Branch Manager at Dunbar Armored
‘Bulletproof’ Army vet James Jacobson, 29, is scaling the corporate ladder at Dunbar Armored.
by Warren Duffie

James Jacobson is an avid adventure seeker.

Before joining the Army, he fought forest fires; in the military he attended sniper school and later served in Iraq as a gunner on a Bradley Fighting Vehicle; after leaving the Army, he found work guarding an armored truck.

“I’m the type of person who needs variety and excitement,” said the former corporal. “I always like to challenge and push myself.”

This desire to excel, combined with strong discipline and a powerful work ethic, propelled Jacobson up the corporate ladder at Dunbar Armored – one of the world’s premier security companies.

On the Job
Jacobson, 29, manages the Seattle, Wash., branch. He and his 33 employees serve about 500 clients, including major retail chains, grocery stores and banks. Jacobson handles customer issues, oversees hiring and training of employees, creates work schedules and keeps tabs on vehicle maintenance and repair.

“I also design delivery routes for our trucks,” he said. “Our drivers travel 60 to 200 miles daily.”

Jacobson has done such a good job that Dunbar awarded him the 2009 MidAmerica Regional Top Performer Award, the company’s highest award for exceptional performance. Judging criteria includes achieving branch contribution margins, reducing shortages and losses, meeting productivity and profitability goals, and delivering great service to customers.

“The best traits I acquired from the military were the ability to tolerate stress and a desire to get the job done, no matter what,” Jacobson said. “I also learned how to be a leader. Before the Army, I was more of a follower and a little unsure of myself.”

The Company
Dunbar Armored is America’s largest independent armored transportation carrier, serving major retailers, financial institutions and government agencies. It’s a division of The Dunbar Companies, which consists of five other entities providing various security services. Based in Hunt Valley, Md., Dunbar Armored has 4,000 employees at 50 locations nationwide and earned $45 million last year.

In Uniform
From 1998 to 2000, Jacobson worked as a firefighter for the U.S. Forest Service. He learned that military veterans received preference for other jobs within the Forest Service and other government agencies, and decided to enlist. After completing boot camp and infantry school at Fort Benning, Ga., he was stationed at Fort Carson, Colo. Jacobson spent 2003 to 2004 in Iraq, serving as a gunner on Bradley Fighting Vehicles and patrolling through Al Hawijah and Kirkuk.

The Transition
When Jacobson returned stateside in 2004, he knew he would be transferred out of Colorado. Wanting to stay in the state, he transitioned out.

“I took a lot of transition classes,” Jacobson said. “I also knew a guy who got a job with Dunbar as an armored driver and guard. He told me about the company and the job sounded interesting, so I applied.

“I had driven big vehicles before and was very security-conscious and aware of my surroundings – something I learned in Iraq. There were also several coworkers with military backgrounds, so that made things easier as well.”

Jacobson’s Advice
Don’t procrastinate during your job search. “Don’t wait until you’re about to get out. Start early, preferably a year before your transition.”

Don’t treat your military time like a jail sentence. “Go to as many schools as possible. Earn as many promotions as possible. Pick up a variety of skills – these will make you more marketable in the civilian world.”

Consider re-enlistment as an option. “Stay in uniform if you’re not 100 percent sure about your transition. The economy is rough right now. You need to be fully prepared and committed when entering the civilian work force.”