Christopher B. was a Sergeant First Class combat soldier in the U.S. Army for more than 13 years. In 2017, he was wounded by an IED while serving in Iraq. Christopher sustained multiple injuries, including a concussion and severe back injuries requiring surgery and hospitalization.
"The trauma from all the years of serving in combat had caught up with me," said Christopher. "I was worried and didn't know what would come next."
When his military service ended, Christopher faced numerous challenges obtaining meaningful employment in the civilian sector. Military service gives Veterans many skills that make them valuable employees. But the transition to civilian life is often challenging.
"I didn't know how to translate my skills onto paper to compete for job opportunities," said Christopher. "And all the ongoing medical issues I had sustained while serving on active duty contributed to a 2-year gap in employment following my military service discharge."
That's when Christopher saw an ad for JVS SoCal Veteran Services program and decided to reach out.
"From the moment I met the JVS SoCal's Veteran Services team, I knew they would help me get back on my feet," said Christopher. "There was a great opportunity at SoCalGas, and the team helped me with everything—resume writing, interview preparation—they gave me all the resources I needed to succeed."
Christopher is now a Natural Gas Technician at Southern California Gas Company. His position comes with excellent pay, benefits, and growth potential.
Sign the pledge to support individuals like Christopher through our work. Your support helps JVS SoCal provide critical skills-building and job training programs at no cost, so individuals throughout Southern California can return to work and build long-lasting careers. JVS SoCal means Jobs. Vision. Success.
