Branched Served:
- Air Force (11 years and 6 months)
About John Lindsey
John Lindsey is originally from Louisiana but has called North Dakota home for the past 12 years. When the weather warms up, he loves biking the local trails with his fiancé and going backcountry hiking in the Black Hills of South Dakota. In the winter, you’ll find him hitting the slopes and enjoying some snowboarding.
Q: What was deployment like?
A: Deployments can often be quite hectic. Regardless of the location, supply management typically demands around-the-clock operations, involving 12-hour shifts and on-call duties during weekends. However, I always look forward to deployments as they provide the opportunity to explore different areas over a six-month period.
Among all the locations I’ve been deployed to, Guam stands out as the most enjoyable. During my time on the island, I was able to earn my master diver certification, completing over 110 dives.
Q: What was your first job after service and what was that experience like?
A: Following my service, I was fortunate to be hired as an electronic technician by the same company where I completed my internship while still on active duty. My experience with the company has been extremely rewarding. I genuinely enjoy my work and appreciate the camaraderie of my colleagues. It is nice to be surrounded by individuals who are dedicated to accomplishing their tasks and take pride in their work!
Q. Did you have any struggles after returning to civilian life?
A: I had no struggles integrating after the military. From an early age my mother taught me the value of hard work and I was pretty self-efficient by the age of 17. I actually worked on an assembly line for a GM plant for a couple of years before wanting to join the military.
Q: Can you tell me about your company?
A: The company I work for is Packet Digital, where I work as an electronic technician. We design, test, and manufacture smart batteries and power systems for cutting-edge UAS platforms around the world. The smart batteries that we build provide real-time monitoring and reporting of critical performance data. The batteries also communicate with the charging system to ensure safe charging and prevent catastrophic failures.
Q: What does a normal day on the job look like for you?
A: A typical workday kicks off at 8 a.m. after I’ve had a refreshing Mountain Dew while catching up on some world events via TikTok. Once I’m settled, I dive into my emails. Depending on our progress with battery production, I usually jump right into welding packs together or soldering components onto various circuit boards. I keep at this until noon, when I take a break to enjoy some fresh air with my 17-year-old Shiba Inu who has taught me a great deal of patience. After lunch, I return to assembling and testing batteries until 5 p.m.
Q: How did your family react when you told them you were pursuing service?
A: When I shared the news of my decision to join the military, my family had a mix of emotions. My father had passed away when I was 16, struck by a drunk driver, which had brought my mother and my two younger siblings and me closer together. My mother felt a sense of pride as both her father and my dad’s father had served in the military; however, she also worried about her “little baby” being sent far away. The thought of fewer visits weighed heavily on her, especially since I had spent the majority of my weekends with her and my siblings. Sure enough, her concerns turned into reality. Shortly after I celebrated my 21st birthday while completing my technical school for my new job in the military, I received notification that I would be stationed over 1,000 miles away at Minot Air Force Base, where I would serve for the next 11 years.
Q: What do you remember about your first day of business?
A: The first day of service took place on the November 15, 2012 when I stepped off the train for the first time in Minot, ND, right in the midst of a blizzard. I was trying to find my new supervisor, someone I had only spoken to over the phone. Once we arrived at the base, I was introduced to my direct leadership team. Following that, my supervisor drove me around the base, showing me essential locations like the dining hall, grocery store, and gym.
That evening, after the tour, he handed me the key to my dorm room and informed me to meet him outside the dining hall at 7:20 a.m. the next morning. He offered to give me a ride to work until I either acquired my own vehicle or found someone else to help me out. As he drove away, I stood there in the snow, letting out a sigh of relief that my first day had come to an end and I could finally unwind. Yet, amidst that sense of relief, a rush of uncertainty came over me. I couldn’t help but think, “I’m in a new place, about to start a job that I had no control over, and the only people I knew were those I had just met.”
Q: Has your service experience changed your business mindset?
A: The military has afforded me numerous opportunities to gain a comprehensive understanding of what it takes to operate a successful business and to navigate high-pressure situations. Upon my separation, I held the rank of Technical Sergeant (E-5) and was responsible for overseeing the inventory section, which included a total of seven personnel, four of whom I directly supervised. My role involved managing the completion of 87 inventories across 16 warehouses, encompassing 2,000 assets valued at $98 million. These inventories featured a diverse range of equipment and assets, from gas mask filters to a nonfunctional LGM-30 Minuteman missile housed in the silo maintenance training facility. In most cases, failure was simply not an option.
Q: What does being a veteran symbolize to you?
A: Sacrificing personal priorities to honorably fulfill a commitment, dedicating ourselves fully to safeguard our nation’s freedom.
Q: Who are your biggest mentors?
A: I have two exceptional individuals in mind who would be ideal mentors, and the first is a man I met a couple of years ago, Kelly Riggle. He is the owner of a trucking company in Waubun, MN, and has consistently offered guidance whenever I needed it, no matter the hour.
Through our conversations and my observations of his life, I’ve come to appreciate the value he places on spending quality time with his family. This insight has reshaped my understanding of what success truly means to me. To me, success is not merely about achievements or accolades, but rather the moments I share with the people who matter most in my life.
Once I reach a stage where I can cherish that time, I believe it’s essential to channel some of that precious time back into my local community. From doing this, I feel it deepens my own sense of fulfillment and connection. Witnessing Kelly extend his support and collaborate with others in the community to reach shared goals, all aimed at creating a more enjoyable environment for everyone, has been truly inspiring.
The last mentor is my mother, an individual I deeply admire. As a single parent for most of my life, she has faced numerous obstacles and endured significant losses. Watching her persevere through these challenges and be able to remain such a positive loving person through it all, has been truly inspiring for me as well. She is truly my rock and source of strength during difficult times.
From an early age, she also instilled in me the value of a dollar and the importance of being frugal with my earnings, lessons that continue to guide me today.
My mother is a remarkable person of compassion, particularly for the elderly and those with disabilities. And, if there were more people like her, the world would be a much better place!
She has found success by embracing her calling, dedicating herself to offering the elderly not just exceptional care but also genuine kindness—a quality that is increasingly rare these days. Her commitment truly makes a difference in the lives of those she serves.
Q: What advice do you have for other businesses out there?
A: I would like to take a moment to highlight the SkillBridge program offered by the Department of Defense, as it remains largely unknown to many businesses and active military personnel alike.
This initiative provides businesses with access to a highly skilled workforce at no cost. Organizations have the flexibility to tailor SkillBridge programs to align with their specific workforce needs. Given the extensive approval process involved, military members who pursue this opportunity tend to be particularly self-motivated. This observation is based on my interactions with individuals who have chosen to engage with the program.
Q: What advice do you have for others considering enlisting?
A: If you’re thinking about joining the military and are eager to challenge yourself and step beyond your comfort zone, it could be a fantastic opportunity for personal growth.
If you have a specific career path in mind, take some time to research the various job options available across different branches of service. Just keep in mind that your quality of life can vary depending on which branch you choose.
If you’re uncertain about the career field you want to pursue, you can opt for an “open general” designation, which will place you in a role that is currently in high demand.
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