Real Lives, Real Change

Gregory,
Master Gunnery Sgt.,
US Air Force

Unemployed for Two Years, Eventually Forced to Live in His Truck

Greg was fortunate to leave Iraq unscathed, but he wasn’t prepared for the hurt back home. He spent 17 years in military service between stints with the Marine Corp and the Navy and participated in the Gulf War conflict.

When he left military life, Greg struggled to find employment. Unable to pursue his first career choice as a truck driver, he was forced to find lower paying jobs. Eventually that work ended. Unemployed for two years, Greg watched his savings dwindle until he had to resort to living in his truck.

“Well most of my nights were somewhat spent like this, some nights I parked at the VFW where it was not too noticeable. Other nights I’d park in somebody’s yard; they would let me take a shower but then I would go back to my truck. I never thought when I got out [of the military] it was going to be tough.”

For Greg, the M.O.S.T.® program has changed his life. For the first time in many years he can definitely see a positive future. Working for a world-class defense manufacturer, Greg says he has found everyone to be “quite helpful and more than willing to educate you.” He now has hope for a happy and successful life.

Britney,
Crew Chief,
US Air Force

Competent Enough to be a Crew Chief on One of America’s Flying Fortresses, but Unlucky Enough to be Living in a Shelter With Her Two Children

Twenty-six years old and honorably discharged from the Air Force, Britney certainly was entitled to better. However, after looking fruitlessly for meaningful work for more than a year, she lost her home and was forced to find refuge in a homeless shelter with her two children. When the M.O.S.T.® program came to her community, Britney stood in line two hours before the doors opened, hoping to get selected for the program.

She was so excited at the opportunity to get back into manufacturing as she felt it was her element. However, when the class began Britney realized that being a student after so many years is not that simple; and she wasn’t alone. Determined to get her life back on track and with the promise of a life-changing career just 80 hours away, Britney teamed with another classmate and the two of them cajoled the instructors for additional tutoring and mentoring.

Following graduation, Britney had two companies vying for her talents, each offering her $15 per hour wages and medical benefits to start. Shortly after beginning a new career that wasn’t even on her radar screen three weeks before, Britney and her children left the shelter and moved into their own apartment. The best part, says Britney, is that “for the first time in my young children’s lives, each child has a bed of their own!”

Bruce,
E-5 Sgt.,
US Air Force

“I was that story on the news about people who had given up looking for work.”

“If you would have told me that I would be unemployed for three years, I would have laughed and said that would never happen to me,” said Bruce, a 6-year veteran Air Force crew chief.

“Finally that voice on the phone asking me if I would like an interview for a new program [M.O.S.T.®] that would require some extra time and training opened the door to my dream job. It has been a great experience, and I truly appreciate all the people at M.O.S.T.® who worked so hard to get us up to speed so that we would be able to work at an aerospace defense company.”

Bruce’s work day starts at 5:00 a.m., in an industry dear to his heart – aviation.

Richard,
1st Sgt.,
Special Forces
US Army

There Are Some Obstacles Even a Green Beret Can’t Overcome

Richard is a deeply religious man who knew that somehow he and his family would make it. However, that doesn’t mean that this fifty-year-old married father of two was not at his wits end trying to survive on unemployment compensation. After all, he had lived on less, much less.

Richard was a Green Beret. However, there are some obstacles even a Green Beret can’t overcome. He was laid off from a manufacturing firm, and the economic landscape was bleak. Bills piled on top of bills, and he fell behind on his mortgage payments. Richard turned to two local charities for job search assistance and financial aid so he would not lose his home. When Richard was told about the M.O.S.T.® program, he jumped at the chance.

“I was so beat up, but I could still recognize an opportunity when it came knocking.” Richard excelled in the training, and he became an asset to the class as he gave support to other students who were dealing with their own issues.

Before the final interviews with prospective employers, the students were given vouchers for clothing for the important day. Richard was depressed as he had fallen badly out of shape while unemployed and had nothing to wear or the money to buy presentable clothing that fit. Fortunately, a local Big and Tall Men’s shop found out about Richard’s predicament and offered to supply him with an outfit. The elated, grateful proud former Green Beret did well on his interview. Richard was hired by a small company that makes energy efficient lighting and used some of his first paycheck to repay the clothier.

Timothy,
Chief Master Sgt.,
US Air Force

“I went from being a user of these aircrafts to someone who helps build them.”

Being unemployed for six months with no local work prospects weighed heavily on Timothy. He had never been unemployed before and really wanted to work. Surviving on unemployment compensation and savings was no way to live. Following 26 years in the Air Force working in weather support services, Timothy worked for government contractors. But that pipeline eventually dried up and he needed to find permanent employment.

Through the efforts of his veteran representative and Jobs Plus, Timothy applied and was accepted into the M.O.S.T.® program. He is now employed by an aerospace company.

“Working in my new career is sort of like being a parent. We actually give birth [build] to an aircraft from basic materials and we give it a name/ designation number that stays with that aircraft for the rest of its life. Knowing that my fellow veterans and military comrades are using something I helped build is pretty darn special. I went from being a user of these aircrafts to someone who helps build them. Life can be strange indeed.”

Rebecca,
E-5 Sgt.,
US Air Force

With No Experience in Manufacturing, She Masters Sheet Metal for a New Career in Aerospace

Rebecca retired from the Air Force after 20 years of service working in the environmental support and production control division. A licensed operator for waste management, she found herself unemployed for two years.

Learning about the M.O.S.T.® program through her veteran representative, Rebecca was selected to participate in the program with a commitment of a frontline production job with an aerospace company upon successful completion of the training. Rebecca had never worked with sheet metal before, and she is certain that without the M.O.S.T.® program she would not have been able to hold down her job with the aerospace company. Her supervisors have been impressed with how much she learned in the two-week training on the mobile training unit. This new job is now providing her with a promising career path.

Willy,
1st Sgt.,
US Army

The Bank Took His Truck. They Might As Well Have Taken His Dignity

A retired decorated Army Green Beret who also held the honor of guarding high-ranking political dignitaries was now homeless due to unemployment. The 46-year-old Willy had a wife who could not speak English and two small children living in a distressed hotel funded through two local charities. Willy was frustrated and depressed. He had a construction business, but when the housing market took a plunge he joined the family business. Although the family business had secured a very large building contract, that deal fell through and Willy moved across country trying to find work.

He and his family lived in the hotel for over three months while he searched; he was getting unemployment but it was not enough. The bank took his truck. Willy was quite literally out of options.

He was told about the M.O.S.T.® program at a local workforce board, and he immediately decided to apply. Willy was happy to take the training as there would be a job if he was successful in completing the program. Class was not a real challenge for Willy, but his own emotional personal barriers were. The instructors worked with him, and as he progressed, his military bearing returned. Willy had been a linguist in the service, and as he became a class leader he was able to assist another student who needed peer support in her native tongue. Eventually, Willy was hired by a small company that makes low energy lighting. He’s made several advancements in the company since graduating from the program.

Charles,
E-6 Petty Officer,
US Navy

Acclimating to Civilian Life Difficult; Finding Employment Even More of a Challenge

Charles spent 13 years in the Navy as a storekeeper, supervising a crew of 20 employees. Following his departure from the military, he found acclimating to civilian life quite difficult. Finding employment was even more of a challenge. Countless employers failed to recognize his military training and skills set as job experience. What jobs he was able to get provided Charles no advancement opportunities.

When Charles entered the M.O.S.T.® program he had been unemployed for over a year. During that year he had enrolled in an accounting program only to find no work opportunities in that field. Unemployed and faced with mounting student loans, Charles believed that the M.O.S.T.® program was his last hope. His M.O.S.T.® training prepared him for his new job as a shop helper at a machine shop. Thankful for this opportunity, Charles believes that this employment will provide him a career path he has longed for.

Charles R.,
E-4 Senior Airman,
US Air Force

Air Force Mechanic Bounces Back After Injury Ends Military Career

If it wasn’t for a knee injury, Charles would still be in the Air Force. Serving as an aircraft mechanic on AC-130 gunships and F-16 fighter aircraft, he loved his job and had planned to retire from the military. With the injury, he was now in a quandary about his professional career.

Fortunately, his veteran representative made him aware of the M.O.S.T.® program. For Charles, this opportunity was the light at the end of the tunnel. Having successfully completed his M.O.S.T.® training he is now employed with an aerospace company and looking ahead to a fulfilling career.

Naylan,
E-4 Technical Sgt.,
US Army

Tank Crew Member Finds Military Experience an Asset in Adapting Quickly to the M.O.S.T.® Training

Naylan served in the Army for four years, playing an integral part with the armored crew for tanks. Although he had no concrete career prospects, he left military service for a change, a decision that Nylan highly regrets to this day. Following his discharge, he struggled to find employment for a year. Although told that his military skills were not transferable, Naylan was finally able to get a job as a director/instructor at an alternative school for troubled youth. Unfortunately, the school closed, and once again he found himself unemployed for over a year.

After being selected to participate in the M.O.S.T.® program, Naylan discovered that his military training was indeed a huge asset in adapting quickly to the training. The combination of his military experience and the M.O.S.T.® program made it easy to succeed in his new job at a precision manufacturing facility.

Keith,
E-4 Senior Airman,
US Air Force

Grateful Vet Accepts Training That Helps Him Leave Unemployment Behind

Serving 12 years in the Air Force and working in the manufacturing industry since 1986 did not insulate Keith from unemployment. Although he qualified for temporary unemployment compensation, he wanted desperately to be trained for a trade in the civilian arena, not just a job that would disappear as the economy changed.

A meeting with his veteran representative resulted in his being accepted into the M.O.S.T.® program. Following successful completion of the training, Keith was hired by an aerospace company. His new front line production job will provide him with a career path to advancement within the company. Keith said with gratitude that “the training was very helpful… teaching the basics for the [job] helped quite a lot.”

Gregory,
Master Gunnery Sgt.,
US Air Force

Britney,
Crew Chief
US Air Force

Bruce,
E-5 Sgt.,
US Air Force

Richard,
1st Sgt.,
Special Forces,
US Army

Timothy,
Chief Master Sgt.,
US Air Force

Rebecca,
E-5 Sgt.,
US Air Force

Willy,
1st Sgt.,
US Army

Charles,
E-6 Petty Officer,
US Navy

Charles R.,
E-4 Senior Airman,
US Air Force

Naylan,
E-4 Technical Sgt.,
US Army

Keith,
E-4 Senior Airman,
US Air Force