National honor recognizes First Command’s leadership in hiring, supporting and honoring veterans, military spouses and their families
FORT WORTH, Texas–First Command Financial Services, Inc. has been named a winner of the 2026 Patriots in Business Award. It is the second time the company has received the honor, following its 2024 award. Presented annually by Chief Executive magazine and Thayer Leadership at West Point, the award recognizes companies that lead the nation in supporting active-duty service members, veterans and military families, and that embody the U.S. Military Academy values of Duty, Honor and Country in their business practices and communities.
“We’re honored to receive the Patriots in Business Award again, and the credit goes to everyone at First Command – from our Advisors in the field to our Home Office teams,” said Mark Steffe, President and CEO of First Command.
Now in its ninth year, the award is decided through a competitive nationwide judging process led by a panel of veterans’ affairs experts and business leaders with military backgrounds. The awards ceremony will be part of Chief Executive Group’s annual Leadership Conference, to be held Nov. 5-6 in San Antonio. First Command will be recognized during the awards presentation on the afternoon of Nov. 5.
“We’re honored to receive the Patriots in Business Award again, and the credit goes to everyone at First Command – from our Advisors in the field to our Home Office teams,” said Mark Steffe, President and CEO of First Command. “Our company was founded on serving military families and our Mission is coaching those who serve in their pursuit of financial security. Opening career paths for veterans and military spouses is one of the most meaningful ways we live out that Mission, and it’s a privilege to give back to the families who have given so much to our country.”
Today, 73% of First Command’s more than 600 Financial Advisors are veterans, military spouses or current Guardsmen or Reservists, a share that has held at 70% or higher since 2021. The company’s recruiting reflects that commitment: 85% of the Recruiting Agreements signed so far in fiscal year 2026 have been with veterans, military spouses or members of the Guard and Reserve. As an approved Defense Department SkillBridge partner, First Command hosted 167 transitioning service members as interns in 2025, bringing its total to nearly 700 since 2019.
First Command adopted its first Military Spouse Strategy in 2017, addressing barriers such as licensure, frequent relocation and career interruption. Since then, that focus has grown into an enterprise-wide priority, including a dedicated Director of Military Spouse Programs role, a Home Office coordinator who helps Advisors relocate their business during PCS moves, and a remote Advisor model designed to travel with military spouses from one duty station to the next.
First Command’s commitment extends well beyond its own workforce. Through its Force for Good program, the 100% employee-owned company directs 9% of its profits to charities and sponsorships, with no corporate tax benefit. In 2025, employees volunteered more than 30,000 hours, Advisors delivered more than 34,000 complimentary financial plans to service members and their families, and the company provided more than $10 million in no-interest pay advances to military families and federal workers during the fall government shutdown. During the past five years, First Command has also raised more than $1 million for the military service relief societies.
This year’s Patriots in Business Award adds to a growing list of honors for First Command, including 14 consecutive years as a Military Friendly Employer (2026 Gold designation), 11 consecutive years as a Military Friendly Spouse Employer, a 2026 VETS Indexes 4-Star designation and an ESGR Patriot Award.
About First Command
First Command Financial Services and its subsidiaries, including First Command Brokerage Services, First Command Advisory Services, First Command Insurance Services and First Command Bank, coach our Nation’s military families in their pursuit of financial security. Since 1958, First Command Financial Advisors have been shaping positive financial behaviors through face-to-face coaching with hundreds of thousands of client families.