Schellman & Co's Lori Jendrucko shares her story about life as a military wife and daughter, in honor of Military Appreciation Month.
While I have never served myself, the military has influenced so many aspects of my life. I feel appreciative not only for all that they do for us to keep our country safe, but also for the ways it has impacted me personally.
"He taught us patriotism and to appreciate all the military does for us, of course, but even more importantly, resilience."
I grew up in an Army family. My dad did two tours in Vietnam as a helicopter pilot. By the time I was born, he had transitioned from active duty to reserves, yet it was still a big part of my upbringing. I remember from an early age standing on our deck to see him fly over in a helicopter. When I tell people that I grew up with a Brigadier General for a dad, most people envision boot camp. Yet I feel fortunate for all that he set as an example and passed on to me. He taught us patriotism and to appreciate all the military does for us, of course, but even more importantly, resilience. When the troops returned from Vietnam, they weren’t celebrated like they have been in more recent wars, yet he never let the defeat define him. He always says he wouldn’t change anything about his experience there and how much he learned from it. My dad went on to excel and accomplish so much in his civilian career, and throughout my childhood, he was big on structure, hard work, and not taking anything for granted. Those lessons have been invaluable in my adult life.
When my husband, Jason, and I got married, his lifelong interest in the Coast Guard was furthered by his relationship with my dad. Jason decided to enlist and for almost 10 years has served in the Reserves in a role similar to his civilian work as a Marine Scientist. I am so proud of him and his commitment to giving back and I love that our sons will have the same experience I did in being involved in supporting our country. And while my mom talked about moving from base to base and her life as a military wife, my appreciation for the families that support our troops has increased even more.
Here at Schellman, I am grateful to work for a company that values military experience just as much as I do. We have amazing team members that have served—including past active duty and current reserves—and their insight is so valuable. From my dad and husband, I know that the military instills a high level of commitment, leadership, and the ability to take direction well. As the Manager of Talent Acquisition, those are many of the characteristics I hope to find in an excellent candidate.