Aircraft Technicians Find Welcome Second Career After Military Service
March 1, 2022
Service above self are not empty words in the military – or at King Aerospace. This core value reminds us that we’re part of something bigger than ourselves. Our disciplined, mission-driven, no-excuses family of servant leaders makes King Aerospace an ideal home for those transitioning out of the military. We think alike.
At King Aerospace we emphasize God, Country and Family. We also say our true mission is to make a positive difference in the lives of others – and we just happen to work on aircraft. Our values align with the military’s. Consider these examples:
- The Navy’s “Non sibi sed patriae” (Not self, but country)
- The Marine’s “Semper Fidelis” (Always Faithful)
- The Coast Guard’s “Semper Paratus” (Always Ready)
- The Air Force’s “Aim High … Fly-Fight-Win”
Transitioning from the Military? Consider King Aerospace.
It’s important to find the right fit. A Pew Research Center study shows that 26% of veteran respondents found the shift to civilian life to be difficult. For veterans who served after 9/11, that jumped to 48%. Research shows that 44% of veterans leave their first post-military job within a year and another 80% leave before the end of their second year. They cite low job satisfaction, little opportunity for advancement – and trouble relating to their civilian colleagues.
We’ve talked to veterans who say it actually took them three to five positions before they found something that stuck. This difficulty is not just experienced by veterans, but also by their families. We embrace both the team member and his or her family. We know what happens at home doesn’t stay at home. It affects our thoughts – and our actions.
King Kulture Offers Purpose and Advancement
We have culture committees that help ensure we walk our talk. That means noticing if a colleague seems to need added support, or troubleshooting a process that is hampering our success. We go beyond simply explaining what team members do in their roles, but the “why” behind the actions. Just as the military promotes tolerance, self-discipline and loyalty, we’re guided by Cornerstone Principles that include mutual respect, honesty and trust, a nonpolitical environment, a team orientation, demonstrated performance, problem-solving attitudes and quality in everything.
“Like the military, this is a way of life,” says Steve Sawyer, who is general manager of our commercial operations. “It’s a life of service.”
Sawyer served in the Navy for 30 years, retiring as a Master Chief. King Aerospace’s common philosophies drew him to join our team in 2016. He works to create a sense of family, meeting people individually, listening closely and taking action as needed. He understands that only by recognizing and respecting each other’s strengths and weaknesses can we grow as professionals, building our skills so we can come together as a unified, high-performing team. That belief was honed in the military.
“It takes humility and honesty to grow and improve,” Sawyer says. “We offer a platform for success. Together, we face – and overcome – challenges every day. It’s tremendously rewarding.”
On the other side of the house – our military contractor logistics support (CLS) – helps ensure troops’ mission readiness. If aircraft can’t fly, neither can troops. Our CLS teams deploy whenever and wherever needed. Getting parts and people into remote, often hostile environments takes dedication. There’s no shortage of that at King Aerospace.
“We do the right thing for the right reasons with the right attitude – even when no one is looking,” says President Jarid King. “We have each other’s back – and our military’s.”
Gerald Torres, who heads up our team in El Paso, offers a case in point. For a time during rampant COVID, that 70-plus-member team was down 90 percent. Yet we met all of our deliverables.
“We achieve the mission,” Torres says. “Our government and military customers rely on us. We will not let them down. America’s security depends on it.”
We Can Work it Out from King Aerospace.