From Service to Solutions: A Veteran’s Journey into GIS
The famous poet Ralph Waldo Emerson may have said it best: "Life is a journey, not a destination," and as I stood on the infamous yellow footprints at the Marine Corps Recruit Depot in San Diego, California at 19 years old I couldn’t help but wonder how my story would be written. As my service progressed, I was broken down and rebuilt into a well-oiled machine.
I was extremely fortunate to serve as a military police officer specializing as a military working dog handler assigned to Camp Pendleton, California. I had the privilege of working with real life superheroes though because of their humility they would never admit to it. I also worked with some of the best dogs to ever wear a collar.
My name is Isaac Smith and this blog post this is my journey as a veteran discovering the power of GIS.
(Military Working Dog Hugo)
I served a total of four years, from 2010 to 2014. I give much credit to the Marine Corps and my peers for helping me build a solid foundation for my adult life. I would also be remiss not to mention my canine partner, Hugo, who taught me valuable life lessons, such as persistence, loving the work you do, and maintaining a cheerful outlook regardless of the circumstance. At times when I felt like I could not take another step, I looked at Hugo’s smiling face I was able to keep going. Every person I met in the military no matter what branch they were in had a reason that drove them into military service. Conversely, as their time ended, many did not have a strong plan of transition myself included.
From my perspective, one of the most difficult aspects of transitioning away from military life was a loss of purpose. I was not sure what my purpose was in life anymore, and I later found out that many veterans in my position experienced the same feeling.
Rediscovering Purpose
Prior to joining the Marines, I had always imagined myself working in law enforcement. Unfortunately, due to injuries I sustained during my active-duty service that career path was no longer a viable option for me when my enlistment ended. One of the primary factors that drove me into military service was my love for other people, so I pursued undergraduate degrees in communication and psychology to try and help me to find my new purpose.
While working on my education I spent time working as a counselor at the San Diego Center for Children where I was able to positively influence children, teenagers, and young adults who were struggling with various mental health diagnosis, trauma, and other forms of abuse that was inhibiting their education. This program operated on a contractual basis and when my time there came to a close I continued onto other contract type roles to include working as a crime data analyst with the Marine Corps Criminal Investigative Division (CID) and the Naval Criminal Investigative Service (NCIS) and an explosive detection canine handler with the Transportation Security Administration (TSA).
Introduction to GIS
It was a privilege and an honor to work for these organizations as a contractor. It gave me a lot of life experience and I learned a lot from both the people I worked with and those that I served. However, I still felt like I was still missing the mark somehow. I had also received feedback from potential employers during interviews that though I had a great background, they did not see how it worked together with careers in the civilian sector.
Because of this and my military injuries, I changed career paths and began to study computer science and software engineering. I was introduced to Esri and the world of Geographic Information Systems (GIS) via Esri’s Young Professionals Network (YPN) meetup in Redlands, California. I remember standing in a room of some of the most intelligent and interesting people I had ever met as we engaged in networking and team building events that night.
When I realized the positive global impact Esri has had via technology like GIS I knew that I had found out what I was missing as it enabled me to tie together my previous emergency management experience and education with my future goal of using data to improve our community in a meaningful way!
(Military Working Dog Hugo)
GIS Educational Opportunities for Veterans
Veterans interested in learning about GIS can start by attending an Esri YPN chapter meetup. These events provide an excellent introduction to how GIS is used worldwide and offer opportunities to network, build friendships, and find mentors in the field. Active-duty military members can use their tuition assistance benefits to enroll in Geographic Information Systems (GIS) courses at accredited institutions free of charge. Depending on their remaining time in service, they can leverage this benefit to earn certifications, undergraduate, or graduate degrees before transitioning to civilian life.
In Texas, veterans can take advantage of the state’s “Hazlewood Act” to fund their education before tapping into federal benefits. After military service, veterans can use their G.I. Bill benefits to pursue certifications or degrees. Additionally, state and federal vocational rehabilitation programs are available to help veterans obtain the training and education needed for a career in GIS.
Once coursework begins, Esri offers internship and assistant opportunities for students that provide hands-on experience to complement academic learning. These internships are a great way to gain real-world insights into GIS applications.
There are many ways for veterans to access educational training using the benefits earned through military service. With careful planning, they can minimize student debt while preparing for a fulfilling career in GIS. By utilizing these benefits effectively, veterans can pursue graduate-level education and continue serving their communities in meaningful ways.
Conclusion
It has been a challenging journey since I first left home to join the military and my transition out of the military was harder than I expected. However, I learned that if you keep an open mind and work hard you can find a way through the difficult challenges that life gives us. For people like veterans who have a wealth of experience but have found themselves wondering where their skillset can do good for our community and provide meaningful employment opportunities, I recommend looking into Esri and the exciting world of GIS!
Feel free to connect with me on LinkedIn or email me at ismith916@gmail.com