EIGHTY
FOUR, Pa., May 1, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- May is
National Military Appreciation Month and according to many
companies like 84 Lumber, the nation's largest privately
held supplier of building materials, one way to honor veterans is
to hire them.
Roughly 200,000 military members retire or separate from the
armed services every year, according to the Department of
Labor. Veterans returning to the workforce after military service
face a variety of challenges and, oftentimes, finding and vying for
civilian positions can be challenging for transitioning
veterans.
Translating Military Skills to Civilian Employment
The journey from military service to civilian employment is not
just about finding a job – it's about discovering a new sense of
purpose and leveraging past experiences to thrive once back home,
said Army veteran Zac
Elenchin.
Born and raised in Coudersport,
Pennsylvania, Elenchin's journey began with a passion for
service and a deep-rooted military tradition in his family.
"My father was in the Army, as was one of my older brothers. My
uncle, and both my grandfathers, served. I have cousins in both the
Army and law enforcement, so you can say it's in my DNA," said
Elenchin.
After a year of college, Elenchin enlisted in the Army in 2015
and became a combat medic. After completing basic training at Fort
Sill, Oklahoma, Elenchin was
stationed at Fort Campbell,
Kentucky where he attended air assault school, earned the
expert field medical badge, and received an air assault patch.
While Elenchin was at Fort
Campbell, he was deployed to Kuwait and did a nine-month rotation at Camp
Arifjan in support of Operation Spartan Shield from 2017-2018.
After returning from Kuwait, Elenchin was stationed at Fort
Sam Houston, Texas where he
completed an expeditionary combat medic course and graduated,
becoming an ECM. After graduating, Elenchin was given a PCS,
or permanent change of station, to Fort Bliss, Texas, where he then deployed to Afghanistan in 2019 in support of Operation
Freedom's sentinel. Elenchin was based out of Bagram Airfield and
traveled around northern Afghanistan during his deployment. Elenchin
returned stateside in November 2019.
Months later, the COVID pandemic left the world at a standstill by
March 2020. Elenchin was his
battalion's COVID response senior medic. After years of service, he
made the major decision to leave the military.
"The military lifestyle can wear you down physically and
mentally," he reflected. Medically retired in 2022, Elenchin faced
uncertainty about his future. "I felt like I was starting
over."
Elenchin emphasized the importance of having a plan and staying
engaged.
"An idle mind is the devil's paradise," he quipped, advising
against complacency. Importantly, he said that returning home from
the military doesn't mean leaving that life behind. "Not only do
those experiences shape who you are, they give us former soldiers a
lot to work with. It's working through the good with the bad that
is key."
"Instead of trying to shed the Army from you, embrace what it
taught you and use that to your advantage," said Elenchin. "You
know, you served this country, whether it was three or 30 years.
Use what the Army taught you to do well in the civilian world. The
worst thing you can do is just stay at home."
Enter 84 Lumber. Passing by the company's premises in
Cresson, Pennsylvania, Elenchin's
curiosity was piqued. He joined as a Manager Trainee (MT) in
March 2022, marking the beginning of
an unexpected, yet rewarding journey. "I never thought that two
years later, I'd have the keys to my own store," he admitted.
For Elenchin, the transition was both a period of adaptation and
discovery.
The move from military to civilian life, Elenchin noted,
revealed surprising parallels. Leadership, camaraderie, and a sense
of purpose mirrored his experiences in the Army.
"The art of leadership is universal," he asserted, crediting
mentors like Dave Fisher, 84 Lumber
Central Area Manager, for offering support and guidance. "He would
check in on me to make sure I was doing all right -- he would check
on everybody. I appreciated his style of leadership."
The nurturing environment at 84 Lumber is something he thinks
other companies recruiting veterans should learn from.
Companies, he added, can support veterans by fostering
compassion and understanding in the workplace. Something he credits
his 84 Lumber mentors with.
"I would say that a lot of people see guys that come out of the
Army as, like, really just rough and tough and can handle anything
– but we're human too. If companies acknowledge and support their
veterans, then they can get the world back," said Elenchin.
"Veterans are the hardest workers in the room. They're very
coachable and they're willing to adapt. I mean, I adapted to
selling wood. I've never even built anything in my life, and now I
run a store."
"Veterans bring very competitive skills to civilian jobs, along
with core values military service cultivates like dedication,
teamwork, and pride," said Joe Jena, director of talent acquisition
at 84 Lumber. "At 84 Lumber, we know that solid careers are built
from the ground up and that you don't have to have a background in
construction to prosper in this rapidly growing industry. We have
opportunities across the company and the nation. We've found that
84 Lumber aligns very well with the values of military veterans.
When someone retires from the military, they're typically used to a
very structured, hard-working environment where they can grow and
move up the ranks. That's why veterans tend to thrive at 84 Lumber
and become some of our most successful associates," explained Jena.
"On the other hand, 84 Lumber benefits from the hard-working values
that our military has learned."
Re-training in a new job can provide a sense of purpose and
community but it's not the only thing veterans need to move
forward. Continued support outside of 84 Lumber was key to
Elenchin's reintegration into civilian life.
Specifically, Elenchin said, veterans should seek out any
programs offered, and for him it was at the Department of Veterans
Affairs.
"The V.A. has been a tremendous help. The V.A. has really
impressed me with how they helped me out with all my appointments
and all the care I need. They're very communicative. They're very
responsive."
Career Two Years In
Reflecting on his time at 84 Lumber, Elenchin finds fulfillment
in the honest work and sense of accomplishment it offers.
"Every day, it's been an honest day's work," said Elenchin. "I
never have a problem falling asleep at night because I'm that
exhausted."
Of course, it's not just about the paycheck or keeping busy. The
supportive environment, the daily challenges, the hard work, and
the opportunity for growth are all ideal for returning service
members, said Elenchin.
"I would say the opportunities for vets at 84 Lumber are
boundless. There's a really big population of warriors coming out
of the service. I would encourage all of them to come to 84
Lumber," said Elenchin.
Elenchin's journey from combat medic to store manager is a
testament to the resilience, adaptability, and determination of
military veterans. Returning home after military service is never
as simple as finding a job. For soldiers, said Elenchin, a job is
the thing that keeps you moving when you need it most.
"If you just sit at home, and you're trying to get by with the
least amount of work, or effort possible, it's not going to go
well, it's a trap that a lot of guys will fall into, including
myself at first," said Elenchin. "I was just sitting at home and
it's not fun, it's not fulfilling, and it doesn't pay well."
To watch Elenchin's interview about life at 84 Lumber after
the military, click here.
RECRUITMENT CALL CENTER
84 Lumber's Recruitment Call Center will be open on Fridays in
May from 10 a.m.-12 p.m. EST,
beginning on May 3, 2024. Those
interested in careers with 84 Lumber can call 724-228-1885. This
adds a personal touch for potential associates to ask questions and
learn about opportunities throughout the 84 Lumber network without
having to travel to a specific location. Callers will have an
opportunity to speak with 84 Lumber recruiters about career
opportunities and available positions.
ABOUT 84 LUMBER
Founded in 1956 and headquartered in
Eighty Four, Pennsylvania, 84
Lumber Co. is the nation's largest privately held supplier of
building materials, manufactured components, and industry-leading
services for single and multifamily residences and commercial
buildings. The company operates 320 facilities which include
stores, component manufacturing plants, custom door shops, and
engineered wood product centers in 33 states. 84 Lumber also offers
turnkey installation services for a variety of products, including
framing, insulation, siding, windows, roofing, decking, and
drywall. A certified national women's business enterprise owned by
Maggie Hardy, 84 Lumber was named as
one of the Most Trustworthy Companies in America 2024 by Newsweek,
and one of America's Largest Private Companies in 2023 by Forbes.
The company also made the Inc. 5000 list of America's
Fastest-Growing Companies in 2023. For more information, visit
84lumber.com and join us at Facebook,
Instagram, or LinkedIn.
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SOURCE 84 Lumber