transportation jobs and railroading in particular, Kenney notes. “The safety culture in the military is similar to the railroad,” she explains. “We put people in positions where they have to be thoughtful about their surrounding environment. When it comes to those things, there are no excuses and there is no deviation.” On the other hand, the transportation sector offers veterans an opportunity to ful ll their desire for a challenging career. “People who aren’t in logistics may not realize how fast paced and interesting it is,” Kenney says. “No two days are ever the same for me.” HELPING VETERANS FIND THEIR NEW IDENTITY DAVID HARPER MELTON TRUCK LINES After 10 years in the U.S. Marine Corps, David Harper transitioned into the civilian sector. Today, he heads the military hiring program for Melton Truck Lines, a atbed carrier based in Tulsa, Oklahoma. A self-described grunt in the Corps, Melton realized he had gained valuable and transferrable skills when his service was up. “Even though I was an infantry guy, there were leadership aspects to my career, such as the ability to work with a diverse group of people,” Harper says. “I also was willing to get out there and nd my way into a new industry.” Initially, he thought a law enforcement career was the most comparable path to his military background and he even had an appointment to a state police academy. But after a few months of soul- searching, he decided that transportation would be a better t. After years of being away from home on deployments and training, the life of a long-haul trucker was not for him. Instead, Harper worked with trucking operations and safety before stepping into the military hiring program with Melton. “All those detours led to where I found myself, and I love helping other veterans
“The leadership capability and what you learn about yourself in the military helps you push yourself to your limits,” Kenney says. “Without my military experience, I don’t think I’d be sitting where I am today.” Leadership opportunities tend to arise earlier in a military career than they do in the civilian world, which fosters con dence from a young age. “I was a 22-year-old platoon leader for a Blackhawk battalion. I signed for helicopters and had people working for me when a lot of my peers on the civilian side didn’t manage a team until ve to 10 years later,” Kenney notes. “In the military, leadership is embedded in the experience. You step up and lead, and that translates for the rest of your career.” Kenney is now the executive sponsor of CSX’s Military Business Resource Group, a forum that supports military members transitioning to work at CSX. She also volunteers with American Corporate Partners, helping to mentor veterans. Military training translates well to
nd their identity a bit sooner than I did,” Harper explains. He puts his experience to work in his role at Melton, helping to hire veterans from diverse backgrounds. Some are former enlisted personnel, while others are of cers or non- commissioned of cers. Today, approximately 30% of Melton’s drivers are veterans or currently serving in reserve and National Guard units. The company reports a notable reduction in turnover of military employees compared to non-veterans, which Harper credits to the resilience and dedication of veterans. The company’s retention initiatives include weekly military briefs, mentorship programs, and leveraging GI Bill bene ts. Harper also advises companies to connect with other veteran-friendly rms and local veteran organizations to build effective veteran programs. “I give a lot of credit to Melton and its leadership—they truly understand what it means to be veteran friendly and have invested in the resources to support that,” Harper adds. “Once we hire someone and get them into their role, that support doesn’t disappear.” n
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