Military Veterans

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Every day, Quality Control Inspector Levar Alexander ensures that PRIDE Industries delivers quality landscaping and custodial services to our military customer at Travis Air Force Base. When Levar took this position with PRIDE in 2017, he was already familiar with the base, as he had just retired from a long military career. PRIDE is fortunate to have Levar on the team; he shares his story below:

“While growing up in the small town of Cadiz, Kentucky, I always longed for an opportunity to see the world and serve my country. I signed up for the U.S. Air Force during my last year of high school in 1996 and immediately left after graduating in 1997. I always had an interest in fixing airplanes, so the Air Force was a perfect option.

I began basic training, including combat arms instruction, at Lackland AFB in San Antonio, Texas. After that, I relocated to Sheppard AFB in Wichita Falls, Texas, graduating from tech school and becoming an aircraft technician. Shortly after, I was stationed at McChord AFB in Lakewood, Washington.

My passion for repairing aircraft developed into a long, fulfilling career. I served as a 2A671 Aerospace Propulsion Technician for 20 years, repairing C-141, C-17, C-5, A-10, and F-16 aircraft. As I rose through the ranks, I became the Chief for F-16, F15, A-10, C-5, C-17, and C-141 aircraft.

During my service, I completed multiple tours in Kuwait, Afghanistan, and South Korea. While working overseas, I also teamed up with individuals from other countries, including Germany, Australia, France, Canada, Italy, and South Korea. This experience opened my eyes and made me realize that although others may not do things the way that I do, ultimately, the job gets done if we all work together.

My most memorable deployment was Operation Enduring Freedom. Finding out that I was going to Afghanistan was very sobering. I knew that this was a serious conflict and that sometimes people didn’t come back. While there, I was responsible for taking care of the aircraft; however, I knew I had to defend the base if we were under attack. We stayed on base, so I didn’t learn much about the local culture. But, from afar, I could tell that life moved at a slower pace, and the people were extremely appreciative of any assistance.

My favorite posting was Diego Garcia, a tropical island located in the Indian Ocean. The weather was amazing, and the water was crystal clear—it was paradise!

I retired from the military in 2017. I received multiple achievement awards and meritorious service medals, but I felt proudest when I fully returned to my family. Our separation was the most challenging part of my service. You miss birthdays, holidays, important events; life continues to move forward for others, even when you’re not there.

Fortunately, my transition to civilian life was smooth. I immediately found a new direction when I started working with PRIDE Industries. A good friend encouraged me to apply, and it has been an amazing ride working with the team here at Travis AFB. My colleagues inspire me every day, and I enjoy helping them be more proficient at their jobs. Ultimately, it’s been a smooth transition. I like that I can continue to serve the military through my job; it gives me an enormous sense of accomplishment.”

Attention veterans

Are you a veteran looking to start a career? Check out PRIDE’s Military Translator.

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Each year on Veterans Day, we honor those who have served our country in wartime and in peace.

The Veterans Salute highlights PRIDE’s many employees that have served in the United States military. We thank them for their service.

Download the Salute

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On November 10, 1775, the Second Continental Congress passed a resolution creating two battalions of Marines. These new “Continental Marines” signed on to serve as landing forces for the colonial fleet.

And serve they did. One of their most important duties was to provide security on naval vessels, which sometimes required a daring approach. During naval battles, for example, Marine sharpshooters would climb to the fighting tops of the ships’ masts, so they could fire down on enemy soldiers who were aiming at continental officers, gunners, and helmsmen.

Today, the U.S. Marine Corps is famous for its amphibious operations. This expertise is not recent; it dates to the very beginning of the service, when Continental Marines carried out this country’s first wartime amphibious landing. During the Revolutionary War, as part of the colonial force at the Battle of Nassau, Marines landed in the Bahamas and seized England’s Fort Montagu, capturing a large store of gunpowder and munitions.

New Name, Same Mission

After the Revolutionary War, the Continental Marines disbanded. But after a hiatus of fifteen years, President John Adams signed into law a congressional act that created the United States Marine Corps.

The Marines have played a crucial role in America’s defense ever since, fighting pirates in the early 1800s and even participating in the Civil War. In World War I, Marines fought in some of the toughest engagements of that conflict. For example, in the Battle of Belleau Wood, thousands of Marines engaged in 20 days of intense combat armed with little more than bayonets. Unwilling to give up, they eventually overcame their German opponents, who gave the Marines the now-famous nickname of “Devil Dogs.”

In World War II, the Marines played a central role in the Pacific conflict and were active in every major battle in that theater. Photographer Joe Rosenthal memorialized their bravery and tenacity with his iconic photo of five Marines and a naval corpsman raising the U.S. flag at Iwo Jima.

Since then, the Marines have fought in every major U.S. military engagement. But Marines also serve during peacetime, and today they are well-known for providing humanitarian aid during times of crisis.

A History of Helping

For decades, Marines have rendered aid both here in the U.S. and abroad, proving that they are just as effective at lending a hand as they are in battle.

In California, Marines have fought fires and provided earthquake relief for fifty years. In states as diverse as Florida, South Carolina, and Hawaii, the Marine Corps has mounted rescue and relief operations after severe hurricanes knocked out critical infrastructure. When Hurricane Katrina hit Louisiana, Marines left the safety of their base to rescue civilians, fighting through gale-force winds and blinding rain to bring people to safety. And after Hurricane Maria devastated Puerto Rico in 2017, the Marines conducted search and rescue operations, then set to work restoring the island’s infrastructure and bringing in food and medicine.

In addition to helping at home, the Marine Corps has provided humanitarian aid across the globe. They’ve delivered supplies and offered medical assistance after tsunamis and cyclones in Bangladesh, Indonesia, and Mozambique. In 2010, when a deadly earthquake struck Haiti, 2,000 Marines arrived to help the island nation feed and care for its people. And the Marines have returned every year since, providing medical, dental, and engineering assistance.

As in war, the Marines are among the first on the ground after a calamity, providing aid, clearing roads, and restoring water, electricity, and other utilities. In 2011, right after Japan was hit by a massive tsunami, Marines arrived at the Sendai airport, where they cleared hundreds of smashed vehicles to reopen the runways. And when Nepal experienced a severe earthquake in 2015, Marine Corps helicopters delivered some of the first supplies to remote Himalayan villages

A Tradition of Celebration

The US Marine Corps began celebrating November 10 as its official birthday in 1921. Many of the most recognizable traditions started a few decades later, in 1952, under the leadership of Commandant Lemuel C. Shepherd, Jr. Now, every year on November 10, Marines gather across the country and throughout the world to celebrate the founding of the Corps. And wherever these celebrations take place, they all draw from the same rituals and traditions.

These rituals include a cake–cutting ceremony, in which a cake is sliced with a Mameluke sword. The first piece is given to the oldest Marine present at the gathering, who then hands it to the youngest Marine, symbolizing the passing of duty, responsibility, and knowledge from experienced Marines to the next generation.

Some celebratory balls include a pageant of current and historical Marine Corps uniforms, which provide a striking visual reminder of the service’s long history. Another long-established tradition is the unit run every November 10, which often kicks off a day of celebration. In 2019, the Marine Corps introduced a new running cadence specific to the birthday unit run, thus establishing a new tradition.

PRIDE Welcomes Marine Veterans

PRIDE Industries is fortunate to employ many Marine veterans and hundreds of veterans from other military branches. We know from years of experience that the training veterans receive while in service makes them valuable employees once they return to civilian life.

At PRIDE, we see every day how veterans of the U.S. Marine Corps contribute to their communities, even after they’ve left active service—a tradition that stretches back to those early Continental Marines.

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Calvin Wiseman is a veteran who joined PRIDE Industries in February 2020 and now works at the Defense Language Institute in Monterey, CA as a janitor. Before joining PRIDE, Calvin served our country honorably for 16 years. He shares his story below:

“Joining the U.S. Army gave me the change I needed. After occasionally working as fieldworkers in the Maryland agricultural industry, my friend and I wanted a different way of life, a chance to see more of the world. At 18 years old, I finished my junior year of high school, enlisted in the U.S Army, and earned my GED while serving.

And what a change it was! I went to Fort Ord, CA, for training. It was completely different from my hometown. I had grown up in a segregated schooling system, and now I was working in an integrated environment. It was an exciting time, being around such a diverse group of people. I fit right in and served three years in the U.S. Army, including a tour in Vietnam.

I had joined the U.S. Army as a Private E-1, and I left as an E-5 Sergeant. My most memorable moment was earning my first three service stripes. As I moved up the ranks, I felt incredibly accomplished.

In 1973, I left the Army and joined the U.S. Army National Guard. It was the right move for me, as I wanted time to focus on myself outside of a formal military routine. For 13 years, I served as a Sergeant in the National Guard and received specialized tank mechanics training. Then, after serving my country for 16 years, I was ready to rejoin the civilian world.

However, the adjustment from soldier to civilian proved difficult; I didn’t know who I was anymore. After the Army, most of my jobs were dead-end and unmeaningful, but I remained hopeful I’d find something better.

At the same time, I was struggling with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and depression. It was hard for me to accept this at first. Now, I’ve come to terms with it. And once I started going to the Veterans Administration (VA) for treatment, I began to feel better. My friends and family have noticed a change in me, and they’ve been wonderful—a real support system during my transition.

In 2020, I finally reached my goal of finding a job with a purpose when I was referred to PRIDE Industries by the Veterans Transition Center. I received assistance throughout my entire onboarding process from HR Director Paige Lindley. Counselor and Recruiter Sa’Cora Goodin checks in regularly to ensure that I have the support I need at my new job. My advice for other veterans struggling with PTSD is to seek help and stay connected to the VA.”

Attention Veterans

Are you a veteran looking to start a career? Check out PRIDE’s Military Translator.

Start your Career

“Working at DLI Monterey allows me to share my wisdom and experience with my PRIDE teammates. Every day, it gives me something to look forward to; I enjoy the opportunity to continue helping our military.”

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In October of 1775, the fledgling nation that would become the United States of America was in trouble. The British Navy—one of the strongest in the world—was using its military superiority to disrupt trade in the rebellious colonies and attack seaside settlements.

Something had to be done, or the American Revolution might fail almost as soon as it had begun. In response to the crisis, the Continental Congress formed a Marine Committee and charged its members to organize a navy. At the time, many colonists considered the project a fool’s errand. The colonies had no naval yards, no factories to produce artillery, and no hemp or sailcloth.

Nevertheless, on October 13, 1775, the Continental Congress voted to convert two sailing vessels into warships, arming them with carriage and swivel guns. And with this legislation, the nation’s navy was born. Over the next three years, the Continental Navy grew to include 50 armed ships of various types, some of them converted merchant vessels.

While the fleet was too small to take on the British navy’s full might, the Continental ships nevertheless played a key role in the Revolutionary War. They carried diplomats and correspondence to Europe, then returned with much-needed munitions. The American fleet also captured nearly 200 British vessels, dealing a serious blow to enemy morale and forcing the British to divert warships to guard key trade routes.

Small but mighty, the Continental Navy did its part to help the colonies win the Revolutionary War.

The New Steel Navy

After the Revolutionary War, the U.S. Navy was temporarily disbanded due to a lack of funds. For 12 years, beginning in 1785, the nation’s maritime duties were handled solely by the Revenue Marine, the forerunner of today’s Coast Guard.

But in the 1790s, the growing conflict with Algerian pirates made it clear that the United States needed a full-fledged navy to protect its trade routes abroad. To combat this threat and others, Congress passed the Naval Armament Act in 1794, authorizing the construction of six frigates. The U.S. Navy was back.

Over the next few years, the size of the Navy grew slowly. Nevertheless, this small fleet contributed greatly to America’s success in the Barbary Wars and the War of 1812. Even so, it would take a domestic conflict to push the Navy into an era of rapid change.

The Civil War brought great technological changes to the U.S. Navy. Steam power replaced sails. The wooden hulls of existing ships were reinforced with armor plating, while new ships were constructed entirely of iron or steel. Guns increased in both size and range, and gained the ability to turn in any direction, which meant that ships could achieve more firepower with less weaponry.

The Civil War also marked the first time that African-Americans served in the U.S. Navy in large numbers. During the war, 10,000 African-American men took on various duties, and seven of them earned the Medal of Honor.

One such man was Robert Blake, who proved his mettle while serving on the gunboat USS Marblehead. Blake had been assigned the non–combat role of steward. But when the Marblehead was hit by enemy fire, killing the man who loaded the rifle guns, Blake took over, running much–needed gunpowder to the guns, and enabling the Marblehead to return fire. His actions were later described as both “cool and brave” by the ship’s commander.

After the conclusion of the Civil War, the U.S. Navy entered another period of slow growth. But before long, it became clear to government leaders that if America were to take its place on the world stage, it would need a world-class navy. So in the 1880s, the U.S. began modernizing its naval forces. It launched the nation’s first steel warships—protected cruisers with names like Atlanta, Boston, and Chicago. Armored battleships soon followed. And then the US debuted a truly revolutionary technology: the submarine.

Under the Sea: The Birth of the Submarine

The world’s first combat submarine was invented and used briefly during the Revolutionary War. Called the Turtle, this craft met all the criteria of a submarine; it could submerge, maneuver underwater, and carry oxygen for its occupant. But the Turtle bore little resemblance to modern craft. It looked instead like a giant wooden beer barrel. It could carry only one person, and was hard to maneuver. Nevertheless, it proved that submersible technology was viable.

The U.S. Navy acquired its first official submarine in 1900. The USS Holland was nothing like the Turtle. Made of steel, able to accommodate a crew of six and dive 75 feet below the surface, the Holland looked much like today’s modern submarines, in shape if not in size. The Holland also introduced several key technologies: ballast and trim tanks to enable precise underwater maneuvers, torpedo tubes, and two pneumatic dynamite guns. The ship also had a gasoline engine for surface operations, and an electric motor for use when submerged.

The Holland was the first in an unbroken line of U.S. Navy submarines. The craft continued to get bigger and more sophisticated over the years, and the number of subs in the Navy fleet expanded. By the time World War I began, the Navy was able to deploy 72 submarines throughout the world.

But it wasn’t until the Second World War that submarines became a staple of naval operations. World War II was the first conflict in which submarine power played a decisive role, especially in the Pacific theater. Compared to their World War I ancestors, the submarines of the 1940s were bigger, stronger, and better equipped—both with more firepower and new technologies like sonar. During World War II, U.S. submarines destroyed more than 1,300 warships in the Pacific. Navy submarines also delivered troops for special missions, and rescued downed carrier pilots, including future President George H. W. Bush.

Help on the High Seas

Today, the U.S. Navy has more than 70 submarines in service within its fleet of nearly 450 ships. And while all the ships in the fleet are designed for defense, the U.S. Navy also has a long record of providing humanitarian aid, rescue services, and emergency medical assistance. Like all branches of the military, the Navy is often called upon to help in times of crisis, whether domestically or abroad.

Since the 1950s, Navy personnel have actively participated in disaster relief efforts throughout the world. They’ve mounted rescue operations after flooding in Kansas and Spain. They’ve brought in food and supplies after earthquakes in Alaska and Greece, and done the same after hurricanes in Texas and Haiti. They’ve also helped fight fires in California and Japan.

Navy personnel have rescued crews and helped damaged ships all over the world. In 1961, for example, the Navy rescued 84 seamen from two commercial ships stranded in the Pacific. And over the past few decades, the Navy has performed dozens of similar rescues, saving the lives of both seasoned crewmen and novice sightseers.

Dozens of countries and thousands of people have benefitted from the aid provided by the U.S. Navy.

PRIDE Welcomes Navy Veterans

Navy personnel’s training in service makes them sought-after employees once they return to civilian life. PRIDE Industries is fortunate to employ many Navy veterans and 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, military veterans can easily determine which civilian jobs best correspond to the valuable experience they gained while serving our country.

To paraphrase Admiral George Anderson: Navy veterans have both a tradition and a future. PRIDE Industries is pleased to be part of that future for so many veterans.

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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.”