“Without UPMC and the SkillBridge program, I wouldn’t be working for STAT MedEvac today.”
Steve C. graduated from high school in June, and by September, he was leaving to join the U.S. Marine Corps.
He served as a crew chief on MV-22 Osprey aircraft for five years, but he enjoyed being a mechanic the most. As he began considering a transition to a civilian career, Steve knew he wanted to continue working with his hands.
He learned about a Department of Defense program called SkillBridge that allows service members to complete an internship with a civilian company in the final months of their contract.
Through SkillBridge, Steve enrolled in a three-month internship with STAT MedEvac. STAT MedEvac is a critical care transport system and part of UPMC’s Center for Emergency Management.
“They taught me everything I needed to know to take my Airframe and Powerplant (A&P) certification exams,” Steve says.
To work on aircraft, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) requires mechanics to obtain their A&P certification. After completing six tests, including written, oral, and practical exams, STAT MedEvac offered Steve a full-time role as a helicopter mechanic at the end of his internship.
“Everybody’s super nice and helpful. They want to help you learn,” Steve says. “I like fixing things as well, so the job goes hand in hand with that.”
He admits to being a little nervous about leaving the Marines and thinking civilian life would be much different. However, he quickly found he fit right in.
“A lot of the guys are veterans, or we’re in the Reserves, or some of them still are,” Steve says. “So, it was a nice transition to be able to come into civilian life but still have kind of the same connectedness that you have in the military.”
Since joining STAT MedEvac, Steve says he’s had several Marines from his unit reach out about the SkillBridge program. He’s been able to answer questions and help walk them through the process.
His main piece of advice: get started early.
“I think it’s super important for people to know about the SkillBridge program because a lot of guys get out of the military and don’t really have a solid plan or the funds to do what they need to do,” Steve says. “I wouldn’t have been able to pay for all the schooling and testing by myself. It really helped me get my life outside of the military started.”
UPMC is the leading SkillBridge provider in Pennsylvania and has received national recognition as a top 10 Military Friendly Employer. Steve believes he wouldn’t be working for STAT MedEvac if not for the combined efforts of UPMC and SkillBridge.
Now, with his family life and civilian career taking flight, he can make sure helicopters get off the ground and where they need to be in times of emergency. “Getting to come to STAT MedEvac every day and work on an aircraft and watch that aircraft take off, knowing that’s going to go out and save somebody’s life, there’s really no greater feeling,” Steve says.
At UPMC, Life Changing Medicine means providing veterans and active-duty military members with opportunities to succeed in their civilian careers.
