Finding a new calling
Veteran lineworker apprentices speak on the trade's differences and similarities to the military
For military veterans, transitioning out of the service and into civilian life is not always easy. Tyler Hall, lineworker apprentice in PEC’s Kyle District, served 10 years in the United States Navy from 2013 to 2023. He explained that there is an immediate sense of freedom and a change of pace to daily structure.
From left: Charley Goines, Tyler Hall, Logan Skiver, Neil Dodson, Millage Hawthorne, Jeff Brashear, Angel Alcala, Daniel Campos, and Gabe Cabello are just a few of the veterans PEC employs. We honor all who served our country this Veterans Day.
Charley Goines (U.S. Navy), a regional operations supervisor in Kyle who served from 2001 to 2009, provided insight on how difficult it was to find a work environment that modeled the camaraderie of military service. In fact, he had nine different jobs in the year-and-a-half span before landing at PEC in 2008.
“You’re looking for that crew mentality, a brotherhood where everybody is looking out for you,” he said. “When I started at PEC, I was only here for two weeks when I told my wife, ‘yeah, we’ll be here for a while.’”
He remembers his time as an apprentice and how much support his crew members and supervisors provided in those early years. Upon coming to PEC, he took a liking to the atmosphere and the camaraderie between the crew workers. Seeing how hard everyone worked alongside each other made it feel similar to some of his experiences in the military.
Lineworker Apprentice Angel Alcala (U.S. Army) shared the same sentiment and noted that his career in the military taught him aspects of leadership and how to work with a team.
“My time in the service helps me where I am right now,” he said. “Here, everyone looks out for each other.”
As a PEC lineworker, you are in constant communication with your crew members. Everyone must talk to each other on a job in order for it to go smoothly and safely. It’s a skill you often use in the service and one that has helped Lineworker Apprentice Jeff Brashear (U.S. Marine Corps) become better at the position.
“In the service, you have to work together to develop a solid plan going in, and if something gets messed up, you’re able to talk through it,” he said. “It’s the exact same way here. You go in with a game plan, but if some hiccups come through, you’re able to talk it out and work through it.”
PEC has hired several veterans and active duty service men and women in various roles.
This Veterans Day and during National Apprenticeship Week, we say thank you to all of our veteran lineworker apprentices and employees for the work they do each day and for their service to our country! We wouldn’t be here without your hard work and sacrifice.