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BNSF Railway Co. recently was named the nation’s No. 1 “Best Employer for Veterans” by Military Times EDGE magazine.

Each year, the magazine ranks the top 50 U.S. employers that “make veterans a priority — not just with slogans and statements of support, but with programs, policies and positive track records,” according to an item posted on the “BNSF News” web page.

Since 2005, BNSF has hired more than 4,000 veterans. The Class I currently employs more than 7,000 former military personnel — about 18 percent of its workforce. So far in 2011, the railroad has hired more than 1,000 veterans, comprising 26 percent of new hires.

Military candidates embody BNSF’s core competencies: leadership, teamwork and the ability to work safely in a “fast-paced, dynamic environment,” said John Wesley III, BNSF’s manager of military staffing and a 21-year U.S. Army veteran, in the news item.

Vice President and Chief Human Resources Officer Riz Chand believes the No. 1 ranking is a true testament to BNSF’s military friendly culture.

“We are committed to helping veterans transition to the workforce, and we value their focus on safety, their leadership and operational skills, and their unique life experiences,” he said.

Union Pacific Railroad also was ranked among the magazine’s top three “platinum” level veteran employers.