Veterans Day is when we honor those who have dedicated themselves to serving their country, putting the group before the individual to empower us all. Here at Silverline, we’re grateful for everything veterans and their families have done to bring us more security, and this Veterans Day, we wanted to spotlight how military experience has shaped the lives of some of our team members.
“The most significant benefits were not education, traveling, a guaranteed paycheck, or any other intangible items,” said Paul Le, Director, Salesforce Industries, who served with the Air National Guard from 2007 to 2014. “It was the sense of patriotism, duty, honor, and selfless service. In the 1980s, I came here as a refugee; I was four years old. I have always thought about how lucky I was and decided to give back by serving. My military experience has impacted my life in many positive ways. I learned self-discipline, earned respect, and felt accomplished.”
Le discovered that the leadership skills he developed in service were a major boon in his transition to a corporate career. “In the military, regardless of job or rank, you are expected to lead and set a positive example,” said Le. “They have a saying, ‘You are only as strong as the weakest link.’ Beginning from basic training through my entire military career, I had to learn fast and persevere through challenges. My transition to corporate life has been a positive one. Through many years of serving, the values I learned have prepared me for my corporate career. When I transitioned to Silverline, it felt very familiar. It aligned the values I learned to my new corporate life, demonstrating ‘Integrity First, Service Before Self, and Excellence in all we do.’”
Le’s advice to veterans who want to enter the Salesforce ecosystem? Stay motivated and determined, and surround yourself with people who celebrate your successes. “After being discharged, the hardest thing for a veteran is being dropped into a big open ocean with no direction of where the closest land is located,” said Le. “The journey feels like starting from the bottom, and your 4-8 years in service may seem pointless. There are many programs for veterans, such as Merivis Foundation, which supports veterans preparing for their next mission through training, mentorship, and job readiness for Salesforce cloud technology careers. I had an opportunity to take advantage of this opportunity to help with my career.”
Salesforce Military (formerly known as Vetforce) is another invaluable resource. Since 2014, over 40,000 members of the military community have joined the program, which is available to current and transitioning military service members and their spouses, as well as veterans who served in the United States, Canada, United Kingdom, Australia, and New Zealand. One of those community members is Katie Bush, Partner Alliance Manager in our Financial Services practice. She was first introduced to Vetforce in September 2019 by her husband, John, an Army officer of 12 years who has worked within the Salesforce ecosystem since 2010.
“As a military spouse, I’ve had to transition many times throughout my family’s 12 years of service,” said Bush. “I never felt that I had the opportunity to expand and grow my career. With the additional responsibilities of being a mother of three kids, I easily felt lost within the everyday hustle and bustle of life. I ended up settling with jobs that never provided me the potential to grow and expand with, until I became a part of the Vetforce program.”
“The most valuable aspects of the Vetforce program are the resources, training, and support system available for those who are transitioning to a career within the Salesforce ecosystem,” said Bush. “Through Vetforce, I was able to receive the proper training needed to become a Certified Salesforce Administrator. Once certified, I became eligible for additional opportunities through Hiring Our Heroes that provided an opportunity to obtain real world experience.”
“The Vetforce program opened an endless amount of doors for my family and I that I never thought was possible,” said Bush. “My advice to all military veterans and their spouses is to never settle for less because of the fear of the unknown, you are worthy of more. It is never too late to start something new.”
Interested in joining the Silverline team? Check out our Careers page for current job opportunities.
