"My dad is an IBEW electrician for Local 890 in Janesville, Wis., so I grew up around the electrical trade. I remember thinking, 'Yeah, I could do this.' But when I was young, I really didn't know what to do with my life yet, and that's what led me to the military.

I enlisted in the Marines at 17, graduating high school ahead of schedule so I could ship early. My boot camp was at Marine Corps Recruit Depot San Diego, and then I did marine combat training at Camp Pendleton. I got selected for my military occupational specialty shortly after boot camp as an expeditionary airfields systems technician.

I was stationed in Beaufort, S.C., for my first four years. And I really loved the job. We were trained to go anywhere in the world to install runways and fully functioning airfields. The runways were constructed with aluminum matting that we would hand lay for 9,000-foot-plus stretches, and a lot of airfield lighting was needed. We also ran, installed and maintained arresting gear. I did that for eight years and made it to sergeant.

I met my wife while I was in South Carolina. We got married quickly, and then I dragged her halfway across the world to Japan, where I was stationed at Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni. I did a lot of work in the Pacific — in South Korea, the Philippines and the rest of my time in Japan.

While in Japan, my contract was coming to a close, and at that point I had a family of four with another child on the way. I just decided I was tired of being gone all the time — I wanted a stable career where I could work my hours and come home to see my wife and kids at the end of the day. I talked to my dad about moving back and signing the book at 890 for a CW/CE entry-level position.

And then my master sergeant, who was also getting out and looking at the electrical trades, said, 'You should check out this VEEP program.' I reached out to VEEP, and I soon realized that the timing of this opportunity to place with the IBEW and NECA was perfect. Over time, I got so much support from Greg McMurphy and the other instructors at VEEP.

I was able to stay active duty while attending VEEP classes in Alaska. I did have to pay out of pocket to travel and stay there, but my wife and I talked it over and agreed that it was an investment on a lifelong career. We knew it would pay off tenfold in the future.

My wife, kids and I met up in Wisconsin after I graduated VEEP. I had a pending agreement with Local 159 after I graduated. So I called Local 159 and said, 'I'm Jackson, I just graduated VEEP, and I'm curious about when I should get to work.' Within the week, I was working full time. The transition went as smoothly as any servicemember could hope for.

With my name affiliated with VEEP, I've gotten emails and messages from other servicemembers. I love that, and I tell them: If you're looking for a brotherhood type of relationship that you get in the service, you'll find similarity there with VEEP and the IBEW. You have your own work family there like you did in the service where you have brothers and sisters you can go and talk to.

It worked out phenomenally for me, and I'm really grateful for that."