[fullwidth background_color=”” background_image=”” background_parallax=”none” enable_mobile=”no” parallax_speed=”0.3″ background_repeat=”no-repeat” background_position=”left top” video_url=”” video_aspect_ratio=”16:9″ video_webm=”” video_mp4=”” video_ogv=”” video_preview_image=”” overlay_color=”” overlay_opacity=”0.5″ video_mute=”yes” video_loop=”yes” fade=”no” border_size=”0px” border_color=”” border_style=”” padding_top=”20″ padding_bottom=”20″ padding_left=”” padding_right=”” hundred_percent=”no” equal_height_columns=”no” hide_on_mobile=”no” menu_anchor=”” class=”” id=””][fusion_text]There’s never been an era when keeping America secure has been such a wide-ranging and ever-shifting job.
As military personnel well know, the task no longer falls solely to the military branches, but to an array of defense industry players whose mission is the same: keeping the homeland safe.
Often, defense industry jobs are filled by former military personnel – and for good reason.
“We recognize the experience and dedication that veterans contribute to our business as employees, business partners and suppliers,” says Eric Dodson, director of global staffing at DynCorp International, which supports military aviation at more than 100 locations worldwide.
Their top jobs for veterans today, he says, “are primarily available to military veterans who performed the same work while in the service. Their skills are exact matches for these positions and seldom require any additional training. The training and experience they received in the military are normally all that is needed to qualify for these positions, other than contract-specific requirements.”
And those jobs are growing for the first time in five years – more than 3.5 percent, say researchers at Deloitte.
“Veterans add value,” says Denyse Gordon, senior manager of veteran support and inclusion at CACI, an IT services company focusing on national security missions. “Having veterans join CACI makes perfect business sense because our customers and clients have a highly trained resource that is not only familiar with high operational tempo and delivering top notch quality work, but in many cases are familiar with the mission of our clients.”
Adds Alex Verhulst, talent acquisition military program lead at Leidos, another top defense industry company in intelligence and cybersecurity, “Veterans bring training, experience and very often certifications, which are requirements for many of these positions. They are familiar with the fast-paced environment and mission-oriented culture of our programs, and have the best mindset and work ethic for putting mission execution and success first.”[/fusion_text][/fullwidth][fullwidth background_color=”” background_image=”” background_parallax=”none” enable_mobile=”no” parallax_speed=”0.3″ background_repeat=”no-repeat” background_position=”left top” video_url=”” video_aspect_ratio=”16:9″ video_webm=”” video_mp4=”” video_ogv=”” video_preview_image=”” overlay_color=”” overlay_opacity=”0.5″ video_mute=”yes” video_loop=”yes” fade=”no” border_size=”0px” border_color=”” border_style=”” padding_top=”20″ padding_bottom=”20″ padding_left=”” padding_right=”” hundred_percent=”no” equal_height_columns=”no” hide_on_mobile=”no” menu_anchor=”” class=”” id=””][one_full last=”yes” spacing=”yes” center_content=”no” hide_on_mobile=”no” background_color=”” background_image=”” background_repeat=”no-repeat” background_position=”left top” hover_type=”none” link=”” border_position=”all” border_size=”0px” border_color=”” border_style=”solid” padding=”” margin_top=”” margin_bottom=”” animation_type=”0″ animation_direction=”down” animation_speed=”0.1″ animation_offset=”” class=”” id=””][title size=”2″ content_align=”left” style_type=”double solid” sep_color=”” margin_top=”” margin_bottom=”” class=”” id=””]Staff Sergeant Joseph Hodge[/title][fusion_text]
Project Manager, CACI
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What worked best in your job search? Networking. Don’t hesitate to ask your friends and family to distribute your résumé and submit you as a referral. And practice — with every interview you will learn something that will help you with the next.
Why did you pick this job? The challenge. CACI was standing up a brand new project coordination team and I was excited for the opportunity to help build and establish the team from the very beginning.
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What’s the coolest thing about your job? Being able to see something go from an idea to defining the requirements to the delivery of the finished product, and then to see it being utilized.
Best advice for transitioning service members? Relax and don’t be afraid to try something outside of your comfort zone. It’s not like you are committed to the same MOS for the next four years.
[/fusion_text][/one_third][one_third last=”yes” spacing=”yes” center_content=”no” hide_on_mobile=”no” background_color=”” background_image=”” background_repeat=”no-repeat” background_position=”left top” hover_type=”none” link=”” border_position=”all” border_size=”0px” border_color=”” border_style=”” padding=”” margin_top=”” margin_bottom=”” animation_type=”” animation_direction=”” animation_speed=”0.1″ animation_offset=”” class=”” id=””][imageframe lightbox=”no” lightbox_image=”” style_type=”none” hover_type=”none” bordercolor=”” bordersize=”0px” borderradius=”0″ stylecolor=”” align=”none” link=”” linktarget=”_self” animation_type=”0″ animation_direction=”down” animation_speed=”0.1″ animation_offset=”” hide_on_mobile=”no” class=”” id=””] 
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Age: 38
Military Service:
Staff Sergeant (E-6),
Marine Corps (1997-2006)
MOS: I-Level Airframes Mechanic and Nondestructive Inspector (6092/6033)
Education: Bachelor’s degree, aerospace and business management, Averett University, 2005
[/fusion_text][/one_third][/fullwidth][fullwidth background_color=”” background_image=”” background_parallax=”none” enable_mobile=”no” parallax_speed=”0.3″ background_repeat=”no-repeat” background_position=”left top” video_url=”” video_aspect_ratio=”16:9″ video_webm=”” video_mp4=”” video_ogv=”” video_preview_image=”” overlay_color=”” overlay_opacity=”0.5″ video_mute=”yes” video_loop=”yes” fade=”no” border_size=”0px” border_color=”” border_style=”” padding_top=”20″ padding_bottom=”20″ padding_left=”” padding_right=”” hundred_percent=”no” equal_height_columns=”no” hide_on_mobile=”no” menu_anchor=”” class=”” id=””][one_full last=”yes” spacing=”yes” center_content=”no” hide_on_mobile=”no” background_color=”” background_image=”” background_repeat=”no-repeat” background_position=”left top” hover_type=”none” link=”” border_position=”all” border_size=”0px” border_color=”” border_style=”solid” padding=”” margin_top=”” margin_bottom=”” animation_type=”0″ animation_direction=”down” animation_speed=”0.1″ animation_offset=”” class=”” id=””][title size=”2″ content_align=”left” style_type=”double solid” sep_color=”” margin_top=”” margin_bottom=”” class=”” id=””]Specialist Brandilyn Michelle Perez[/title][fusion_text]
Recruiting Coordinator, DynCorp International
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Age: 31
Military Service: Specialist (E-4), Army (2004-2008)
MOS: Culinary Specialist (92G)
Education: Associate degree, psychology, Cowley County Community College, 2009
Bachelor’s, psychology, Columbia College, 2014
Earning master’s, human resources management, Columbia College
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What do you do? I support the recruiting department with all pre-employment processes — paperwork, scheduling of medical requirements, background checks, language testing and deployment scheduling.
What worked best in your job search? I believe having a good résumé is key to finding the perfect job. I made sure the formatting was flattering and the focus was on my capabilities, since I did not have too much work experience for the job I was applying for.
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What military skills do you apply to your civilian job? Military language and civilian language are night and day. However, working for a defense contracting company, the military lingo is incorporated every day. The mentality of “just tell me what needs to be done, and I will do it” has stuck with me from military to civilian life.
What’s the coolest thing about your job? Knowing that I am working for a company that supports the military. I also speak with many actively transitioning or prior military personnel and hear their stories and how excited they are about working for DynCorp International. Oh, did I mention the travel perks? Many DynCorp International employees are given the chance to travel and see various parts of the world that many would never have on their bucket lists.
[/fusion_text][/one_third][/fullwidth][fullwidth background_color=”” background_image=”” background_parallax=”none” enable_mobile=”no” parallax_speed=”0.3″ background_repeat=”no-repeat” background_position=”left top” video_url=”” video_aspect_ratio=”16:9″ video_webm=”” video_mp4=”” video_ogv=”” video_preview_image=”” overlay_color=”” overlay_opacity=”0.5″ video_mute=”yes” video_loop=”yes” fade=”no” border_size=”0px” border_color=”” border_style=”” padding_top=”20″ padding_bottom=”20″ padding_left=”” padding_right=”” hundred_percent=”no” equal_height_columns=”no” hide_on_mobile=”no” menu_anchor=”” class=”” id=””][one_full last=”yes” spacing=”yes” center_content=”no” hide_on_mobile=”no” background_color=”” background_image=”” background_repeat=”no-repeat” background_position=”left top” hover_type=”none” link=”” border_position=”all” border_size=”0px” border_color=”” border_style=”solid” padding=”” margin_top=”” margin_bottom=”” animation_type=”0″ animation_direction=”down” animation_speed=”0.1″ animation_offset=”” class=”” id=””][title size=”2″ content_align=”left” style_type=”double solid” sep_color=”” margin_top=”” margin_bottom=”” class=”” id=””]Master Sergeant Jason Baker[/title][fusion_text]
Cyber Threat SME (Subject Matter Expert), Leidos
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What do you do? I respond to U.S. government requests for proposals, provide key insight to government requirements and directed cyber security support to a number of government agencies and departments.
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What surprised you about the civilian workforce? The difference in training and levels of responsibilities. For example, during my first year with Leidos I was selected to attend one of their management classes and seminars. While I was one of the youngest people in the room, between my professional military education and years supervising airmen, I was one of the more experienced class members for personnel management.
In fact, much of the class, which was AWSOME by the way, was very similar to what I learned at Airman Leadership School, the NCO Academy and SNCO Academy. Another example was that as a master sergeant I was responsible for a large number of people, and in one case the front line cyber defense of an entire agency. At my new job I’m not in a supervisory role (yet) and not directly in charge of anything.
What’s the biggest challenge? Getting used to the fact that, as a contractor and advisor, I can only suggest courses of action but cannot act. Even though it would be easy to do, it wouldn’t be proper.
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Age: 39
Military Service:
Master Sergeant (E-7), Air Force (1995-2014)
AFSC: Cyber Warfare Operations (1B471)
Education:
• Associate degree, computer science,
Community College of the Air Force, 2000
• Bachelor’s degree, computer science,
Trident University International, 2005
• Master’s degree, information technology:
information assurance,
University of Maryland University College, 2011
• Associate degree, cyber security,
Community College of the Air Force, 2012
• MBA, University of Maryland University College, 2012
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