FleetForce’s Post

🇺🇸 What better way to honor Veterans Day than being on the ground in Detroit, working to create the manufacturing opportunities our service members and communities deserve? Proud to be consulting with and getting connected with Michigan's powerhouse organizations that are reshaping the manufacturing landscape: • The GEM (Global Epicenter of Mobility) Initiative • Focus: HOPE • SEMCA Michigan Works! • Detroit Future City • Life Remodeled We're not just talking about change - we're maximizing federal investments from the Good Jobs Challenge and Build Back Better Regional Challenge to create REAL pathways in manufacturing. Working closely with these organizations to help facilitate and optimize their funding for maximum community impact. And stay tuned... some exciting developments brewing with JARC Training 's proven workforce training model possibly expanding to the Motor City! 👀 To our veterans: Your service taught us about excellence, dedication, and getting the job done. Now we're applying those same principles to build the next chapter of American manufacturing. The skills gap? We're closing it. The opportunities? We're creating them. The future? We're building it right here in Detroit. This is what The New American Manufacturing Renaissance looks like - connecting federal resources, community organizations, and industry leaders to create pathways that WORK. 💯 #VeteransDay #ManufacturingRenaissance #WorkforceDevelopment #Detroit #BlueCollarBaller #NAMR #SkillsGap #Mobility #Manufacturing

*My first and probably last post: Today is my last day on active duty and I am officially retired on 1 Aug after 30 years of active duty time and 3 years in the ANG. It went by quick! I lucked out and found a contract position in Stuttgart at the last minute which should allow my youngest daughter to graduate high school here in 2028. What I learned during the retirement process is , retiring from the Air Force can be a difficult process, retiring OCONUS can be even more difficult, and retiring from a sister service base/post OCONUS can be extremely difficult! I imagine being at a GSU would be even more difficult than what I experienced. In my last few months on active duty, I tried to make it easier for those Airmen that follow me into retirement at USAG Stuttgart by providing feedback and working with the local AF Det to ensure the guidance, phone numbers and websites provided to Airmen retiring are updated, relevant and accurate. Also worked with AFPC/Retirements to correct errors in the Air Force’s published/online DD-214 instructions which were out of date. I also did a 3 week AFJROTC Skillbridge at Ramstein High School and was awed by the program and the commitment/level of professionalism of the instructors. I highly recommend looking into that career path if you enjoying working with young people. I have a lot of other advice/pitfalls/things to consider (TAP/ETAPs/Skillbridge/VA’s Benefits Delivery at Discharge or BDD, etc) that I can share for any Airmen thinking of taking an overseas assignment at a sister service base or GSU as their last assignment and general info for anyone regarding Skillbridge and BDD from Europe or retiring and staying in Germany on SOFA status. Please feel free to reach out to me with questions. *not rewritten with AI so any grammatical/spelling errors are 100% mine.

Best wishes go to Lecturer Rod Borden on his soon retirement! He has put his skills to work for central Ohio aviation, with roles at Rickenbacker International Airport, Columbus Regional Airport Authority and The Ohio State University over a 37-year career. Ahead of his retirement at the end of 2024, Borden shared evergreen advice for aviation students and learners of all ages. In his words: ✈️ Always have a backup plan, in case your primary career choice doesn’t work out. ✈️ Diversify your education. Employers are increasingly looking for candidates with a breadth of education and experience. ✈️ Be sure you choose a career that you’ll enjoy – you spend too much time at work to be spending it on something that is not satisfying and exhilarating. ✈️Make sure that you keep life in balance – don’t let your career keep you away from spending time on your family and friends and doing other things you enjoy. ✈️Seek out good mentors at every step in your career. Read more in the full story (link in comments). #AviationCareer #CareerAdvice

TURNING THE WHEEL 1 “In building a great instutition, there is no single defining action, no grand program, no one killer innovation, no solitary lucky break, no miracle moment. Rather, our research showed that it feels like turning a giant, heavy flywheel.” —Jim Collins I have had only one career—it’s been the military. Sure, I’ve tried a lot of other things. Real estate, writing, bartending, improv, consulting. But when it comes back to one thing, it comes back to the uniform. That’s a huge achievement & accumulation of duties, responsibilities, charges, & purpose. One career — one runbook — to drive a couple of decades. Rewriting that runbook, I would often use the phrase “nailing the landing”. But being deep in that chamber of retirement, I realize that metaphor has run out. We all mostly follow the same checklists & 18 month countdown charts. We each use different frames to win this experience. But the important part of the transition isn’t the landing, it’s the shift. Transmitting what make us successful, whole, complete — through a funnel of content & context. We might not recognize ourselves when it’s done. Many of the companies Collins profiled didn’t survive 20 years after “Good to Great” published. But that framework of the flywheel stands. The flywheel, as noted here, is a great frame for transitioning. Collins considers the flywheel as the movement from focusing on three core questions: 1: What are you deeply passionate about? 2: What can you be best in the world at? 3: What drive your resource engine? That affects us twofold. First—it’s the humbling recognition that no single career makes a military. It’s the continuing procession of careers that makes a culture, that sews a uniform. It’s a patchwork of history & purpose, we get to put into a shadow box & put away. Getting out isn’t a singular, defining action. The decision absolutely is. But the path is a procession. #military #militarytransition #workforceagility #retirement #goodtogreat

✈️Why Flex Air? Well, today (yes, on a Saturday, because I’m ready!) marks my first day as a teammate with Flex Air. First and foremost, thank you, Paul Wynns for allowing me to start my next chapter working alongside you. So, why Flex Air? Many have asked me why I chose Flex Air; heck, I asked myself the same question. I was told, “With your education, certifications, experience, and being a good dude, you’re a shoe-in.” But I didn’t want that. A great mentor of mine, Robin Fortner, MA, RBLP-T once told me, “If you have the choice of where you work or who you work for; choose who you work for.” Now, I could go into details of how I found Flex Air, but that’s for another post. My criteria for my next career were simple yet crucial: The organization needs to have a vision I align with, care for its people, and help veterans. Needless to say, without just “talking the talk,” I was able to observe Flex Air while as a SkillBridge Fellow, and they “walked the walk.” Never did I imagine working in the aviation industry, but I am thrilled to explore this new venture with Flex Air. Just thought I’d share this, as today is another milestone in my life. #NewBeginnings #Aviation #FlexAir #Veterans #CareerMilestone

🛩️ Clear Skies Ahead: How to Choose the Right Flight School 🎯 The airline industry is seeing an unprecedented shortage of pilots, and airlines are working to address it through various measures, resulting in easier access to training, faster career advancement, and increased compensation for aspiring pilots. Consequently, there's never been a better time to consider a career in aviation. If that's you, check out our guide to the essential factors to consider when choosing a flight school: 🔗 https://lnkd.in/eiTDsjpc #flighttraining #soloflight #PilotTraining #flightschool #pilotlife #FlightGestAcademy #PremierPathwaysToAdventure

Celebrating Resilience: From D-Day Veterans to New Beginnings Last night, I had the incredible privilege of stumbling upon a performance by a band comprised of D-Day veterans. Their resilience, spirit, and camaraderie were awe-inspiring and got me thinking deeply about the nature of courage and adaptability. By the way, their drum section was amazing—it's worth a watch with the volume up! The courage these veterans demonstrated during one of the most pivotal moments in history is truly beyond words. Their ability to come together, support one another, and face immense challenges head-on is something we can all learn from. While our daily challenges in the workplace may not be on the same scale, starting a new job often feels like stepping into unknown territory. New routines, unfamiliar faces, and different processes can be daunting. It reminds me of how a 14-year-old must feel on their first day of work experience, encountering the professional world for the first time. In both scenarios, resilience and adaptability are key. Whether you're a seasoned professional or a young student taking your first steps into the working world, the ability to face and overcome these challenges is crucial. Let's take a moment to salute our heroes, the veterans who have shown us the true meaning of bravery and resilience. And let's also give a nod to students and new professionals bravely stepping into new roles and environments. Your courage and willingness to learn and grow are commendable. Here's to celebrating resilience in all its forms, and to supporting each other through every new beginning. #Resilience #Courage #Veterans #NewBeginnings #WorkExperience #SupportEachOther

In the face of resilience and adversity, this is what you do... How proud are we of Jack, and rightly so. #resilience #adversity #courage #pride #coaching

💡 Belonging, Even When You Don’t Fit In 💡 When I arrived at Air Force pilot training, I quickly realized I was surrounded by mostly men, with engineering degrees, who wanted to fly since they were three. I clearly wasn’t male, and my degree? Gerontology—not exactly the typical pilot training background. And I had only recently learned I could be a pilot. I didn’t feel like I fit in, but I knew that didn’t mean I didn’t belong. I had earned my place there just like everyone else. I passed the tests, met all the qualifications, and was selected to attend pilot training. I couldn't control how others looked at me, but I could control how I looked at myself. Even though I didn’t look like everyone around me, I reminded myself that the Air Force said I was qualified and that was what mattered. That was the foundational mindset I used to build my confidence. I focused on the skills and knowledge that got me there and faced each challenge head-on, with optimism and belief in my abilities. Every day was about proving to MYSELF that I had what it took, and that confidence grew stronger with every hurdle I overcame. When you feel like you don’t fit in, don't let that be an excuse that eats away at your confidence. Remember that you’ve earned your place, just like anyone else. Use that fact to fuel your belief in yourself and take on every challenge with the mindset that you belong—because you do. 💪✈️

We can't express the immense pride we are feeling. Those who have ever been on our courses will have heard me talk about our son Jack. I know I am biased, but he is one in a million. The first picture was taken by me on Jack's first flying lesson, aged 13, in Florida after he announced he wanted to be a pilot. He loved it, so we encouraged him; we saved so he could have a few lessons each time we came to the states. He flew solo at 16 and gained his PPL when he was 17, six months before he could drive a car. After uni he decided a career in aviation was for him; this was quickly destroyed in the pandemic rollercoaster ride, with lockdowns destroying courses (and many dreams of course in the process). He still had the dream. Jack went back to uni to complete his MSc and worked in Tesco and online programming to build up his funds. After the pandemic, he said he would like to get back into flying and was accepted into a cadetship programme that would last another 2 1/2 years, with no pay and no course fee assistance. He still had the dream, so as a family, we worked as a team being as resourceful as we could. The second picture was taken last Saturday at Gatwick Airport, Jack completed his final assessment and is now a qualified Airbus A320 pilot and starts flying you on your holidays from January. What Jack and ourselves have gone through should be a massive lesson for everyone. Never, ever give up; you can achieve anything if you put your mind to it. Jack has shown a tremendous ability to deal with adversity. He never moaned; he is incredibly resourceful and just got on with it. We have witnessed the hours he put into his training with no support other than us, as a family. I often say jokingly he is "nearly as good as his dad". If truth be told, I wish I had 50% of his tenacity, attitude, and natural ability. He is a brilliant role model for anyone having a dream and struggling; never give up, adapt, and overcome. Dreams do become reality, but you have to work at it. #dreams #tenacity #overcomeadversity #justdoit