Jakob Lejman, a U.S. Army veteran, joined the Hino Motors Manufacturing USA plant in Arkansas in March 2023, marking his first experience within a production facility.
Throughout his eight-year Army career, Lejman specialized in logistics, overseeing various logistics-related roles such as supply, fuel, and distribution. Armed with a bachelor’s degree from the Virginia Military Institute, he most recently served as a battalion operations officer.
As his military service approached its end last year, Lejman faced the challenge of transitioning to civilian employment, unsure of how his military expertise would translate into civilian job opportunities.
At this critical juncture, veteran staffing firms Bradley-Morris and RecruitMilitary extended their support to soldiers stationed in Fort Polk, Louisiana, including Lejman. These organizations offered guidance in crafting profiles and aligning military skills with civilian job openings.
Collaborating with Marine Corps veteran Justin Henderson, SVP of sales at RecruitMilitary, Lejman successfully secured the position of assistant manager of production control at Hino, a Toyota subsidiary and supplier, by the time he completed his military service in March.
Lejman’s journey exemplifies one of many instances where veterans have excelled in manufacturing careers. Industry leaders emphasize the demand for skilled and adaptable workers who possess problem-solving abilities, leadership skills, teamwork capabilities, and a strong grasp of safety culture – qualities that many veterans inherently possess.
“When Hino took a chance on me, they had somebody who had zero experience inside of a manufacturing facility,” Lejman noted. “And they were taking a chance on me as a leader and saying, ‘We can give you the knowledge and skill set to lead in manufacturing, but you have to be a leader first.'”
Alignment of Military Roles with Manufacturing Careers
Amy Thomas, national director of military and veterans initiatives at the Manufacturing Institute’s “Heroes MAKE America” program, highlights that veterans are exceptionally well-suited for positions in manufacturing.
Thomas points out that veterans possess qualifications in areas like safety, maintenance, communications, and logistics – competencies honed during their military service, making them valuable additions to the manufacturing workforce.
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