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Engineering medical devices of the future
Welcome to a new Life at Flex story where we shine the light on employee experiences. In this edition, we honor veterans and the valuable skills they bring to our teams.
November 11th marks Veterans Day in the U.S. and recognizes the service of military veterans who’ve served their country.
A career in the military is rewarding, and we thank those who have served in the armed forces. Veterans bring unique perspectives and skillsets that help organizations go from good to great. Many of the skills learned and developed during a military career can be transferred to a fast-paced industry, such as manufacturing.
To learn what it’s like to further a career with origins in the armed forces but has since evolved into the manufacturing industry, we reached out to Justin Pack, Senior Manager, Business Operations & Execution at Flex.
What drove you to pursue a career in the military?
My motivation to join the U.S. Army was two-fold: after completing college, I wanted to join the military to serve my country and push myself mentally and physically. It was a different life experience, living outside of my comfort zone.
I served five years as a Staff Sergeant, Interrogator, and Korean Linguist. While in the U.S. Army, I learned Korean and was deployed in South Korea. I facilitated communication with the local forces, navigating challenges brought by collaboration between different cultures and militaries on the Korean peninsula.
Why did you join Flex?
After separating, I looked for new experiences that would benefit my career. I embarked on a growth path, so before I joined Flex in the manufacturing industry, I developed other skills needed in the private sector by working in different environments.
I joined Flex because I think it is a company where people are encouraged to find solutions to challenging problems. And Flex is responsive to a hard work ethic and managing dynamic operations, both transferable skills from the military.
What do you like about your experience in a global company?
I enjoy my team and the people that I have had the pleasure to work with across Flex. People are genuinely trying to do the best that they can in every facet of the company.
Additionally, management throughout the company is receptive to change that drives value and makes a positive impact.
There are multiple skillsets a U.S. Army veteran can bring to a manufacturing company while running multi-functional operations in structured and unstructured projects.
Relying on organizational skills, prioritization, and timing, you’re able to navigate demanding and dynamic product development manufacturing environments. The operational excellence you provide is scaled to the larger business. And a constant skill needed in the fast-paced manufacturing environment is adaptability.
Overall, I can say that Flex is a great place for transitioning service members to apply their skills in the manufacturing environment. Service members’ “mission-oriented” mentality and work ethic are directly applicable to ensuring our manufacturing and delivery objectives are met.
At Flex, we strive to build high-performing teams with diverse skillsets to help us in our purpose to create products that add value and improve people’s lives. By hiring people of all backgrounds and transferring skills, we create an open and inclusive environment where employees are empowered to support each other.
