LifeBridge Health Veterans Council Embraces Servicemen and Women
Civilian life compared to military life, Ralph Jones says, is "a different world, a day and night difference."
Jones says that figuring out how to apply military skills to a civilian career is difficult for a lot of servicemen and women.
"A guy who is a military grunt, a basic rifleman, wonders how that job can possibly correspond over to a civilian job. It's really hard sometimes to match up some of those basic military positions and training and get them to resonate on a resume in a way that somebody will say, "˜Oh you would be a good fit for this job.' It's a challenge," says Jones, a longtime LifeBridge Health employee and member of the LifeBridge Health Veterans Council who served 20 years in the Marine Corps. "The biggest thing I do is just talk to people and say, "˜Hey, let me look at your resume,' and then I try to give them some tips."
The LifeBridge Health Veterans Council, formed in large part to bolster the recruitment of active and retired servicemen and women and show them how to identify, market and utilize their civilian job skills, brings veterans together to "talk about things that we as LifeBridge Health can do to honor veterans, bring more veterans into the organization, and support the veterans" currently employed by LifeBridge, says Joe Quinn, chief human resources officer at LifeBridge Health and co-chairman of the veterans council. 
For veterans, receiving a helping hand or seeing a familiar face at the workplace can make a world of difference.
"Wherever we go in the military, when you go from one duty station to another, there's somebody who's always assigned to you to help you make that transition. In the civilian world, that's never heard of," says Jones, senior manager of desktop and technical support at LifeBridge Health. "It's really important that you can feel like you can reach out and talk to somebody who has already lived what you're going through. It eases some of that angst they have."
The veterans council also provides information about the perks, opportunities and employee benefits available to those who have served, such as LifeBridge Health's military leave policy, which Navy Reserve member John T. Wagner, revenue cycle manager and co-chairman of the veterans council along with Quinn, is grateful for.
"When the council was formed, I was approached by Joe [Quinn] about becoming an inaugural member, and while I was appreciative of the opportunity, I wasn't sure if I could accept it because I had just gotten orders to deploy overseas for about a year," Wagner said. "But Joe assured me that I would still have a seat at the table when I returned. To hear that from someone in senior leadership, but with a conviction that there's commitment behind it, was wonderful. For me personally, having to go and deploy overseas and do what is asked of me knowing that the organization I work for supports me emphatically and has my back, and, when I return from deployment, that everything is going to run smoothly, is a wonderful peace of mind. I have never worked for an organization that is as military and veteran friendly as LifeBridge Health."
Recently, the council created the LifeBridge Health Veteran's Challenge Coin, which emulates coins that are awarded in the military in recognition of excellence in accomplishments or competitions, as a show of appreciation for veterans' service to their country and to LifeBridge Health. Each employee who identifies as a military veteran will receive a coin, which can be redeemed at LifeBridge Health's annual Veteran's Day appreciation events. From Nov. 6 to 17, veterans can present their challenge coin at any LifeBridge Health facility cafeteria and receive a free beverage.
Although he isn't a veteran, Quinn takes particular pride in being a member of the LifeBridge Health Veterans Council because of his close connection to those who have served. "My dad was a veteran, and so were his two brothers. A lot of my son's friends have served. I just have a real appreciation for people who make that sacrifice and do what they do," he said.
Veterans are among the ideal job candidates LifeBridge Health looks for, Wagner says.
"One of the big things with this recruitment strategy is we're always looking for fit. We look for people who match the values of LifeBridge Health: service, performance, innovation, respect, integrity and teamwork. Veterans get every single one of those things," Wagner says. "We know those individuals maintain commitment to those values because it's instilled in us from the very first time we raise our hand and take the oath."
In addition to Jones, Quinn and Wagner, also serving on the LifeBridge Health Veterans Council are: Chris Ambrose, Charles Biggus, Jill Bloom, Lori Clark, Sonjia Gordon, Herbert Johnson, Theresa Linville, Troy Modisette, Tammy O'Neill and Kristen Miller.
If you are a veteran and would like to learn more about job opportunities at LifeBridge Health, visit www.lifejobs.org.