Military Veterans

On September 18, 2020, the U.S. Air Force celebrates 73 years of service, but its origins stretch back much further.

The USAF was officially formed in 1947, after World War II made it clear that the skies were a significant theater for military operations. But the foundation of the Air Force had been laid forty years earlier, in 1907, when the U.S. Army Signal Corps established an Aeronautical Division. Only four years had passed since the Wright Brothers had taken their famous flight at Kitty Hawk, North Carolina, but already it was clear that airplane technology would play a role in national security.

The Aeronautical Division was the world’s first heavier-than-air military aviation organization. It pioneered many of the systems and protocols that aviation organizations rely on today, including formal training for pilots and a rating system for pilot qualifications.

During World War I, the Aviation Section (which had replaced the Aeronautical Division in 1914), organized the country’s first aero squadrons and conducted the first U.S. military aviation operations on foreign soil. These squadrons were vital in the fight against enemy aircraft along the Western Front during the first world war.

Air squadrons proved their usefulness in World War I, but it was the second world war that made clear how crucial an air force was to national defense. During World War II, battles were fought just as readily in the air as they were on land and at sea. The skies had become a full-fledged theater of war. And to meet this threat, the U.S. expanded its aerial forces. At the height of WWII, the U.S. Army Air Force (as it was still called then) had more than 2.4 million men and women in service and nearly 80,000 aircraft. It also had nearly 800 domestic bases and operated 1,600 airfields worldwide.

As these numbers show, by 1947 the Air Force had grown into a full-fledged branch of the military, on par with the Army, the Navy, and other military branches. Its official designation as a separate military branch on September 18 of that year was a recognition of this fact.

The Air Force Today

Today the United States Air Force (USAF) is the second-largest service branch, with 320,000 active-duty airmen, 146,000 civilian personnel, 69,000 reserve airmen, and 106,000 Air National Guard airmen.

Likewise, the USAF has expanded its operations since its early days. Today’s Air Force not only conducts its own independent air operations, but also coordinates with other branches of the military to provide air support for their missions. And in addition to playing an active role in every major conflict since its inception, the USAF has been an important factor in U.S. humanitarian relief efforts.

Top photo: An Air Force F-35A Lightning II Joint Strike Fighter

One of the service’s earliest humanitarian missions took place in 1949, when the Air Force dropped 1.8 million tons of food and supplies during the Berlin Airlift, thus ensuring the continued existence of democratic West Germany. Since then, the scope of the Air Force’s humanitarian missions has broadened considerably, and includes medical, rescue, and other types of aid.

Today, the USAF regularly provides emergency medical care with its Critical Care Air Transport (CCAT) Team. The service operates several C-130 aircraft that have been fitted to operate as flying ambulances. A different set of C-130s—equipped with the latest firefighting technology—are called into action to serve as air tankers during large wildfires.

A few of the service’s humanitarian aid programs have evolved into annual traditions. In Guam and Japan, for example, Operation Christmas Drop has taken place every year since 1952. As part of this operation, airmen stationed in those locales deliver much-needed supplies to the nearby Micronesian islands. (Fun fact: These supplies often include toys and soccer balls.)

When a natural disaster strikes somewhere in the world, there’s a good chance that USAF personnel will be there to help out. This was the case when a 7.0M earthquake struck Haiti in 2010. As part of Operation Unified Response, the USAF joined other branches of the military in providing aid to the small nation. The Air Force delivered 19 million pounds of cargo, evacuated thousands of American citizens, and conducted aeromedical evacuations for 223 critically injured Haitian patients.

After the earthquake struck, more than 6,000 USAF personnel arrived to help with rescue and other operations, performing a wide range of duties. At the damaged Port-au-Prince airport, for example, a small group of Air Force personnel—led by Chief Master Sergeant Antonio Travis–used handheld radios and a card table to direct the takeoff and landing of relief planes every five minutes. Thanks to this team, 150,000 bottles of water and 75,000 packaged meals were delivered to thousands of displaced persons.

The United States Air Force has come a long way since its beginning as part of the U.S. Army Signal Corps, so much so that it has itself become the progenitor of a new branch of the military. The Air Force Space Command, established in 1982, was the forerunner of today’s United States Space Force, which was designated the eighth uniformed service on December 20, 2019.

The Air Force has changed a great deal over the past few decades, with expanded operations and additional responsibilities. No doubt the next few decades will bring even greater changes. But no matter what the future holds, the Air Force mission will surely remain what it has been since 1947: to fly, fight, and win.

PRIDE Welcomes Air Force Veterans

As with other military personnel, the training that Air Force members receive while in service makes them valuable employees once they return to civilian life. PRIDE Industries is fortunate to employ many Air Force veterans, along with dozens of veterans from other branches of the military.

To seek out these highly valued employees, PRIDE developed the Military Skills Translator, an online tool designed specifically for veterans. With the Skills Translator, veterans can easily determine which civilian jobs best correspond to the valuable experience they gained while serving our country. The Military Skills Translator has enabled PRIDE to find meaningful employment for dozens of veterans from all branches of the military.

While working at any civilian company requires a transition from military life, many of the veterans now employed by PRIDE have said that it was the company’s worthwhile mission that first appealed to them. One such person is Jack Jackman, Vice President of Contracts and a retired Lieutenant Colonel.

“During my career with the Air Force, I sought ways to support local communities, wherever I was stationed,” said Jackman. “PRIDE lets me continue that tradition.”

On August 4, 2020, the Coast Guard turned 230 years old. Founded just fourteen years after the Revolutionary War, it’s the oldest, continuous seagoing service in the U.S, predating the U.S. Navy by eight years. The brainchild of Alexander Hamilton, this branch of the military was originally called the Revenue Marine. Its primary responsibility was to ensure the collection of customs duties at U.S. seaports, which at the time were losing substantial sums of money due to smugglers who avoided tariffs.

The Revenue Marine’s inaugural fleet consisted of ten sleek and speedy cutters. These topsail schooners were sometimes equipped with a swivel cannon, an indication of just how dangerous the job of a revenue mariner could be. The cutter ship soon became emblematic of the Revenue Marine, so much so that the agency quickly gained the nickname “Revenue Cutter Service”—a designation that Congress made official in 1894. The “cutter” tradition stuck, and even today, the long, high-powered boats operated by the Coast Guard are referred to as cutters.

By the time the Revenue Marine officially became the Revenue Cutter Service, the agency’s duties had expanded considerably. These new duties included rescuing mariners in distress, charting the coastline, defending the seacoast from military attack, and even capturing pirate ships. In 1915, the agency changed its name again, when the Revenue Cutter Service merged with the U.S Life-Saving Service to become the Coast Guard that we know today.

Small but Mighty

With only 41,000 active-duty members, the Coast Guard is the smallest branch of the armed services. But it has significant responsibilities: ensuring the safety of life at sea and enforcing U.S. maritime law. The agency is responsible for protecting 95,000 miles of U.S. coastline and waterways, and even operates in international waters. The modern Coast Guard is a multi-mission service with five key roles: ensuring maritime safety, security, and mobility; providing national defense; and protecting natural resources.

As the frequent name changes indicate, the Coast Guard legacy is one of adaptation. While the agency’s mission remains fundamentally unchanged, the methods and tools it uses have evolved considerably in 230 years.

The agency’s cutters, for example, are specialized now. There are a dozen or so different types used by the Coast Guard, ranging from reliable harbor tugs to speedy patrol ships to behemoth icebreakers. Some cutters are so big that they include landing pads for helicopters, which are now a standard part of Coast Guard equipment, along with half a dozen types of planes.

In addition to large cutters, the Coast Guard fleet includes hundreds of smaller boats used for emergency response and related duties. (Fun fact: Cutters are Coast Guard seacraft that are at least 65 feet long. Anything smaller is a boat.)

A Legacy of Maritime Protection

The Coast Guard’s current duties extend far beyond anything the Founding Fathers could have imagined. For example, the organization now has its own special forces team. Known as the Maritime Safety and Security Team (MSST), it was created in 2002 in response to the terrorist attacks of 9/11. The MSST guards America’s seaports and protects critical shipping lanes and vessels. It is the only special forces team authorized to arrest submerged scuba divers.

Another of the Coast Guard’s lesser-known responsibilities is its leadership in the International Ice Patrol. The Ice Patrol was founded in 1913, just months after the HMS Titanic sank after hitting an iceberg, killing over 1,500 passengers and crew. Today, the International Ice Patrol monitors the North Atlantic Ocean and alerts the maritime community to any dangerous icebergs. Although the International Ice Patrol is supported by a consortium of thirteen nations, responsibility for Patrol operations rests solely with the Coast Guard.

Even the Coast Guard’s traditional duties have expanded. Its rescue operations, for example, are more frequent and far-ranging than ever before. On average, the Coast Guard conducts 45 search-and-rescue missions and saves ten people every day. During that same 24-hour period, it will save over $1 million worth of property, and complete nearly 30 safety examinations of foreign vessels.

The organization’s policing duties have also grown over the past two centuries, especially as regards contraband. Though the Coast Guard has been intercepting smugglers since its inception, it must constantly adapt its methods to counteract today’s drug smugglers, who are far more sophisticated and better equipped than their predecessors.

PRIDE Welcomes Coast Guard Veterans

As with other military personnel, the training that Coast Guard members receive while in service makes them valuable employees once they return to civilian life. PRIDE Industries is fortunate to employ several Coast Guard veterans, along with dozens of veterans from other branches of the military.

At PRIDE, we see every day how veterans of the Coast Guard contribute to their communities even after they’ve left active service—a tradition that stretches all the way back to the Revenue Marine.

Transition to civilian life is often complicated and overwhelming. Without the proper support, many veterans find themselves disconnected from the community and services that they need to adjust. In Hawaii, many veterans become homeless as a result of these challenges; they face incredible obstacles to rejoining their communities. PRIDE Industries has partnered with the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to provide employment services, job training, and more to help veterans overcome these barriers.

Going Beyond Employment Services for Veterans in Hawaii

Sean Sullivan was enthusiastic to support people with disabilities and other barriers to employment, including our nation’s veterans. He became an AbilityOne Recruiter and Employment Services Manager with PRIDE Industries in 2015. Since then he has been providing practical assistance to veterans struggling to find jobs and adapt to civilian life.

But Sean’s efforts did not stop at employment and training services. He connected with Jackie Nguyen, the Community Employment Coordinator (CEC) of the VA Homeless Veterans Employment Services, to explore additional ways they could improve outreach and job placement efforts to address more of the barriers that veterans were facing.

“When I started as a recruiter, many veterans were referred to my office for placement into PRIDE Industries,” Sean said. “Due to increasing demand, we began to offer services to place people into other jobs and careers in the community, addressing the barriers and obstacles that they faced in getting a job, including housing, transportation, mental and physical health, and transitioning from the military into civilian life.”

Helping Veterans Find Jobs in Their Community

“We both found that many veterans struggle to look for new jobs through USAJOBs or other traditional methods that they are encouraged to use,” said Sean. “Jackie and I strategized on ways to increase the numbers of unemployed veterans placed in employment. Our first course of action was to reach out to employers, like Marriott Hotels, in person, to show how PRIDE Industries and the VA work together to provide employment support for veterans. We emphasize how hiring our nation’s veterans can make a business a true partner in strengthening our communities.”

To help veterans gain job skills, Sean and Jackie began hosting monthly workshops at the Department of Labor and elsewhere. Activities include resume writing, interview role play, team building exercises, and learning how to apply for jobs on USAJOBS.

“The U.S. Attorney’s Office in Hawaii also participated in the workshops and provided insights and tips to workshop attendees on how to apply for Federal jobs,” said Sean.

Connecting Veterans with Local Employers

In October 2019, PRIDE worked with the Homeless Veterans Employment services to start conducting monthly job fairs. The local Veteran Center and American Job Center were gracious to allow the employment team free use of their space. Promoted locally, the job fair takes place on the first Monday of each month. The local Disability:In Hawaii Chapter and other businesses on Oahu invite employers to interview and offer jobs on the spot.

“So far, since the monthly job fairs started, we have had seven (7) veterans offered jobs on the spot, and an additional nine (9) interviews scheduled in December 2019. We look forward to getting more veterans hired in 2020 and partnering with more businesses to fulfill their staffing need for a qualified workforce,” said Sean.

PRIDE Industries offers a variety of employment services for veterans in Hawaii and across the country. Find out how our vocational training, job placement services, and internship opportunities can help you build a strong career path.

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“We emphasize how hiring our nation’s veterans can make a business a true partner in strengthening our communities.”

“I grew up in Roosevelt, NJ, a small borough with fewer than 1,000 residents. Several members of my family served in the military, including my Grandfather, who told me stories about World War II in Germany. My Uncle volunteered to serve in Vietnam, and my older brother joined the Air Force, and their stories inspired me to join as well.”

“After graduating from high school, I worked at my Uncle’s diesel mechanics shop for a year. The mechanical skills I learned built a foundation for the rest of my career. I initially tried to enlist in the Air Force, but I have a slight hearing impairment and they declined my application. However, the recruiter for the Navy followed me out of the recruiting center and convinced me to join.”

“After enrolling in 1993, I went to the Naval Station Great Lakes to complete basic training near North Chicago, in Lake County, Illinois. Fortunately, my brother told me everything about transitioning to military life, and I found it a smooth experience. I started as an Apprentice, where you build skills based on basic aviation maintenance and cleaning. It was an enjoyable experience, as I was drawn to engines and the power plant division.”

“After training, I served at Naval Air Facility Atsugi in Japan on the USS Independence. My first time serving abroad was a cultural shock. Slowly, I adjusted to my new lifestyle and enjoyed visiting Okinawa and Iwo Jima.”

“In 1995, I served in Operation Southern Watch, the enforcement of a ban on Iraqi warplanes and helicopters. I worked on the flight deck of the USS Independence, that relieved the USS Kennedy. It was an intense experience, we were constantly on target and had jets ready to fly. We never had to defend ourselves, but the tension was thick 24/7. Serving in that campaign made me proud, but I was relieved to return to Japan.”

“I continued to serve on the USS Independence and was often on the sea for months at a time. Our battle group was forward deployed, meaning that in a moment’s notice, we were prepared to go out to sea. I worked on maintaining the 514 Tomcat Aircrafts (same as the one in Top Gun).”

“I retired from the Navy in 1997 and moved back to New Jersey. Unlike my transition to military life, becoming a civilian was hard. First thing I had to do was find a job. Fortunately, my military experience gave me an advantage, and I found work as a mechanic at a methane power plant.”

“For other veterans struggling to return to civilian life, I would advise them not to be ashamed to ask for help. Talking to other veterans helps with the transition progress, you learn that you are not alone.”

“In 2011, a recruiter contacted me about joining PRIDE Industries at their JB-MDL (Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst) Integrated Facilities Management contract. I already had a well-paying job, but PRIDE’s mission of expanding job opportunities for people with disabilities convinced me to join, as this is a cause that’s personally important to me. I was hired as a Small Engine Mechanic and now work as a Small Engine Lead. My coworkers and working on a military base are the best part of my job; they make it all meaningful.”

“Outside of work, I have been a volunteer firefighter and EMT for over ten years with the Roosevelt Volunteer Fire department, which also serves as the town’s police department, traffic control, and public works. We might only get 30 calls a year – but we are always ready. When I first joined, there were only four members. We’ve had ups and downs over the years, but eventually we got up to 18 members.”

“As a military veteran, I am proud to support my country and community.”

“For other veterans struggling to return to civilian life, I would advise them not to be ashamed to ask for help. ”

“Successful mothers are not the ones that have never struggled; they are the ones that never gave up despite their struggles.” Lorena “Lori” Garcia carries this note written by her daughters in her work truck every day. “It’s been faded by the sun over time, but it always brightens my day.”

Lori grew up in El Paso, Texas. Shortly after her high school graduation, she decided to join the U.S. Air Force. Lori served her country as a Supply and Administration clerk in San Antonio, Texas, Little Rock, Arkansas, Biloxi, Mississippi, and Iraq in support of Operation Desert Storm.

“I wanted to fly airplanes so I joined the Air Force in 1992. Transitioning to military life was a drastic lifestyle change. One of my lasting memories involves getting off the bus at Lackland AFB and dropping my bag while in line. It was the loudest sound that I had ever heard, and I was subsequently yelled at. I wondered how I was going to get through this.”

“I had never left home and became incredibly homesick. I kept in mind what my father had always told me; to give everything my best effort. I later became head of my flight squadron and got to lead them in marches, help with GI training, and mentor recruits. I remember an airman who used to cry every night from homesickness, and I helped ease her into military life. She became close with my family and they attended her graduation.”

“Right out of Bootcamp while serving in Mississippi for two weeks in 1993, I volunteered to serve in Iraq during Operation Desert Storm. As part of the C130s supply team, we put parachutes on crates and made sure that troops on the ground were well-supplied. We were far away from friends and family, but we were united in accomplishing our mission.”

“During my military career, I became an Airman First Class and studied to become an informational specialist. I felt incredibly proud to wear the uniform and serve my country. However, before my fourth year while serving in Little Rock, AR, I became pregnant. I asked for a transfer to El Paso to be closer to my family, but they couldn’t accommodate me at the time, so I received an honorable discharge. I moved back and signed up for the inactive reserves. A couple of years later, when I was about to be deployed to Iraq, I discovered that I was pregnant again with my son, and formally left the service.”

“My children are the light of my life; we share a special bond, forged and solidified by overcoming difficult times together. This became especially true when my ex-husband became emotionally abusive. He would tell me that no one else would take us if I left. For a long time, I believed him.”

Lori eventually made the courageous decision to leave her husband to create a better future for herself and her children. Starting over again was not easy, they were left homeless. With true resilience, Lori started her own landscaping business.

“In the early days, we would sleep in our car in parking lots that I was hired to restripe at night while they were empty. When landscaping jobs were slow, I worked as a Bounty Hunter to help supplement my income. I eventually earned enough money to move us into an apartment. I felt incredibly proud to develop this independent life, all on my own.”

The years of hard work began to take their toll on Lori’s health. “I started having back pain while in the Air Force and while landscaping, but I needed to work through the pain to provide for my kids. Eventually, I realized that I needed to quit. Fortunately, I met a person who worked for PRIDE Industries, and they told me about their mission to create opportunities for people with disabilities and veterans. I was impressed and joined PRIDE Industries in 2016 as a Maintenance Trades Helper.”

“From the start, PRIDE Industries was incredibly supportive. I had prior carpentry experience but was given a lot of hands-on training and support.” Through Lori’s hard work, she was promoted to a General Maintenance Worker within her first 90-days of employment. “My goal is to be promoted to Carpenter before 2020, and I am working with my supervisor to check off the needed skills to be ready to apply when a position becomes available.”

To avoid making her back injuries worse, Lori is paired with another employee who can assist her in performing heavy lifting. PRIDE’s Vocational Rehabilitation team of counselors and job coaches are also available for assistance.

“Working in the carpentry field is often challenging, but my job provides meaning and I enjoy the opportunity to continue supporting the military. Civilian life does not have the structure as military life; I feel comfortable and at home at PRIDE. My advice to other veterans would be to not give up when the times are rough and use your training to help with everyday life.”

“My advice to other veterans would be to not give up when the times are rough and use your training to help with everyday life.”

“I originally planned to serve my country for four years and then apply to law school. My father served in the U.S. Air Force as a Crew Chief on the B-47 during the Cold War, and I admired the mission of the Air Force. I ended up enjoying the service so much that I made it my career for more than 33 years.”

Major General Blake (Retired), PRIDE Industries’ Chief Operating Officer, served in the military in a variety of leadership roles for the Department of Defense and the United States Air Force including procurement, contracting, and program management of major weapon systems acquisitions, installation management, contingency operations, and government procurement policy. Through his distinguished service to our country, Major General Blake earned 19 major awards and decorations, including the Distinguished Service Medal.

“I was constantly in leadership training for my entire career. Since I started my journey at a military college, the transition was easier for me. After I graduated from The Citadel, one of my early assignments in my career was on a NATO Fighter Wing at Ghedi Air Base, Italy where I learned a lot about the operational Air Force and working jointly with a coalition NATO partner. It was a wonderful experience in a beautiful location, and I had many opportunities to travel around Europe. The Air Force continued to offer me great assignments and promotions.”

“As a Lieutenant Colonel, I served in Iraq in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom in 2004, within a year of the start of the Campaign. It felt completely different compared to my other assignments in that I was now in a combat zone and realized all the training up to this point really mattered, as a lot was at stake. I oversaw the efforts to rebuild the country’s electrical, transportation, and communication infrastructure worth about $8B, all while fighting an insurgency.”

“I returned to serve in 2006 in Iraq before the surge (the deployment of more than 20,000 soldiers into Iraq in 2007) to participate in a special mission commissioned by the Secretary of Defense and Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff to assess the operational vulnerabilities associated with contracted combat services support to the maneuver warfighting divisions. This became critical in how we apportioned warfighters across the theater of operations. Every time we went outside the Forward Operating Base, we were always armed and prepared for the unexpected, especially since IEDs were a common threat.”

“My final tour abroad during wartime was in Afghanistan from 2011 – 2012. It was the first time that we were literally writing contingency Contracting doctrine while engaged in a full operational campaign. We put Contracting on the offense to enable success across the entire joint operations area from kinetic maneuver to non-kinetic economic stability.”

“Every assignment I had was significant, but the four times I served as a commander were transformative leadership opportunities. Being responsible for the well-being of airman and their families was a huge responsibility that I didn’t take lightly. In each of these commands, not only did I train and prepare multiple airmen for deployment to Iraq, Afghanistan, and other contingency operations but I also was responsible for executing my unit’s operational mission. My largest command assignment was at Wright-Patterson AFB, leading the Air Force Installation Contracting Agency overseeing the functional contracting mission of some 70 Air Force installations worldwide.”

“I retired from the Air Force effective August 1, 2018 as the Deputy Assistant Secretary for Contracting, Office of the Assistant Secretary of the Air Force for Acquisition. I had fulfilled my time-in-grade (rank) commitment of three years and was eligible to seek permission from the Air Force Chief of Staff to retire. I always understood that at some point in time, I would have to take the uniform off. I knew I would miss the military mission and the people, but I felt excited about planning my next steps in life.”

“I became acquainted with PRIDE Industries in 2000 when I assumed command of the 60th Contracting Squadron at Travis AFB. My prior experience up to this point in my career involved major weapons systems acquisition, and this was my first operational Contracting assignment working with an AbilityOne® contract focused on hiring people with disabilities. I was unsure how this would work at first but became quickly impressed when I saw PRIDE in action. The AbilityOne® mission is a means for the Air Force to exercise good stewardship with the local communities, as it creates opportunities for people with disabilities to work on federal military bases who might not otherwise have the chance. The jobs that PRIDE offered provided self-esteem, self-respect, and dignity for their employees. I immediately became an advocate for AbilityOne® and stayed connected with the Program throughout the rest of my career. When the opportunity to work for PRIDE became available, I leaped at the opportunity and was excited to join PRIDE.”

“I always believed that my identity should not ever be determined by rank, position, or title but rather by character. My advice to other veterans transitioning from the military would be not to lose your identity, never forget what it meant to serve, and plan well in advance for leaving because it arrives quickly.”

“Many veterans have invisible disabilities. You might see one veteran that is missing a limb, but you can’t physically see PTSD. It is important to understand that many wartime veterans may not eagerly share their wartime experiences because it may be too emotional for them to discuss and difficult for many civilians to fully understand and appreciate the enormity of the sacrifices they selflessly made. These veterans have finished their service and choose to continue serving in their respective communities despite the obstacles they might live with.”

“The best feeling that I had during my service was when I was approached by people while wearing my uniform at the airport. Their appreciation was always heartfelt, but I always mentioned that my family deserved praise, as well. Military families continue to be the bedrock of each veteran’s support system and are essential to the success of our country’s armed forces.”

“The jobs that PRIDE offered provided self-esteem, self-respect, and dignity for their employees.”