All veterans are required to attend Transition Assistance Programs, and agencies can present themselves as an option as vets figure out their career paths, said Joe Tate, a copywriter at PeterMayer who served in the Marines.
“Agencies could start their own VAPR [Veterans in Advertising Portfolio Review] program that reaches out to transitioning veterans looking to enter a more creative field,” said Tate, adding that many vets are self-starters and quick learners, so a fast-track program like that could be helpful for those looking to dive into the creative world.
Connecting veterans to advertising brings in diversity of thought, and the skills learned in the service can truly prepare them for the rigors of the industry.
How did the military prepare you?
Malek came from a military family. After tragically losing her uncle and father, Malek evaluated joining the Peace Corps or military. She ultimately followed the Army family footsteps.
A fiery female drill sergeant lit a fire under Malek to show that she could be just as good as the men.
“If I had not joined the military, I wouldn’t have been as successful as I was in college, I would not have the leadership skills that I have today, I would not deeply love people as much as I love them,” Malek told Adweek.
The former chemical operations specialist encountered Cindy Marion, founder of MMI, who took a chance on Malek as an account director, partially because of her military training. She was eventually promoted to CEO, saying the training gave her the confidence to take the job.
“I thought, ‘I don’t know how to be a CEO but I know how to do really hard things, so I’ll figure this out,’” said Malek.
The rapid pace of the military taught Air Force vet Lisa Maskey how to adapt and absorb pertinent information quickly, which is useful when onboarding new clients as the vp and speaker’s bureau director at PR and communications agency Raven.
“The medical work I executed taught me how to control my stress level and focus on the task at hand. In trauma, there is no time to doubt yourself. You have to react quickly and with confidence,” said Maskey, who was deployed in Iraq and Afghanistan.
Leadership skills
Swinand joined the Army at 17 and later secured a Reserve Officer Training Corp scholarship to attend Penn and Wharton. Swinand said the responsibilities of an infantry platoon leader revolve around preparing for the unknown.
“In the airborne, your challenge is parachuting from a plane in the middle of the night to accomplish a mission. The unpredictability of these missions compares to the ever-shifting needs of business today,” said Swinand, adding that leading Leo Burnett means having to be fluid and agile to deliver the best solution for clients.
The rigorous training and challenging environments Vann Graves, who served in Iraq with the Army, encountered taught him the importance of discipline, a quality the executive director at the VCU Brandcenter said is crucial in meeting tight deadlines, along with attention to detail, strategic thinking and problem solving.
“The military places a strong focus on teamwork and leadership, fostering a culture where one learns to operate in unison as a cohesive unit, while simultaneously honing skills to lead and guide others,” said Graves.