HEBRON, Ky. — Each year, over 200,000 service members leave the military and transition to civilian life.
According to the U.S. Department of Labor, more than eight million veterans worked in the civilian labor force last year, bringing valuable skills and expertise to various industries.
For Justin Tentler, an Air Force veteran, his career has led him to northern Kentucky, where he now serves as an air operations manager for Amazon Air.
In the air tower at the Amazon Air hub at Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International Airport, the air operations team is in constant communications, working to ensure everything runs smoothly.
Tentler is managing air operations with the same exactness and team work he had in the military.
On the day Spectrum News 1 met up with Tentler, the aircraft he was working with was heading to Miami to deliver packages to customers. He said, “So, they don’t have to keep tracking their package on their app.”
As he reflected on his long career, he says the inspiration came from his father.
“My dad served in the Navy during the Vietnam War. So, graduating high school, I made the decision to join the Air Force.”
In his two-decade career, he had in many roles in the Air Force, including monitoring air support and serving on a presidential detail. Now, after two years at Amazon, he’s happy but says the transition wasn’t easy.
He said, “It is a difficult transition for some individuals. In the military, it’s really structured. A lot of veterans, me included. We thrived on that structure. We enjoyed it, and it was part of everyday life.”
A 2023 Veterans of Foreign Wars survey of 1,000 U.S. military veterans revealed three major challenges when transitioning to civilian life. Job hunting was the top challenge for 33% of veterans, while 28% pointed to leaving their military friends. And another 28% said finding a purpose in a new career.
Despite these difficulties Tentler said he and other veterans bring something unique to the table if given the chance. “Our ability to problem solve and look at things in a different light, we do bring a lot to the table,” he said. “I encourage any Amazon and others to continue hiring [us],” he continued.
Amazon offers resources to veterans. Including a military mentoring program, which connects newly hired veterans with colleagues who have successfully transitioned from the military to civilian roles.
For Tentler and many other veterans, the dedication to service remains constant, whether in military or civilian life.