After the military

After serving as a medic in the military for 5.5 years, Army veteran Isaiah turned his focus to aerospace engineering. He is currently in school and working at AAR Aircraft Services at the Indianapolis Airport.

As he is new to this career field, Isaiah needs to have his own set of tools for projects. While AAR supplies some, there are more he needs. Also, if he wants to work anywhere else, he is required to pay out of pocket for all his tools.

Having just moved to the area with his wife and 5-month-old baby, he couldn’t afford to buy these tools. They total to thousands of dollars! It would take him years to save up. Thankfully, his co-workers told him how HVAF can help.

BWF Grant

Thanks to the Bob Woodruff Foundation, HVAF’s Employment Team has a grant that allows them to provide new tools, uniforms, and education veterans need for their careers. Thanks to this incredible grant, Isaiah received a new toolbox, sockets, wrenches, drill, and other essential tools he needed.

“Now that I have access to those tools, I can actually start working more efficiently now,” Isaiah said. “And I can move within the industry now. Whereas before, I would be stuck there until I got the tools I needed.”

HVAF’s Employment Services Coordinator Lisa loves that Bob Woodruff Foundation provides this special opportunity to help veterans further advance in their careers.

“A lot of them don’t have abilities to be able to upskill their skills to find better employment,” Lisa said. “Whether they are working or looking to upskill – to be able to give them that is so rewarding.”

Helping fellow veterans

Isaiah said a lot of veterans work at AAR and have just gotten out of the military but lack direction for their futures. He is making sure they all know about HVAF and the BWF grant so they can thrive in their new career.

“Once we found out about HVAF & BWF – the word spread,” Isaiah said. “It’s given a lot of people assurance as far as their future in their career.”