Civilian jobs for veterans can be hard to find. Here’s one military veteran’s story.
When Raina Stevens, at 18, found herself on a bus headed for Fort McClellan, Alabama, she knew one thing for sure: She needed stability in her life.
“My upbringing included a lot of chaos,” she said. “And I needed the opposite.”
Shortly after graduating high school in 1998, Raina had enlisted in the United States Army and was now on her way to basic training.
Jobs for Veterans: Finding a Mentor
Once trained, Raina was sent to Fort Johnson (formerly Fort Polk) in Louisiana. It was there that she met someone who would be pivotal in her journey to stability.
“First Sergeant Michael Collins was the first father figure I ever had,” Raina said. “He told me just how much fortitude I had and what I was capable of. He bridged the gap from where I’d come from to where I was going.”
Collins also challenged Raina to ask herself: “Could I, someday, help bridge gaps for others? Could my history be useful in that way?”
While stationed at Fort Johnson, Raina also got married and gave birth to a son. She became a reservist, allowing time for her to care for her child while working full time. In 2005, she completed her military service.
Collins also challenged Raina to ask herself: “Could I, someday, help bridge gaps for others? Could my history be useful in that way?”
While stationed at Fort Johnson, Raina also got married and gave birth to a son. She became a reservist, allowing time for her to care for her child while working full time. In 2005, she completed her military service.
Jobs for Veterans: College Brings an Opportunity
“A woman who’d recently lost her sight was registering for the same program that I was. She was looking for a professional reader.”
Raina took on that role, a Texas state-funded position, until the two-year program’s completion. Inspired by the experience, she enrolled in Oklahoma State’s Interpreter Training Program and then in Oklahoma’s Sight Hearing Encouragement Program (SHEP).
“I became a certified Support Service Professional (SSP)—a Deafblind Interpreter.”
Raina was trained in “tactile sign language,” a modality used to communicate with individuals who are both deaf and blind. She was on her way to using her history to help others.
But life as a now-single mom mandated a move back to Texas. Fortunately, once there, Raina found PRIDE Industries where she began work as an employment coach, specializing in American Sign Language (ASL).
Help Other Military Veterans find Jobs
Raina was hired in 2018 to work at Western Currency Facility (WCF), a PRIDE Industries customer. In her role as an ASL job coach, she wore two hats: She interpreted for the facility’s eight Deaf employees while covering human resources responsibilities—both roles at which she excelled. Then, in 2023, she saw that the PRIDE Industries Veterans Liaison position had become available.
“When I read the job description, I thought it would be a great opportunity to serve others while contributing to PRIDE Industries’ success.” This is also when another mentor factored into Raina’s life. “PRIDE Industries General Manager Jim Gaston empowered me to take the lead on several initiatives, regardless of my title,” said Raina. “Like my first sergeant, he saw something in me that I’m not sure I saw in myself.”
As PRIDE Industries Veterans Liaison, Raina oversees multiple aspects of veteran recruitment and employment. She assists in the development of relationships with the Veterans Administration and other veterans’ organizations, working closely with recruiters and hiring managers throughout the process of finding jobs for veterans.
Raina recommends activities and events to connect with the veteran community, provides educational materials to veterans and referral agencies, assists with developing professional advancement opportunities to benefit our veteran employees, represents PRIDE Industries at a public-relations level, works with PRIDE Industries’ Veterans Employee Resource Group (ERG), and reports on these efforts.
“I am really proud of the hands-on work that I did with the team at WCF,” said Raina. “Now, in my new position, I feel like I can contribute to our mission on a new level.”
From Chaos to Stability to Giving Back
A new homeowner, a parent, and now a PRIDE Industries Veterans Liaison, Raina has the stability she once longed for, as well as a career that allows her to be of service on a larger scale. “Through all the hardships, I’ve also been given opportunities that many with my history haven’t,” said Raina. “That’s why giving back, whether through ASL or as PRIDE Industries’ Veterans Liaison, is so important to me.”
