WASHINGTON, D.C., May 5, 2026 — Military Times today announced Best for Vets: Trusted Brands, a new annual recognition program that identifies and verifies companies delivering genuine value to active-duty service members, veterans and military families.
The program is slated to launch during Military Appreciation Month, a fitting moment to showcase companies that serve the military community through tangible action, not just words.
Best for Vets: Trusted Brands covers 13 categories — from financial services and healthcare to retail, automotive and technology — representing the full commercial spectrum military families encounter every day. Top-performing companies in each category earn the Trusted Brand designation, and all verified participants receive a listing in the Best for Vets: Trusted Brands Directory, a permanent, searchable resource on MilitaryTimes.com.
“The military community has $1 trillion in lifetime buying power and deserves to know which companies have built programs to actually serve in meaningful ways. Best for Vets: Trusted Brands creates that standard.”
— Kelly Facer, SVP Operations, Sightline Media Group
Unlike existing recognition programs, which are largely subscription-based or rely on self-reported surveys, Best for Vets: Trusted Brands uses a rigorous, independent scoring methodology to evaluate verified performance data. No company can purchase a designation. Every Trusted Brand badge is earned.
The program extends the legacy of Best for Vets: Colleges, Military Times’ long-running and widely trusted higher education rankings for the military community. Best for Vets: Trusted Brands applies the same editorially independent standard to the commercial brand market for the first time.
“We built this program because the military community has been underserved by recognition programs that prioritize revenue over rigor. Serving the veteran community should mean something. This recognition ensures it will.”
— Jon Simkins, Editor-in-chief, Military TImes
Sponsorship opportunities for Best for Vets: Trusted Brands are now available. For information, contact hello@militarytimes.com
About Military Times
Military Times is the nation’s leading independent news source for the military community, with 75 years of editorial service to active-duty service members, veterans, and their families. The Military Times network -- including Army Times, Navy Times, Air Force Times, Marine Corps Times, C4ISRNET, Defense News, and Federal Times -- reaches 8.8 million monthly readers across print, digital, and broadcast. Military Times is published by Sightline Media Group.
About Best for Vets
Best for Vets is Military Times’ flagship recognition franchise, established more than a decade ago with Best for Vets: Colleges -- the most trusted college rankings for the military community. Best for Vets: Trusted Brands extends that editorial credibility into the commercial brand market, applying the same rigorous, independent methodology to the companies competing for the trust and loyalty of military families.
Media Contact
Stephanie Durham | VP of Marketing, Military Times | sdurham@militarytimes.com