November 11 is Veterans Day in the United States, and parades, ceremonies and tributes to veterans are planned in small towns and large cities throughout the country to honor those who have served in the U.S. military.
Although thoughts on Veterans Day typically turn to those in distant war zones, it is also a time to turn attention to living veterans, including many who have completed uniformed military service, yet continue to serve the county working in the federal government.
Veterans are important part of the federal workforce, especially in positions that support the military. They bring the knowledge and experience of their military training and that translates into a valuable employee.
In fact, at the U.S. Army Security Command more than four out of every 10 of its employees are military veterans. And for those veteran employees who continue to serve the country through civil service, Veterans Day holds special meaning.
Three years after retiring from the Air Force as a Master Sergeant, John Sanders still finds himself completely dedicated to the service he so dearly loves. After 20 years on active duty, Sanders, the USASAC program manager for the General Fund Enterprise Business System sees Veterans Day as a time to not only look at the sacrifices of those in uniform, but also serves to remind him why he enjoys his work as a Department of the Army civilian.
"To me, Veterans Day is a day to honor all men and women who have honorably served in the United States Armed Services. It recognizes the sacrifices made by thousands of people to make sure this country is and remains free and sovereign," Saunders said.
"Being a veteran and working for USASAC as a DA civilian feels like an extension of the military that I loved and left. In retrospect, I am still a professional serving the Armed Forces; I am just wearing a different shirt and tie," he added.
As a third generation military man, USASAC operations specialist Travis Otis has spent a lifetime around veterans of military service. Following in the footsteps of his grandfather who served in World War II and father who served in Vietnam, Otis joined the Army in 1988.
"Veterans Day means a lot to me because I come from a family with a long history of service to this great nation," said Otis, who retired as a first sergeant. "Not only did my grandfather and father serve in the military, but I served simultaneously with my brother and sister as well.""
Even spending 22 years on active duty, Otis still feels his station in life is serving the country.
"Serving in the military has been nested in my heart," said Otis. "As I think of Veterans Day, it makes me very proud to be working here at USASAC, to be able to work with soldiers, and continue to serve on a daily basis."
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