Barbara Woodworth

 

 

SKILLS LEARNED IN MILITARY VALUED

 

The unemployment rate for veterans who served In active duty in the U.S. Armed Forces at any time since September 2001—a group referred to as Gulf War-era II veterans—declined by 1.8 percentage points to 7.2 percent in 2014, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported in March. The jobless rate for all veterans, at 5.3 percent, also declined from 2013.

 

Private sector firms, such as the five featured below, understand hiring veterans is not only the right thing to do as a corporate citizen; it’s also the right thing to do for their company.

 

HILTON WORLDWIDE: DRIVEN BY PASSION

 

Yaniel Morales joined the Florida National Guard in 2010, where he trained as internment/resettlement specialist (MOS 31E) under the Marine Police (MP) Corps. He was deployed to Afghanistan in 2012 during Operation Enduring Freedom. “At the time my company, the 806th MP Company, performed detainment operations in Bagram before returning to the U.S. a year later,” he explains.

 

“I learned to appreciate the many things we take for granted, including the sacrifice of our military to keep our nation safe and free,” Morales says.

 

According to Morales, the military also helps prepare servicemen and women for civilian life and careers. “One of my most important experiences was learning to be adaptable. When assigned to the safety and security field, we regularly faced unpredictable situations and depended on our military training to adapt and overcome challenges,” he says.

 

With a penchant for working at a job where he was in a position to help others, Morales carefully considered how to apply his military training to civilian pursuits. As security officer at Hilton Orlando Lake Buena Vista in Florida, he relies on his background, strengths, and knowledge to do his best at the job he loves. The property is part of Hilton Worldwide, a leading global hospitality company headquartered in McLean, VA.

 

“Although there is currently no direct connection to my position in the hospitality industry and the work I did in the military, both opportunities are driven by my passion for helping others and striving to be a selfless person,” remarks Morales.

 

Approaching his ninth year with Hilton Worldwide, Morales still draws upon the patience, resiliency, and adaptability he learned from the military when dealing with difficult situations. “Hilton is a great place to work as there are many military skills that are applicable to my current career,” he says.

 

Morales does, however, caution about the need to be aware that there are some former military personnel who find it difficult to adapt to civilian life and work. “Positive and welcoming work environments, like that at Hilton, makes reentry into the civilian world much easier,” he comments.

 

To those reentering civilian jobs, Morales advises being as patient and as flexible as they were in the service. He recommends Hilton Worldwide as a terrific place to start a civilian career, specifically because of the company’s Operation: Opportunity, a company-wide commitment to providing extensive support to U.S. military veterans and their families, including the hiring of 10,000 veterans over the next five years.

 

“There are many privileges that go along with working at Hilton, including being able to help former servicemen and women adjust and feel welcome in their new roles and lives,” he says. Morales feels a deep sense of pride in working for a company that values veterans. In fact he is currently assisting the company’s director of security in implementing and running Operation: Opportunity. “It truly is an inspiration and honor to assist with this program and help achieve its goals and missions,” he says.

 

For Morales, his team of co-workers ranks as the most enjoyable part of his job. Just as in the military, his coworkers are more than friends – they are family.

 

CARDINAL HEALTH: RECOGNIZING THE VALUE OF VETERANS

 

With a bachelor’s of arts in social work and six months spent seeking challenging employment, Jamell Culbreath’s decision to join the United States Army, “turned out to be the best decision I ever could have made.”

 

Culbreath, who served five-and-a-half years, was responsible for developing and administering policy, managing personnel, and analyzing complex problems. He completed two tours of duty in support of Operation Enduring Freedom and Operation Iraqi Freedom and was awarded several distinctions that included three Army Commendation Medals, an Army Achievement Medal, and the Iraqi Service Medal.

 

To further his education and create more opportunities for himself in the corporate sector, he earned an MBA from Ohio University, maintaining a 3.5 GPA while working full time. “As a sergeant during Operation Iraqi Freedom, my team completed over 350 missions under my leadership,” notes Culbreath.

 

Following active duty, Culbreath attended the Veteran Professional Advance Course (VPAC), where he was given the opportunity to learn if Cardinal Health was a good fit. Within six months he was called about an opportunity to join the 34,000 employees at Cardinal Health. Starting as a contractor, hard work, discipline, and determination led to a full-time position.

 

Now an advisor in strategic pricing (Generic Pharmaceuticals) at Cardinal Health, he continues to lead with a team approach. Culbreath defines a true leader as someone who shows dedication to individuals and organizations and affords others the opportunity to be successful. “In the military, there is a certain level of expected excellence amongst its personnel. After re search ing Cardinal Health, I felt it was a company where I could continue to grow as a leader,” explains Culbreath. He has been employed at the Dublin, OH-based company since July 2013.

 

“In corporate America one of the most important skills is a strong ability to establish and foster rapport with people from diverse backgrounds and cultures,” says Culbreath, who advises former military personnel to be strategic in their approach to entering the civilian sector. “There are several resources available to veterans, including mentors who can help with developing career plans. There are also many educational programs that offer free training and assistance to help veterans work toward a successful civilian career.”

 

The current job outlook for former service men and women is very promising. “More companies like Cardinal Health are recognizing the value of veterans to overall growth and success. At Cardinal Health there are several initiatives geared toward gaining a better understanding of how veterans’ skills transfer to the civilian sector,” says Culbreath.

 

A member of Cardinal Health’s Veteran and Military Advocates (VMA) Employee Resource Group, Culbreath also serves as instructor/volunteer with the Veterans Professional Advancement Course, a resource for veterans transitioning out of the military.

 

Professionally, Culbreath works toward the goal of ensuring that Cardinal Health remains competitive by delivering the highest quality service. “My individual objective is to address all concerns promptly and to identify ways to improve outcomes and efficiencies,” he states. “While there are always job challenges, I welcome them. Challenges provide ‘healthy stress,’ the type needed to bring growth to an individual and an organization.”

 

GE HEALTHCARE: HONORING COMMITMENT

 

With a long history of family military service, “the U.S. military is very much a part of who I am,” says Lee Droog. “In fact, my dad met my mom, who is Korean, while stationed in the Republic of South Korea.”

 

Following in her father’s footsteps, Droog served in the U.S. Army Medical Corps at various medical centers. “My training as a medic and x-ray technician led to further training as an ultrasound technician at Walter Reed Medical Center before I transitioned to the civilian healthcare sector,” she comments.

 

Droog’s experience in the Medical Corps prepared her for her role as civilian care provider, and also prompted her to attend a networking event where she was recruited by GE Healthcare. “The advantage of participating in networking activities fosters your association with others who have similar interests and allows you to learn about new opportunities for employment, community service, and industry trends,” she says.

 

Now in her 11th year at GE, which is headquartered in Fairfield, CT and has 307,000 global employees, Droog is director of product management, U.S. & Canada Service for GE Healthcare.

 

“GE understands the value of our country’s military and veteran populations and strives to recruit the best diverse talent,” she acknowledges.

 

GE is now in its fourth year of a five-year goal to hire at least 1,000 veterans per year – a goal exceeded the previous three years. More than 10,000 veterans work at GE, where one in four employees in the U.S. is a veteran. A co-founder of the Get Skills to Work program designed to help thousands of veterans’ transition into civilian manufacturing careers, GE has additionally sponsored the U.S. Chamber of Commerce’s Hiring Our Heroes initiative since its inception. Further information is available at http:www.ge.com/careers/culture/diversity/veterans-network.

 

As for job-related challenges, Droog cites coordinating several times zones when working with a global employee base. Exercising her influencing skills to guide teams to a consensus is another. “Once the right commitment is made, however, and the team is aligned with the same goals and purpose, my efforts are well worth it,” she says. Other skills she identifies as necessary are flexibility, adaptability, optimism, and the ability to empower and inspire others.

 

“Remember the ‘mission’ but don’t forget the importance of the individuals who are part of that mission. That will help to ensure professional and personal satisfaction and success,” she states.

 

The best part of her job, is “having the opportunity to learn and grow as an individual and a professional within a company that has a strong legacy of military partnerships, is the number one company for leaders, and is not opposed to trying innovative ways to solve customer problems.”

 

She’s also appreciative of the entrepreneurial spirit that is part of GE’s culture. “During my years at GE I have been part of projects that have pushed me beyond my comfort zone but which have ultimately led me to grow and improve,” explains Droog, who is involved with the company’s Asian Pacific American Forum and serves as the Veterans Networking Initiative leader for its post-traumatic stress (PTS) and traumatic brain injury (TBI) segment. “The mission of this endeavor is to drive awareness of PTS and TBI in the veterans’ community, both internal and external to GE, and to help provide a robust vehicle for actionable leadership in this area,” she states. She additionally leads the GE Healthcare Veterans Network North Carolina Unit.

 

Fond of recalling the advice of her father, the most influential person in her life, who was recently buried in Arlington National Cemetery, Droog repeats his words, “take care of those who take care of you,” and adds, “always honor your commitments in your personal and professional lives.”

 

PARSONS CORPORATION: PAYING ATTENTION TO DETAIL

 

Enlisting in the Virginia Army National Guard during Operation Iraqi Freedom, Joy Dubbs served for eight years. A MOS 35F, military intelligence analyst, she was deployed to Kuwait from 2007 to 2008.

 

Dubbs points to a valuable lesson learned from being in the military– “expect the unexpected but do not to expect too much.” During her downtime while deployed she read a great deal, finding reading to be an excellent way to prepare for a civilian job.

 

With a BS in mathematics from Virginia Tech, Parsons Corporation recruited her at an on-campus job fair. Dubbs is now a software engineer. Prior to joining Parsons three and a half years ago, she worked in the civilian world as a software developer writing data-processing applications in C++ and as a quality assurance engineer.

 

Headquartered in Pasadena, CA, Parsons is one of the world’s largest engineering, construction, technical, and management firms, with 15,000 employees involved in more than 3,000 projects in 28 countries.

 

Dubbs finds her biggest on-the-job challenge is working to become expert in areas she is recently exposed to. Addressing this she finds paying attention to both detail and flashes of imagination a must. Her advice to former military personnel entering civilian jobs is to keep in mind that how well you do is up to you. “Unlike the military, the fact that you can be fired is important to keep in mind,” she comments.

 

Regarding the job outlook for those returning from the military and planning to enter the civilian workforce, Dubbs believes that despite the fact that many companies are now making a concerted effort to hire veterans, job success ultimately depends on the individual and the efforts that person puts forth.

 

“Opportunities mean nothing if you don’t take advantage of them,” she states. Dubbs enjoys working with computers as they “execute instructions without asking questions,” and also enjoys on-campus recruiting of Virginia Tech students.

 

CENTERRA GROUP: A LEADER THROUGH AND THROUGH

 

For Richard Allen, May 13, 1973 was a banner day. “I was commissioned as a second lieutenant in the United States Air Force (USAF) and graduated with a bachelor’s degree in political science,” says Allen.

 

A graduate of the Air Force ROTC program at North Carolina A&T State University, Allen was assigned as security police officer to the Security Police Career Field. “There I learned valuable law enforcement and security skills while simultaneously serving as a member of the USAF Air Base Ground Defense Force,” he says. At McConnell Air Force Base, a component of Strategic Air Command (SAC), his first official position was Officer-in-Charge of Missile Security. “Just 22 years old, I was tasked with protecting more than 600 square miles of missile fields, 18 Titan II missiles, and overseeing 100-plus men. A very big deal for a young man from a small town,” he remarks.

 

During his 26 years in the military, Allen successfully carried out a series of progressive assignments that increased in complexity and responsibility. The highlight of his National Capitol Region tours was serving as police coordinator for the inaugural parade of President Ronald Reagan.

 

For Allen, however, his last assignment was clearly the best. “Handpicked to be the director, Security Forces Air Force Command, my responsibilities included security oversight for CONUS land-based missiles and space launch facilities as well as being responsible for an array of space-tracking facilities worldwide,” he says.

 

“My military service had a profound effect on my life and my professional career. It taught me how to lead and interact with people from all walks of life,” he comments. It also inspired confidence and taught him a life-long lesson that serves him to this day – treat people with dignity and respect. “As a result of my training and ability to apply my skills, I am a committed security professional with leadership skills that are valued in the corporate world,” he says.

 

Allen is senior vice president operations and quality assurance for Palm Beach Gardens, FL-headquartered Centerra Group LLC, Inc., where he’s worked for 15 years.

 

In addition to his undergraduate degree, Allen holds a MS in management and supervision from Central Michigan University and is a graduate of Cornell University’s Financial Management Certificate Program for senior executives and the FBI National Academy. He is also a Certified Project Management Professional. “My education and acquired busi- ness acumen enabled me to improve my social condition and that of my family and many others whose lives I continue to touch. Additionally, the combination of my military and educational experience uniquely qualified me to effectively run business units requiring diverse skills,” says Allen.

 

Sought after by the private sector, choosing Centerra was an easy decision for Allen. “The culture was similar to the military environment I was accustomed to and Centerra housed a network of likeminded professionals who worked as a team. Like successful military units, this 8,400-employee company has dynamic and competent leadership,” he remarks.

 

Centerra remains committed to the military, performing para-military missions and hiring veterans. For former service men and women, Allen underscores the importance of learning to speak the language of business. “Realize that military personnel management differs from the civilian environment. Unlike the military, civilians can and do challenge orders so it is necessary to know how to handle situations in the civilian environment,” he explains.

 

In his many capacities – both past and present – Allen’s guiding perspective does not allow him to have a bad day. When asked, “How are you today”, his answer is always, “Wonderful and getting better”- a life lesson well lived.