G.I. Jobs has named American Eurocopter one of the United States’ 2010 Top 100 Military Friendly Employers®. The helicopter manufacturer debuts at number 49 on the list.

“We are thrilled to have been recognized by G.I. Jobs as a Military Friendly Employer,” states Marc Paganini, American Eurocopter President and CEO. “We will continue to recruit within the military branches to further enforce our commitment to the men and women who have served our country.”

G.I. Jobs magazine is a leading resource for military men and women transitioning from active duty to civilian life. To rank the Top 100, it assesses companies’ long-term commitment to hiring former military personnel; recruiting and hiring efforts and results; policies for Reserve and Guard members called to active duty and the presence of special recruitment military programs.

“We’ve had a rapid increase in military recruitment in the past couple of years,” observes Earl Walker, Senior Director, Site General Manager for American Eurocopter’s Columbus, MS, facility. “Many of these employees come with knowledge of aircraft, and their military experience also gives them leadership skills and dependability.”

Many of American Eurocopter’s recent new jobs have been at its Columbus plant, which produces the UH-72A for the U.S. Army’s Light Utility Helicopter program.

“In the past 18 months, 49 percent of our new hires have been veterans or members of the Guard or Reserves,” notes Columbus Human Resources Manager Rob Boman, himself a 23-year U.S. Air Force veteran. “All areas are represented – we have 25 to 30 employees from each branch of military service here.”

Boman, a retired Chief Master Sergeant, was superintendent of Air Force recruiting for the East Coast before leaving the military. American Eurocopter signed him as soon as he retired two years ago, and he has enhanced the company’s military hiring program.

Approximately 5,000 companies (minimum of $500 million in annual revenues) are eligible for the G.I. Jobs list, meaning only 2 percent make the Top 100. They include not only defense-related corporations but also transportation, financial services, energy, telecommunications, health care and retail entities.

About American Eurocopter
American Eurocopter is a helicopter manufacturer that produces, markets, sells and supports the broadest range of civil and para-public helicopters offered by any manufacturer in the United States. The company is a subsidiary of EADS North America Holdings, the North American operations of EADS, a global leader in aerospace, defense and related services, and is an affiliate of Eurocopter, the largest helicopter manufacturer in the world. American Eurocopter’s product line represents the most cost-effective, technologically-advanced helicopters, ranging from light single to heavy twin, serving all markets and missions. Company headquarters and main facilities are located in Grand Prairie, TX, with a large manufacturing and production facility in Columbus, MS, that produces the UH-72A for the U.S. Army’s Light Utility Helicopter program