Transitioning from the military to a career in the private sector can be a big leap for many veterans. For Boeing South Carolina teammate Jacob Redmond, he felt like his more than 10 years of service in the U.S. Navy and passion for quality opened doors for the right opportunity with Boeing.
“Leaving the military is a big deal,” Redmond said. “There are a lot of guarantees while under contract in the military.”
Veterans can often feel a lot of pressure when facing the decision to leave military service, he explained. The pressure can come from uncertainty about how veterans’ military-related skills and experience will translate, as well as the cultures of the companies they join.
Redmond had help finding the right fit — including strong encouragement from his neighbor who worked for Boeing. As a part of SkillBridge, the U.S. Department of Defense partnership internship program with professional industries, he was able to see the quality of people working at Boeing and how he fit.
“I knew I wanted to work here from the day I started my internship,” he said. “The smiles are contagious, and I truly love the workplace environment at Boeing South Carolina”
Through SkillBridge, Boeing supports transitioning service members like Redmond with training, development and employment opportunities that align with the critical skills gained through their time in the military — which are also invaluable to Boeing’s success.
During his military service, Redmond developed critical skills in Quality working as a Naval nuclear mechanic, inspector and planner. This experience forged a clear path for success at Boeing.
“While subs are underwater as opposed to in the air like planes, the responsibility for quality and safety is the same,” Redmond said. “I want to ensure I do everything I can to get people onboard home safely.”
Redmond started as a Quality Engineer supporting multiple Factory Support Collaboration Centers, but his goals go beyond just being a part of the Boeing team. He intends to take advantage of every opportunity to grow his career. In May, he was selected to be the temporary manager for a six-month position on an Employee Development and Growth Enhancement (EDGE) team in Aftbody.
Redmond (far right) with members of the EDGE Engineering Rotation team. (Boeing photo)
EDGE’s Engineering Rotation Program provides hands-on experience to teammates working within the Engineering Community to learn applicable processes and identify process improvements. This team is represented by design engineering, manufacturing engineering, Boeing Research & Technology (BR&T) and quality engineering.
Plans are underway to increase SkillBridge participation at Boeing South Carolina and across the company. Transitioning service members can participate in this program with up to 180 days left in their service contract and can register for the Boeing Career SkillBridge Program.
Go deeper:
- Register for the Boeing Career SkillBridge Program
- More on SkillBridge
- boeing.com/veterans