Veterans Find Meaningful Careers in Healthcare Security

Calvin Ousby Jr. (K-9 Supervisor/Investigations) & Officer Heinz Scheffler (Marine)

In recent years many companies and organizations have boosted efforts to hire Veterans. There have been local and national initiatives to help former service members transition into the Civilian world. One group that has taken this mission to heart is Huntsville Hospital (HH) Health System’s Safety & Security Department. Out of its 180 staff members, almost half have proudly served in the armed forces. This organization has seen the positive impact hiring former service members has not only on the Veterans, but also on the Hospital, patients, and community.

The HH Health System’s Safety & Security Team is led by Brett Bramlett, CHPA, CHSP. He knows the value of finding the right person for the role, so he encouraged Calvin Ousby Jr., CHSSO, K-9 Supervisor, to become the liaison with SSV. Over the past several years Calvin has developed a relationship with the Career Counselors at Still Serving Veterans (SSV), working together to fill openings on their team. Calvin comes from a family with a huge military background. While he has never served himself, he feels that hiring Veterans is one way that he can give back to those who have served. “They are part of a select few that have sacrificed and kept us safe. The skills and experience they bring from the military also make them excellent employees.” Beyond the knowledge that each new employee brings, the Safety & Security Team is supported with specialized training through their P.R.I.D.E. Academy, which stands for Professional, Responsibility, Integrity, Determination, and Effectiveness.

Calvin has a saying that exemplifies his teammates and the Veterans he works with; “Tough times don’t last long, but tough people do.”

As you can imagine, safety and security duties at one of the largest healthcare systems in the state require a diverse set of skills. Basic Military training instills a strong sense of teamwork and provides the tools this team uses daily to assess and de-escalate situations quickly. Heinz Scheffler is a former Marine and a proud member of the Security & Safety team at Huntsville Hospital. Almost two years ago he made the decision to move from Texas to Alabama and contacted SSV for assistance locating a new job. Through SSV’s relationship with Calvin, Heinz was directly connected to “not just a job but a career with a purpose”. He said that one reason he joined the military was to share his passion for helping others. Now he gets to continue helping others as a civilian. “Some days we’re called on to ‘calm the chaos’ but other times the most rewarding part of my day is safely helping an elderly person out to their car.”

Heinz also appreciates working with a team that shares that same passion. A recent crisis in the community brought a wave of bystanders and visitors to the hospital. Even though it was time for the evening shift change, the whole security team stepped up and got the job done. A lot of people would gripe about having to stay longer for a shift, but “everyone here knew what to do, worked together as a team, and put other people’s needs first.”

Parker Brooke, a former Army National Guard and Team Lead for the Safety & Security Team, says, “The best part of my day is the variety and unpredictability of the job.” Parker often draws on his military leadership experience and practices the mentoring skills that he acquired in the service. He recognizes that service members are used to a sense of family when in the military, so providing a strong team gives many Veterans that feeling of community.

Heinz and Brooke are just a couple of examples of how hiring Veterans can be a huge benefit to any organization. Veterans often gain a multitude of skills and character-building attributes through serving in the military that can be an asset to the civilian workforce. The HH Health System has benefited tremendously as an organization from hiring these men and women, while also giving these Veterans an opportunity to succeed.

Veteran Members of the HH Health System Safety & Security Team are joined by SSV Career & Transition Team Members and Veterans; (far Left) Steve Hartley (Army), Dave Lakin (Navy), & Julia Chambers (Army)

Huntsville Hospital Health System:

Huntsville Hospital Health System serves as the regional referral center for North Alabama and Southern Tennessee, including hospitals in Huntsville, Madison, Athens, Decatur, Boaz, Guntersville, Moulton, Red Bay, Sheffield, and Scottsboro, AL. The Health System includes more than 2,300 patient beds and 16,000 employees. Huntsville Hospital is the second-largest hospital in Alabama.

Veterans Make Great Employees:

Know how to work as a team. From the beginning of their military career, they are taught to think of what is best for the team.
Disciplined yet flexible. They are used to policies and procedures but know how to adapt to different workplace situations.
Used to a diverse workplace. The military is a diverse workforce with many different demographics that span across education, ethnicity, gender, culture, and personal goals.
Leadership skills. Many gained valuable leadership experience in the military. They also know how to take care of their team members.
Loyal. They are committed to the organizations they work for / they enjoy aligning with a mission and being part of an organization focused on good.
Many have technical training.
Many are comfortable in chaotic environments.
Resiliency. Studies have shown that Veteran resiliency comes from military experience that enhances their abilities to adapt and grow from failure more quickly and completely than their non-military individuals (Military.com).

SSV fosters a relationship with local businesses to connect Veterans with employment opportunities.

SSV works closely with veterans and employers to find the right fit for both parties. When Veterans come to us for career assistance, their service and discharge status is verified. Employers e-mail SSV their open positions, and where job seekers can apply for the job. SSV sends out job blasts to our roughly 2,200 Veteran job seekers. We also reference these openings when we meet with our clients one-on-one.

If you are interested in working with SSV as an employer or if you are a Veteran in need of career assistance please contact us at 256-883-7035.

#VeteransHelpingVeterans

Still Serving Veterans' primary mission is to offer no-cost career and transition counseling services that help Veterans build rewarding careers and meaningful lives. This is done by meeting the Veteran where they are on their journey. It’s easy to connect with the Counselors because they are also Veterans themselves and know the challenges of transitioning into the civilian world.