NOVEMBER 9, 2022 – When I retired from the Army as an active duty Soldier several years ago, I decided to continue serving as a government civilian employee. I first worked for the Department of Veteran Affairs for a couple of years, and then I was offered a position overseas as an Army civilian. My current organization, the 405th Army Field Support Brigade, has many Army civilian employees, and many of them are Veterans just like me.
I’m extremely proud to be a Veteran and to serve in the Army as a civilian supporting our Soldiers and their Families. Why you ask? It’s simple. I believe the Army’s culture is grounded in our values, and thanks to our Veterans these values are time tested and rock solid.
Leading up to Veterans Day, I communicated with 20 other Veterans assigned to the 405th AFSB. During those exchanges, it was clear to me that they were very proud to be Veterans and equally proud to serve as Army civilians with the 405th AFSB.
The Army civilian employees I spoke with hold a wide variety of jobs in the 405th AFSB. They are Army Prepositioned Stocks-2 leads, security specialists, Logistics Readiness Center directors, readiness reporting managers, logistics management specialists, budget analysts, logistics assistance representatives, electronic systems mechanics, maintenance directors, workforce management specialists, resource management specialists, transportation quality control assistants, plans and operations chiefs, senior technical representatives, quality assurance chiefs, motor transport operators, quality assurance specialists, support operations directors, drivers testing and training instructors, and more.
They are stationed in Germany at places like Stuttgart, Kaiserslautern, Mannheim, Vilseck and Baumholder. They’re in Italy at places like Vicenza and Livorno, and they’re in Belgium at places like Chievres Air Base. The 405th AFSB also has Army civilian employees who are Veterans in the Netherlands, other locations in Belgium, Poland, northern Germany, Wiesbaden, Ansbach, Grafenwoehr and more.
Most of the 405th AFSB Veterans I spoke with served in the Army as active duty Soldiers, but I also corresponded with a Marine and a couple of retired Airmen. In addition, the 405th AFSB has Army Reserve Veterans and some Navy Veterans. Some of them have multiple combat tours and others multiple overseas tours – sometimes with their Families and sometimes without.
While serving they’ve held the ranks of specialist, corporal, sergeant, staff sergeant, technical sergeant, sergeant first class, master sergeant, senior master sergeant, sergeant major, command sergeant major, chief warrant officer 2, chief warrant officer 3, chief warrant officer 4, captain, major, lieutenant colonel and more.
While on active duty, they’ve worked as motor transport operators, senior supply specialists, transportation management coordinators, senior electronic maintenance chiefs, logistics officers, automated logistics specialists, civil engineers, finance officers, crew chiefs, missile defense systems technicians, automotive maintenance technicians, senior financial management advisors, senior logistics advisors, equipment maintenance warrant officers, senior supply sergeants, infantrymen, combat engineers and more.
If you are currently serving in the Army, Air Force, Navy, Marine Corps, Coast Guard or any of the Reserve and National Guard components, you should be very proud. I’m proud of you, and I’m grateful for your service. If you are about to end your active-duty service and become a Veteran, stay proud.
If you haven’t served and are considering doing so, reach out to a recruiter near you and see what options and benefits are available. Like I said, I’m an extremely proud Veteran and member of the Total Army Team so if you ask me if you should consider serving, my answer would be absolutely, positively yes.
Remember, the Army’s culture is grounded in our values, and thanks to our Veterans these values are time tested and rock solid. Happy Veterans Day! Thank you for your service!
By Cameron Porter
405th AFSB Public Affairs Officer