Jason graduated from the United States Naval Academy at Annapolis in 1994 with a BS in Mechanical Engineering and then served for a decade in the United States Marine Corps. Initially, he was a field artillery officer for the 1st Marine Division. But later he took part in Operation Iraqi Freedom as a battery commander in the 11th Marine Regiment—an experience he describes as “a pretty big thing for a Marine.”
Though Jason had always intended to make a career of the military, his plans changed after he was wounded in action in Iraq. And, although he had the opportunity to stay in the Marines, he knew his military role would be significantly changed as a result of his injury. So he sought an MBA to help him transition to a successful civilian career.
While in school, Jason was president of the graduate student body and provided leadership and management training to firefighters around the country as a member of The Bravest Seminars team of instructors. He graduated in 2006 and now works as the program manager for Logistics Command and Control Integration at the Boeing Company.
Why did you choose to get an MBA?
Once I started thinking about my options for a future outside the military … it was like I’d be bringing a knife to a gunfight. I knew the business environment would be full of people my age—bright, ambitious, capable people—who already had 10 years’ experience in the field.
Some people make the mistake of thinking that you can come right out of the military and just lead. But you need to be better prepared to compete. You need more grounding in how business works. I decided the MBA would give me the best set of skills to complement my military skills…to level the field and set me on a good path.
Did graduate business school offer you any unanticipated benefits or surprises?
Yes, diversity of thought. In the military, you’re wrapped up in a cocoon of like-minded people. I can only speak for the Marines, of course, but there’s such a strong culture. You identify so strongly with being a Marine that you just accept the Marine way of doing all things.
But school is a great leveler, because you’re exposed to a lot of other ways of doing things. And it’s important to understand how to adjust your leadership style because the companies you might work for in the civilian world aren’t full of Marines.
Why does the type of school you attend matter?
Two factors drove my choice. I think it’s important to have a good cultural fit with the school you’re going to attend. Part of the draw of an MBA program is the network of people you’ll identify yourself with for the rest of your career. So you have to be sure to give thought to the kind of network you want to have.
And the quality of the education, the academic rigor, is also important, because you have a lot to learn—unless you had a business background before joining the service.
What do you wish you had known before applying?
That it’s important to be open to options. Despite what they say in their applications, I think most people have no idea what they want to do with their MBA. It’s a real military mindset to say, ‘Here’s my objective’ and then follow that course. But there are a ton of options out there. So be open to the ones that interest you. And have fun. That’s important, too.
Why did you take the GMAT exam, and how did you prepare for it?
In my experience, it plays a large role in where you can go to school and how much financial support you can get. I took an online course to prepare, and I would encourage everybody to sign up for one. I learned more that way than by trying to wade through on my own. It’s entirely too easy to skimp on a study plan. But if you have a schedule of times when you need to go and prepare, then I think it’s more likely you’ll do it.
How was your transition from the military into the school environment?
It was easy! Because one of the great assets you get out of the military is a strong work ethic…that, and flexibility.
How did your military background help in your job search?
Leadership examples—that’s the biggest help. A boss in an office might hesitate to put a 19-year-old in charge of the copier. But a 19-year-old in the Marines is in charge of four or five peoples’ lives. So in an interview, you can look back to many examples of really being in charge and assuming important responsibilities.
Remember, though, if you’re an artillery officer, for example, your leadership experience in a combat unit is going to sound a little foreign to someone running a company unless you can translate the experience or make it applicable to a business situation.
Then what advice can you give about translating military experience so that it makes sense to the business world?
Take the acronyms out. Also, don’t assume everyone knows what you’re talking about. Don’t dumb down your experience, but explain it—exactly what does a platoon commander do—in a way that the interviewer can relate to.
The MBA gives you the tools. You’ll understand more about how to relate your military experience as you learn more about the business world through your classes.
What resources at your school or elsewhere helped in that regard?
My school has trained staff who work specifically with military folks. They can sit down and look at your resume and make it understandable. … Assistance for military folks might be something to consider when looking for a school—ask specifically and understand what resources they have in the MBA program to support veterans.
From your perspective, what’s the value-added of your military background combined with the MBA?
There’s a lot of synergy between having technical business grounding and a really strong leadership background. The two complement each other very well. One of the biggest complaints from MBA students is that they don’t have leadership experience. And one of the criticisms that recruiters have about folks coming right out of the military is that they don’t have any business experience. So the combination is a good match.
