Briant
Briant had received an honorable discharge from the United States Army in December 2012. After leaving the army, Briant found a job at Premiere Utility Services in Marion, Illinois, where he worked locating and marking underground electrical and gas lines. He was “laid-off” after six months of employment.
Briant was receiving unemployment insurance payments and job search assistance from the Illinois Department of Employment Security (IDES) but with limited work experience he was having trouble finding a good paying job. As a single parent, Briant knew that he needed to obtain additional skills in order to find self-sufficient employment. Briant had previously enrolled at John A. Logan College under the GI bill, but had dropped out due to the demands of being a single parent and was no longer eligible to receive additional funding through the GI Bill. In May 2016, Briant visited Man-Tra-Con seeking job training assistance. Briant was enrolled as a Dislocated Worker and placed in the Work Experience Program (WEP) working as a Resource Room Assistant in the American Job Center earning $9.00 per hour. The WEP allowed Briant to gain additional confidence and work history for his resume.
During Career Counseling, Briant shared with his Career Specialist that he received some training in helicopter repair while in the military and really wanted to pursue a career in helicopter maintenance. Man-Tra-Con staff discussed Briant’s interest in aviation and the fact that he was a Veteran with the Black Diamond Aviation (BDA) owner. As a result, in February 2017, BDA agreed to allow Briant to be a Helicopter Mechanic trainee through the WEP and created a customized one-year training program to prepare Briant for passing the Aviation Maintenance Technician Certification.
During the program, Briant worked in many areas within the BDA company while receiving basic on-site training from a certified pilot. After proving his dedication and commitment, BDA hired Briant as a full-time employee through the OJT program, where he worked 40 hours per week, earning $11.00 per hour. As part of the OJT, Briant received on-site personal instruction from the BDA Pilot to prepare Briant to pass 3 modules toward his Aviation Maintenance Technician Certification. Also as part of the OJT, Briant was able to fly with a Black Diamond pilot to Pigeon Forge, Tennessee, where he assisted with dismantling and repairing a 1960s Helicopter.
In May 2018, Briant enrolled in a 2-week program at the Bakers School of Aeronautics in Tennessee to earn his FAA A&P Certificate, which was funded by Black Diamond Aviation. Briant passed the final exam and in August of 2018, less than two years from his first work experience program, was hired by AirEvac as a Helicopter Mechanic position located in Springfield, Illinois earning $25.00 per hour. Briant stated, “Thanks to the help I received from Man-Tra-Con and my Career Advisors, I am once again able to work in aviation. After 5 years of not having any luck breaking into the civilian sector, the people here opened doors for me that would have otherwise remained closed. I am very thankful to the staff at Man-Tra-Con and definitely recommend their services to anyone who just needs a little guidance finding a career.”