for Guard and Reserve Service by recognizing outstanding support, increasing awareness of the law and resolving conflict through mediation. For more information, please visit www.FreedomAward.mil.
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Southern Company Recognized as Military-Friendly Employer by G.I. Jobs Magazine

PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Southern Company (NYSE:SO) has been named one of the nation's 50 most "military-friendly" employers for the third consecutive year by G.I. Jobs magazine, the nation's premier career guide for military job-seekers.

The honored companies were selected based on their assets dedicated to military hiring, the strength of their military recruiting efforts and their policies addressing National Guard and reserve service, among other criteria. Approximately 2,500 corporations with annual revenues of at least $1 billion were surveyed for this year's list.

"Southern Company is proud to be recognized by G.I. Jobs for the third consecutive year," said Alan Martin, executive vice president, Southern Company and president & CEO, Southern Company Services. "Military veterans fit well into our company culture because of their strong work ethic, advanced technical skills, adaptability and excellent leadership style -- all qualities we value at Southern Company."

G.I. Jobs helps provide training and career opportunities for veterans and those in transition from military to civilian employment. The 2008 list of military-friendly employers is featured in the December issue of the magazine.

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