Veterans Day 2020 at F5

For additional background on how F5 is recognizing Veterans Day, I wanted to share a copy of the email that went out to U.S. employees.

To: F5 Employees (US only)
From: Nathan Kurtz, VP of Performance & Strategy, Executive Sponsor for F5’s Military Veterans Employee Inclusion Group
Date: Wednesday, November 11, 2020
Subject: In honor of Veterans Day, November 11^th, 2020

Today is Veterans Day, which is a time to honor those who have served in the U.S. Armed Forces. It was originally celebrated as Armistice Day in the U.S. and other countries to mark the end of the first World War on November 11, 1918 at 11 a.m. Veterans Day is officially recognized by 2 minutes of silence on the 11^th hour, of the 11^th day, of the 11^th month each year. It is a time where we pause and thank our veterans for their bravery, sacrifice, and service. I use the term “service” intentionally because to be a veteran is to have served the citizens of our country and stood up for the freedom of all Americans, regardless of race, religion, political affiliation, gender, sexual orientation, or any other identity. 

There are approximately 17 million veterans in the U.S. today and over a hundred of those veterans work right here at F5. I’m one of them. I was an Airborne Ranger in the 2^nd Battalion at Fort Lewis.

I have an immense sense of pride when I reflect on my own service. I had the privilege of being with some of the most talented, selfless, and dedicated people I have ever known. My time in the service helped shape my personality and my beliefs. It had a significant and positive impact on my life. I suspect if you ask most veterans, they will likely say something similar.  

My family has a deep tradition of military service. I was raised with the belief that the privilege of living in the U.S. and the freedoms we experience come at a price. That price was to sacrifice personal freedom for the freedom of our country. As our nation currently grapples with polarization, the freedom to express and protect our different points of view are largely due to the personal sacrifices made by those who served. Being a veteran means believing in the freedom of all Americans and sacrificing for others before self.

Among us on Zoom calls across the country and around the world are employees who have put on the uniform and served (see the collage below). But that level of service does not stop once the uniform comes off. Our veteran employees take the experiences and lessons they learned in the military to enrich F5’s culture and help lead. Veterans are employed in all areas of the company from Field Sales Representatives to Security Support Specialists and in the executive ranks. They are part of F5’s fabric and are one part of what makes our company’s leadership capacity so great.  

You may not realize that F5 has a thriving Military and Veterans Employee Inclusion Group (EIG) group which is working behind the scenes to bring incredible skills to our organization. This EIG has been working tirelessly to improve the employee experience for our military veterans and build a more diverse and inclusive F5.

On this Veterans Day, I ask that you might simply pause and take time to thank the veterans in your life including your F5 colleagues, friends, and family members for their service. What an amazing country we have because of their sacrifices. In addition, I’ve included a few ideas and links below for ways to get involved.

Thank you,

Nathan Kurtz, VP of Performance & Strategy, F5
Executive Sponsor for Military Veterans EIG
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Here are a few actions you can take today:

• Thank a veteran for their service
• View a Veterans Day message from Peter Kersten, VP of F5 Federal
• Find out about our careers or join our talent community
• Learn more about F5’s commitment to diversity and inclusion
• Download Veterans Day Zoom backgrounds

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