JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — First Coast News is saluting veterans on the First Coast Monday in honor of Veterans Day.
One company who puts their veterans in the spotlight every day is JEA, helping veterans create a new career after their service.
The utility says they give preference to veterans from day one during the hiring process, helping new veterans adjust to their new life outside of the military.
After talking to veterans who now work as linemen for JEA, they say the company has not only given them a job, but helps them with one of the hardest transitions in their entire life – going from the military life to civilian life.
Coming out of the military, Ricky Tullis wanted to find a job where he could use the electrician skills he learned in the Air Force while contributing to something bigger than himself. He would jump from one job interview to another, learning that many employers didn’t offer a veteran assistance program.
"Whenever we're getting out, we go through our transition period and it all depends on what, where you're going to find work," Tullis said. "And if it is a big military town, then you might have some resistance."
Coworker and Navy veteran, Eric Wilbanks, added that looking for veteran-friendly companies are crucial for all service men and women.
“I was also, I stayed reserves for a while, too, so I was still kind of in one foot in, one foot out for a while,” Wilbanks, who is a wastewater mechanic, told First Coast News.
“You get a chance to go from serving your country to being a public servant and serving your city,” Tullis added.
Andrew Newcomb, a Marine Corps veteran, says his job hunt after his service wasn’t easy.
At JEA, Newcomb says working along fellow veterans has helped him transition into civilian life, allowing him to serve not just in neighborhoods in Jacksonville, but statewide to help with hurricane relief.
“You got a crane on your truck and if somebody's trying to move debris out of their yard, you could give them a hand with it and give them water," Newcomb said. "And because they don't have water, electric, then we move on to our normal job. But, it was nice to see the people. They were happy to see us and it went really well."
Newcomb adds that working with people after devastating storms resonates with him and makes him feel like he's still serving his community.