Travis Buice United States Marine Corps Private First Class Veteran/Retired
Service & Construction
Electrical Technician
Stone Mountain, GA
What motivated you to join the military?
I was motivated by my grandfather's service in Vietnam, it drove me to pursue service since I was probably about 11 or 12.
What was your primary job after training?
My job in the Marine Corps was an 0311 Rifleman
Having served, what do you appreciate most about our military?
I appreciate that we have the most disciplined and diverse fighting force in the world, and that's what makes us the most powerful fighting force in the world.
What motivated you to join the military?
I was motivated by my grandfather's service in Vietnam, it drove me to pursue service since I was probably about 11 or 12.
What motivated you to join the military?
I come from a law enforcement family and wanted to follow in my parents' footsteps .I also wanted to travel , and the coast Guard gave me the opportunity to do both.
What was your primary job after training?
I was a weapons petty officer for a Tectical law Enforcement team in south Florida. My job as a team member was maintaining the weapons, range gear and maintenance records for the team. is Our main mission is country drug interdiction with the U.S navy and our allies. When we were not deployed, our team was spent training. Much of the training spent on shooting range or shoot house for CQS (Close Quarters Combat). We were also required to know and understand U.S code and international laws.
Having served, what do you appreciate most about our military?
I think I appreciated the camaraderie the most. Most of us were far from friends and family, so our co-workers became our family. It made being away from our own families a little easier during the holidays. I also appreciated the different people I have crossed paths with. I've made friends with people who grew up on the other side of the country with different backgrounds that I am still friends with today.
How does your military experience affect your current job and life in general?
My experience in the CG gave me confidence and independence that I don't think I would have if I never joined. Regardless of the branch, the military pushes you to work through problems independently and as a team. It is important to me that I can rely on my co-workers and supervisors, as well as them rely on me, to achieve a common goal.
Tayler Hegarty
United States Coast Guard
E-4 Petty Officer Third Class
Veteran/Retired
Production & Flow Goods
Electrical Assembly Technician
North Wales, PA
Brian O’Neill
United States Navy
E-3
Veteran/Retired
Production & Flow Goods Electrical Assembly Technician North Wales, PA
What motivated you to join the military?
I was young looking for experience in a technical field to start my career in the electrical field. I wanted to see the world and experience life through different lenses in countries around the world.
What was your primary job after training?
My primary job was Aviation Electrician Maintenance.
Having served, what do you appreciate most about our military?
The thing I appreciate the most from the military was the discipline I learned, organizational skills and professional development in the electrical field. Working on million-dollar equipment that supports the functionality of fighter jets gave me a great skill of attention to detail.
How does your military experience affect your current job and life in general?
It makes a world of difference. Attention to detail especially in the electrical field is a huge help. The leadership skills I developed also helped me be motivated and strive for excellence in any job I'm tasked with. The military also taught me a lot of patience and acceptance for many walks of life and with that, it allows me to understand my team I work with on a professional and personal level.
What motivated you to join the military?
My late teens my attempts at a life as a college student was borderline successful, and I was working as a concrete carpenter and several other odd jobs, floundering a bit. I never really had in mind to join the service, but after a particularly difficult week in February of pouring concrete and stripping forms I had decided to speak with a military recruiter and take it seriously. Then I shipped for Ft. Benning, GA on 26th of July 1998.
Having served, what do you appreciate most about our military?
I have a great appreciation for young people that continue to answer the call to service, even in these decidedly uncertain and challenging times.
Arthur Lehman
United States Army
Sergeant First Class E-7
National Guard
What was your primary job after training?
My primary occupational specialty is Infantrymen, with acquired skill identifiers in reconnaissance/surveillance, urban breach operations and sniper operations.
How does your military experience affect your current job and life in general?
There are minimal disruptions to my work here with DVM. At my current military rank, I can manage customer calls and scheduling for service with Military service days and still prioritize the customer and organizational profitability.
Thermmax Service Manager
Norristown, PA
David Fighera United States Navy Aviation Electronics Technician 3rd Class Petty Officer (E-4) Veteran/Retired
Production & Flow Goods Electrical Assembly Manager North Wales, PA
What was your primary job after training?
Aviation Electronics
What motivated you to join the military?
9/11: I was 10 years old when the towers fell. Watched some good people go to fight and serve I couldn't not be a part of something bigger than myself. My Father: My Dad was a big influence in my life. He was himself a Navy Veteran during Vietnam. I always new I wanted to follow in his footsteps.
What was your primary job after training?
3051 Warehouse Clerk.
Having served, what do you appreciate most about our military?
The Guns. The Brotherhood. Free Gym.
How does your military experience affect your current job and life in general?
I learned Warehousing, shipping, receiving and Forklift operation from the Corps. Lifelong appreciation for good coffee. I can sleep standing up.
Najah George Calvert United States Marine Corps E-4 Corporal Veteran/Retired
Shared Services Warehouse Manager Norristown, PA
Eric Wright United States Army E-4/Specialist Reserve
Integrated Gear Electromechanical Assembly Technician North Wales, PA
What motivated you to join the military?
I joined the military during high school to pursue higher education.
What was your primary job after training?
My primary job after training was working at Amazon for a few years until I joined DVM in 2020.
Having served, what do you appreciate most about our military?
What I appreciate most about the military is the ability to travel and see the world and experience many different cultures. Also, the great bonds I've made with many other people in the military that I serve with.
How does your military experience affect your current job and life in general?
The military affects my current job and life in general as the schedule is constantly changing and I have to adjust to the military first and the world is weird spot with high tension. So training is becoming more serious. I gotta start thinking about a lot more things to just be prepared for anything to happen.
What motivated you to join the military?
What motivated my decision to serve in the military was the profound unity and unwavering patriotism our nation displayed in the wake of September 11th. Witnessing the way we came together as a country, resolute and undivided, fueled my determination to contribute to something larger than myself. This call to duty was further fortified by a legacy of generations in my family who had also answered the call to serve. Additionally, my father's esteemed career in aviation, with its deep-rooted passion and commitment, specifically drew me towards the U.S. Air Force. It was this powerful sense of purpose, coupled with a deep familial tradition, that propelled me towards military service.
What was your primary job after training?
After completing my training, my primary job was in aerospace propulsion (2A651), where I specialized in rebuilding and maintaining heavy aircraft engines. I primarily worked on engines for C5 Galaxy and C-17 Globemaster aircraft.
Having served, what do you appreciate most about our military?
Having served, what I appreciate most about our military is the unwavering dedication and selfless sacrifice exhibited by every member. The sense of duty and commitment to protecting our nation's values and freedoms is truly inspiring. Additionally, the camaraderie and strong sense of community within the military are unparalleled. It's a bond forged through shared challenges and a shared purpose, creating lifelong connections with fellow service members. Moreover, the opportunities for personal growth, leadership development, and the chance to make a positive impact on a global scale are invaluable. Our military represents a beacon of hope, unity, and strength, and being part of that legacy is something I hold with great pride and gratitude.
How does your military experience affect your current job and life in general?
My military experience instills discipline and work ethic, benefiting my role as a project manager. It teaches me strategic planning and adaptability, crucial for project success. As a father, it guides me in setting an example of dedication and integrity. Balancing work and fatherhood, it provides me with strong time management skills. Overall, it shapes me into an effective project manager and a dedicated father to my two daughters.
Doug Priestley United States Air Force E-5 Staff Sargent Veteran/Retired
Sales Project Manager North Wales, PA
Frank Caccavo United States Marine Corps Captain Veteran/Retired
Production & Flow Goods General Manager North Wales, PA
What motivated you to join the military?
The desire to give back to the nation, and to honor a family tradition. My heroes have always been soldiers.
What was your primary job after training?
Infantry: Rifle Platoon Leader, Weapons Platoon Leader, Company Executive Officer, Operations Staff, Company Commander Artillery: Forward Observer, Guns Platoon Leader, Battery Commander Other: Liaison: Prince’s Life Regiment, Arhuus Denmark. NATO Ops.
Having served, what do you appreciate most about our military?
The strong camaraderie and level of commitment to mission, and of belonging to something far greater than oneself.
How does your military experience affect your current job and life in general?
I still fervently believe in the tenets of my service (Duty, Honor & Commitment), and always will. My service has instilled in me the desire to aggressively pursue excellence and leadership both in what I do, and what I expect of my team. That flame has lit my path long after I hung up my uniform and has never failed me.
What motivated you to join the military?
My older brother had joined the Air Force and he enjoyed it. I decided to join the Air Force as well. I wanted to serve my country and defend the freedom that must people to for granted. That is not the case, we must defend that freedom from others that want to take that away from us. I also wanted to travel and see the world. I was just planning on getting married and the military was a steady job with a good opportunity for advancement and to be able to retire after only serving 20 years.
What was your primary job after training?
After technical school graduation I became an Electrical Power Specialist. We were part of the Civil Engineering Squadron. Our primary role was to maintain the bases emergency power backup generators and Transfer switches, and to operate and maintain the aircraft arresting systems on the runways that were used to catch the fighter jets when they had problems. We were also responsible for the mobile generators used for deployments. Along with setup of base camps and power to all equipment being deployed. I operated and maintained one prime power plant supplying electrical power to the entire base 24 hours a day, and one standby power plant used for emergency power to the base if utility power was lost.
Having served, what do you appreciate most about our military?
What I appreciate the most about our military is the teamwork, everyone is there for the same reason and all work together to reach a common goal. There is comradery, discipline, trust in each other to watch each other back. I have met so many different people with all varying beliefs and lifestyles, but everyone for the most part, being a part of a team, those differences were not an issue because we had a job to do.
How does your military experience affect your current job and life in general?
Being a member of the US Air Force for almost 25 years I still maintain a very high motivation and discipline in my work. I always work to get the job done correctly the first time, I take my role in the company very seriously and I get great satisfaction from starting a job from the beginning and seeing thought to completion. I still believe that a strong team will overcome any obstacle as long as the team works to reach that common goal.
Kevin C. Deojay United States Air Force Master Sergeant E-7 Veteran/Retired
Engineering Automation & Control Service Engineer North Wales, PA
David Michael Cottle Jr. United States Navy Petty Officer 2nd Class CTO2 Veteran/Retired
Engineering Mechanical/Electrical Designer Norristown, PA
What motivated you to join the military?
After years of physically demanding work, I decided to leave my home state of West Virginia to travel and get a college education. After passing the Navy placement exam and choosing a specialty, I walked into boot camp four days after I turned 21. It seems like it was yesterday, and it was one of the best decisions I've ever made.
What was your primary job after training?
My primary job was Cryptologic Technician Operator, "aka Spook". I monitored air waves for "chatter". My first tour was isolated duty on Diego Garcia, in the middle of the Indian Ocean. Upon leaving Diego Garcia after a year, I had the opportunity to pick my next command. I chose Bath, Maine, where the USS Howard (DDG 83) Arleigh Burke-class destroyer was being built at the time. I completed my 4-year duty and was honorably discharged as a CTO5, Plank owner, Enlisted Surface Warfare Specialist (ESWS), Shellback.
Having served, what do you appreciate most about our military?
I appreciate the sacrifice and the brotherhood I gained while serving my country. There isn't anything more honorable than to defend the United States of America.
How does your military experience affect your current job and life in general?
My military experience taught me to be loyal and committed in all aspects of my life. It also reenforced my love of this country, my duty to uphold the Constitution, to dispel misinformation and lies. Truth matters. Democracy is fragile and we need to work everyday to ensure its survival
Stephen Robinson
United States Marine Corps
Veteran
Service & Construction
General Manager – Small Projects
Stone Mountain, GA
What motivated you to join the military?
I grew up in the Boy Scouts of America (achieved Eagle Scout). It taught me core values such as serve the community, be helpful and kind, and I learned to be patriotic. I remember watching footage of Desert Storm on the evening news. I was in high school when the events of 9-11 took place. It was hard for me to sit idlily by while the country I had learned to love and be proud of was attacked. My father understood how I felt but made sure I did not make a decision hastily. The more I watched the news, the higher the death toll of U.S. citizens went, the more I was driven to enlist.
What was your primary job after training?
Primarily, I was trained to be an Aircraft Director while I served on the USS Enterprise (CVN-65). While on board, I took on several secondary duties such as crash and salvage (trained to put out aircraft fires). In addition, I served in the US Navy Ceremonial Guard and worked security for the White House and Air Force One. After being medically disqualified from the Seals Program due to cracking my kneecap on the flight deck, I then trained to become a rescue swimmer, which meant rescuing crew who may have fallen overboard or pilots that had to eject.
Having served, what do you appreciate most about our military?
After being deployed over seas on multiple occasions, seeing how the military is always willing to help. Despite the reputations many branches have, they try to remain humane. Of the bases I've been to, they were always willing to help those in need. In addition, the comradery was something I had never experienced before. We may joke around and tease each other, but if the stuff hits the fan, we have each others back.
How does your military experience affect your current job and life in general?
Self-Motivation, a sense of urgency, time management, and compartmentalizing are just a few of the skills that are learned in the military. One of the things that truly carries over from the service to working for DVM is learning to opporate as a team. While on active duty, in the many rolls and capacities I served in, the job could not be done efficiently or safely without the whole team/unit working together as 1. If an individual started to neglect their portion, the rest of the team had to work harder to compensate which then meant the unit would be burned out faster. Great things will happen when everything works like a well-oiled machine.
Christopher P. Taylor
United States Navy
E-3 ABHAN
Veteran/Retired
Production & Flow Goods Electrical Assembly Technician North Wales, PA
“Veterans know better than anyone else the price of freedom, for they’ve suffered the scars of war. We can offer them no better tribute than to protect what they have won for us.” – President Ronald Reagan