Avionics News May 2023 - 59

A CONVERSATION WITH...
Continued from page 51
I got my job as a contractor by myself, but both
When talking about life after the
military, you said you didn't know what
you wanted or where to start. Tell me
more about those challenges.
From my experience, the military is not very
good at helping transitioning service members see
what's available. It's not in their interest. They
want to retain soldiers. The program they do have
isn't specialized in any one sector. It shows you
everything. When you're flooded with too many
options, you kind of shut down and can't pick a
direction.
What the soldier needs and is used to is step-bystep
instructions - go here, do this. That's how we're
trained and how we think, especially for those of us
who went into the military right out of high school.
That's where Veterati and RTAG come in. That's
where I come in. You give me a goal, an end state,
and I'll show you how to get there.
These organizations have the resources to show
service members what's available to them, what they
can do, how to get their certificates and licenses
to do it and how to pay for it without going into a
mountain of debt. They'll tell them what schools
accept VA funding, how to use their GI Bill and how
to apply for and use scholarships and government
programs. In addition to their mentorship program,
RTAG hosts a convention that has become the world's
largest aviation hiring event. It's great for aircraft
mechanics and pilots.
Why do you stress networking when
talking with veterans?
Networking really is the key to success - just
staying in touch with your people, your fellow service
members. They've seen you at your absolute lowest
point, which is probably six months into a yearlong
deployment. They know how well you work under
pressure. No one can advocate for you better than
the people who were to your left and to your right in
those conditions. They're the best people to vouch
for you in this industry, in any industry.
jobs I've had since have been because of people I
served with. So, check in, find out where your people
are, see what they're doing. Think about what
you want, where you want to fit in and go make it
happen. It's easier than you think.
What surprised you about transitioning
from military to civilian aviation?
How similar they are. In the military, all I cared about
was Army Regulation 95-1. It looks a lot like FAR Part 91.
Some of the regulations are virtually verbatim. Some of
the technical manuals for the specific airframe I worked
on - the Apache, and some of the basic practices in
some of the military training manuals are also verbatim
with FAR Parts 43 and AC 43-11, for example. In other
words, standard practices for maintenance are very
similar. Once I realized that, it made the jump from
military to civilian that much easier.
I want to get as many veterans as possible into the
fold, because I know they'll make the civilian aviation
industry that much better. We're starting to see the
incredible value of military veterans and what they
can do immediately for the airlines and other aviation
companies, not just in flying but maintenance,
engineering, air traffic control and other areas too.
A college degree, A&P license, private
pilot's certificate, new career and a new
job - so much has happened so fast for
you since leaving the military five years
ago, what do you make of it all?
It's been a whirlwind. I attribute that to having a
good circle around me - good mentors and people
who have aspirations to do bigger and better things.
As resilient veterans, we are willing to take on big
challenges. It makes us who we are. I tell my mentees,
surround yourself with those types of people because a
rising tide lifts all ships. Associate yourself with people
in the industry who have been there, who want to go
do big things too and then hang on for the ride. q
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