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Veterans use military skills to transition to careers in construction

Veterans Day is this Friday, Nov. 11th! Hear from local veterans on how their time of service helped prepare them for their current careers in the construction industry and what they enjoyed most about their time in the military.

Jake Robinson – Veteran working for Synergos as an Operations Manager

  1. What branch of the military did you serve in?
    United States Marine Corps. Oorah!
  2. How long did you serve?
    Four years.
  3. How did your service in the military help prepare you for your current career?
    My time spent in the military helped prepare me for a career in construction management, tremendously. From the early stages of boot camp, until my final days in the fleet, adaptability was the most important skill instilled in me by the military. Adaptability is vital because it showcases your ability to be resourceful, highlights your diplomacy, and can separate you as an impactful leader among peers. The military is also a huge advocate of teamwork. I learned how to work well with groups of people, from a variety of backgrounds and experience levels, and it prepared me for the day-to-day encounters I experience working in the construction industry.
  4. Looking back, what was your favorite part of your service in the military?
    I’d have to say that my time spent overseas on deployment was my favorite part of my service in the military. The amount of training, preparation, and anticipation built up for a nine-month seaborne deployment, in wartimes, was exhilarating. Looking back, I was 19, and responsible for ensuring the flight integrity and pilot safety for several 25M aircrafts and aircrew—you had to grow up quickly! It was truly remarkable to experience how vast the ocean is when you’re traveling on an aircraft carrier for 102 days straight without seeing land. I’ll never forget thinking that the USA is like living in Disneyland compared to the rest of the world. I’m so thankful to live here.

Aaron Voight – Veteran working at SSC Underground as a Truck Leader/Driver

  1. What branch of the military did you serve in? How long did you serve?
    I served in the Army for 3 and a half years as an infantryman.
  2. How did your service in the military help prepare you for your current career?
    I believe my service has helped me outside of the army in many ways, such as always being on time and performing at the highest level that I can. I also was able to use part of my GI bill to attend an equipment operator school last year.
  3. Looking back, what was your favorite part of your service in the military?
    My favorite part about serving is the friends I’ve made and the places I’ve gotten to go.

Cloyce Cramer – Veteran working at DP Electric Inc. as Special Projects Group APM

  1. What branch of the military did you serve in?
    United States Army
  2. How long did you serve?
    7 years (6 active duty, 1 National Guard)
  3. How did your service in the military help prepare you for your current career?
    My military service helped me prepare for my current position as an assistant project manager by teaching me how to be dependable and forward thinking. It taught me how to be a leader and trust my teammates around me.
  4. Looking back, what was your favorite part of your service in the military?
    Looking back my favorite part about my military service has to be the camaraderie that I had with the men and women that served around me and knowing I can trust my life in their hands on the battlefield.