Communications and Electronic Technician at Lear Siegler
Former Sailor paid well to fix gear for U.S. troops.
By Warren Duffie
Mike Chase knows how to live in cramped accommodations. A former Sailor who spent time on a small combat support ship, Chase now shares a tent with 10 people in Iraq.
“It’s actually not bad,” said the Navy veteran. “It’s a 14-man tent and pretty comfortable. So our working conditions are just fine. I have no trouble sleeping.”
On The Job
A good night’s sleep is important for Chase, a communications and electronics technician for contracting firm Lear Siegler Services Inc. (LSI). Located on Al Asad Air Base, he works with nine technicians to repair and maintain radios, GPS systems, and night vision gear for Army, Marine Corps, and Navy units in and around Iraq.
“Most of the time, we fix radios on Humvees that have been damaged,” said the former petty officer second class. “We also work on vehicles and equipment suffering from wear and tear. The biggest challenge is getting everything working as perfectly as possible for the people in the field. We want everything to be 100 percent operational.”
Chase wakes up at 0400, has breakfast, and gets to his shop at 0600. After filling out safety reports and timesheets, he wraps up projects from the previous night before attacking new ones. He finishes his day at 1800.
“Aside from being on land instead of a ship, my job isn’t hugely different from my Navy work,” said Chase, who used to fix radar and communications equipment. “Some of the gear is different, but I already had the electronics background.
If you at least have the theory nailed, everything else falls into place. It’s like riding a bike.”
The Company
LSI has contracts with all of the military branches to repair and maintain aircraft and armored vehicles. LSI is a subsidiary of EG&G Technical Services – a division of URS, one of the world’s largest engineering design firms and a leading U.S. government contractor. URS boasts more than 300 global offices, more than 50,000 employees, and annual revenues of $5.4 billion in 2008.
One of the main reasons for LSI’s success has been its employee base, particularly military veterans, who make up 46 percent (3,000 employees) of its work force.
“Veterans are attractive to LSI because they have knowledge of and experience with the military systems our contracts involve – including maintenance, supply, training, administration and operations. In addition, they bring personal attributes such as teamwork, discipline, motivation and leadership,” said John Bednar, a recruiting manager for LSI.
In Uniform
A native of Toledo, Ohio, Chase enlisted in 2001 to see the world and get college money. After boot camp and electronics school at Naval Station Great Lakes, he reported for duty on USS Detroit and traveled to Scotland, Spain, Italy, Bahrain and the United Arab Emirates.
But by 2005, Chase’s rate was overmanned and his promotion potential limited. He left for the civilian world, working at a dialysis clinic. However, by 2008 he again itched for adventure and luckily saw an LSI ad on a job Web site.
“The pay looked good and was in the field, which is where I wanted to be,” Chase said. “I missed the excitement of the Navy. This seemed like a good way to get back to that. I’m not ready for a ‘regular’ job yet.”
Transition and Acclimation
Chase receives great hourly pay, overtime and hazardous duty pay. In addition to comprehensive health, dental, and vision coverage, 401(k), and life insurance, he enjoys access to the base hospital, chow hall, and recreational facilities.
He would have changed a few things about his civilian transition, though: “I would have taken transition classes and been better about researching my first job out of uniform. I basically took the first one that came along.
“I have to say my military background made me more competitive,” he continued. “No degree in the world can compete with the experience, not to mention the pressures, of doing a job in the military. I also received a secret clearance. That’s another great selling point.”
Chase's Advice
Take transition classes. “If I had attended them, I think my transition would have been a lot more satisfying. That said, it’s worked out nicely for me.”