During a combat tour of duty in Iraq, Brooks was the leader of a small mobile team responsible for air combat and rescue missions in a hostile region of south Baghdad. For his actions while deployed, he received a Purple Heart and a Navy Achievement Medal with a Combat “V” for action against the enemy.
After Iraq, Brooks resigned from his project management position, and moved into finance while starting his MBA. Brooks remains in the military on inactive duty. Upon completion of his MBA degree he will assume the CFO position at the company where he now works.
How was your transition from the military into the school environment?
My military experience helped me in transitioning into the school environment because few things are more strenuous than being in the military overseas. Relatively speaking, starting school was not as stressful. There was mental stress, and that took some adjustment. In business school, the discipline is more academic than physical. Instead of being active and moving around, I have to sit with a book for three hours.
Many vets do not take advantage of the opportunity that the military offers in terms of financing higher education. This is one of the best deals the military offers, and I'm glad I did it. I just wish that I had focused more on the resources available from the very beginning. I went in blind—I didn't attend orientation or go to gatherings for new students. Later, when I did attend these events, I saw how more interaction with students and faculty could have helped me earlier. It helps that I attend a military-friendly school. Some of my classmates had been to Iraq too.
Overall I've been really impressed with my classmates. Everyone was receptive of me and the other military guys. They were very welcoming. The people here are devoted to school, in addition to having families and children. The mindset is different, and I'm finding it far and away the best educational experience of my academic career.
How have you leveraged your military background in the job search?
I didn't use military terminology on my resume. I always present my military experience in a business-oriented fashion. No one wants to hear that you shot a lot of weapons and blew stuff up. I had decent civilian work experience as well, so I combined the two.
Midway through getting my MBA I transitioned into the company where I work now. It was at a time when the company was growing. The CFO had left and they saw my potential, so when I finish my MBA, I will be the CFO.
