I Served Our Country and Now I Proudly Serve Our Customers

Did you know:

• There are 16.2 million veterans in the United States?
• 42% of males over age 75 are veterans?
• 600,000 veterans live in poverty?
• Suicide rates for veterans are 57% higher than non-veterans?

I’m one of those 16.2 million veterans. I was a Senior Airman in the United States Air Force during Operation Desert Storm in the 1990s. I would’ve gone to the Middle East, but I suffered a torn ACL in my right knee shortly before it started.

That knee would be my Achilles heel for years. I went through a divorce. I lost one of the numerous jobs I held after being discharged because of that knee. I needed five operations; the last one causing me to spend two months in bed. After I lost that job, I nearly went broke because I had to pay out-of-pocket for doctor’s visits, physical therapy and prescriptions.

Things were looking dark for me. But after that last knee operation, I became a right-of-way agent for a PG&E contractor.

What’s a right-of-way agent, you might ask? The road you drive over, the sidewalk you walk on, the freeway offramp you take. Well, chances are a right-of-way agent helped acquire the land to build these projects that are intended to serve the public.

While I was working for the contractor, I applied to work for PG&E. I was offered a job, reviewed the package with my new wife, and I knew I had to make a change.

A sense of community

Today, five years later, I’m proud to help PG&E negotiate with private landowners as we work to build and improve our infrastructure to better deliver for our hometowns.

I would recommend PG&E to other veterans because of the culture. You’re part of a team working toward a common goal, one project at a time. Every member is vital to making that happen. PG&E cares about its coworkers and offers great benefits. You also experience a sense of community, which is one of the biggest things veterans miss after serving.

I’m also very proud that PG&E recently received the HIREVets Gold Medallion Award for the second straight year. The honor recognizes the company’s commitment to veteran hiring, retention and professional development.

A wealth of knowledge

This is also the perfect opportunity for me to explain why companies need to recruit and hire veterans.

Studies have shown some civilians have a negative bias toward military veterans. Bias against veterans includes assuming they have post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) or mental health problems because of their military background. Some people assume veterans have a particular personality type, like being rigid or stern. Others may assume they don’t have the skills to work outside a military setting.

I can attest: Veterans bring a wealth of knowledge and skills from their military experience. They’re thrown into fast-paced, high-pressure, competitive environments during their military careers. They constantly balance performing their jobs at a high standard while learning new skills. Veterans also bring soft skills, such as problem-solving, critical thinking, teamwork, commitment, adaptability and leadership. This creates a strong work ethic and an ability to reach goals.

The military is also multi-cultural. Many veterans are from foreign countries or come from families from foreign countries. This experience helps veterans work in a diverse setting and learn how to work with people from all backgrounds.

We are here. We are ready to work. We are ready to be part of a team and contribute to society.

About the author

Jeffrey Aldal is based in Rocklin (Placer County) and works for PG&E's Underground Pre-Construction Delivery team.