May is a significant month for both those in and out of the military; it is the official month for Military Appreciation. Not only do we pause on Memorial Day to honor, in remembrance, the sacrifice and service of those who gave all, this entire month is a symbol of unity through six national observances by which we honor those contributors who sustain our freedom.
Serving in the military has forever altered the lens through which I view my family, my work, and the world. Right now, perspective on our human family matters greatly as individuals are working out the best ways to support their loved ones, businesses navigate the tumult of economics and pandemic, and the world is heaving under the resounding pressure to adapt. My personal history has given me great reason to reflect, recharge and respond during this month.
My Family.
I do not have to lean in far to hear tremendous news about heartbreak or sacrifice. The impact from the pandemic landscape is far reaching. Many of us have had to make uncomfortable changes or find ourselves in unplanned situations. While the same is true within my home, my vantage point reveals a different view through which to consider my experiences. I have a beautiful family – my wife is my motivation to be a better man and I am lucky to have enjoyed my four amazing children for the past five weeks. You see, for our family, these 5 weeks of quarantine together is the longest span of time that I have been home daily with my kids… in the entirety of their lives. My wife’s commitment extended through a year and a half of military training and when I departed to serve my country in Afghanistan, my wife, daughter, and son were waiting for me. Transitioning into civilian life also came with a host of sacrifices. To support my family, I continued to travel for 30-40 day stretches between three-day breaks.
Yet, for this five weeks I was present for breakfast and lunch and dinner. I was here for the bad dreams, scraped up knees, and even the no-nap temper tantrums of a cross 2-year-old. When the story on COVID-19 is told, my kids will never remember the movies they missed, or limited participation in social activities. What they will remember is getting half a year off school. They will remember the 5,000 family movies (your welcome amazon) and eating ice cream for dinner. They will know what it feels like to be with their dad for 5 weeks straight; I will know what a changed man that has made me.
My Work.
At Overwatch Mission Critical I am proud to work beside my military brothers and sisters. I am equally proud to be a disabled-veteran, small business operating in the Mission Critical Data Center space. My military experience and the resilience etched into my psyche is the prime reason I am successful in this field of work. Where now mission critical is measured in up time, in service to the armed forces mission critical was measured in mortality.
During my deployment in Afghanistan, our company met complete deconstruction of a planned mission to reach Siah Choy; the execution had been methodically prepared for weeks. The battle of Haji Roof began no less than five hundred feet from our stronghold when we were engaged at dawn. What transpired next was 12 hours of intense and sustained combat. We went black on ammo, multiple medi-vac birds were brought in to pick up injured comrades. We were ambushed with grenades and attacked at resupply, with RPG fire sailing past troops trying to access food and water. Everything that could happen badly, did happen. We did not have the luxury to pull back in the middle of the Afghan desert. Mike Tyson once quipped, ‘everyone has a plan until they get punched in the face,’ so we did what they call ‘embrace the suck.’ Continuing to drive through the challenges, strategizing, organizing triage, operating as a team through the chaos, we came out the other side. Our company platoon was the first group to push in and control the city Siah Choy, the most kinetic transition zone for fighters supplying the Middle East. We held the city from Taliban control through the duration of the conflict. Over 50% received purple hearts for their efforts.
Our startup business was 4-months old and growing rapidly when Covid-19 affected the United States and captured attention across the global stage. Our leadership has been committed to carrying our team, and our clients, through the uncertainty. Decisive action and bold direction in crisis have ensured that we continue to grow. Our team’s combined and long military lineage pressure tested us to overcome when nothing goes according to plan.
Our World.
At this time in history, I feel the call to action and the responsibility to duty in humility for my family and defined by my service to our country. The initial impact of quarantine delivered a surprising blessing to my family and surmounting obstacles in the workplace is a way of life. The challenge remains to do our part to affect change in our communities and beyond. I must look to what our company can do to advance our mission. We as disabled veterans have a deep desire to help other veterans’ transition into successful careers. Everything I have become, I owe to the army and the people that I served beside because this is where I learned to work, to lead my family, and to build a life. The military gave me the reset that I required and the space to sharpen my character. Yet, transitioning from duty to civilian life is a wide crevasse with daunting statistics for veterans. If I can remove the uncertainty of this transition and help a veteran who has served his country build a successful career, I am fulfilling my part.
During this pandemic, we have faced challenges head on and found opportunities to grow our business and employ more veterans in the industry. Bekah Saldana and Skyler Eden are both deserving veterans who had zero data center experience when we transitioned them from active duty. Now they have an opportunity to transition leadership and courage into an industry that provides the foundation for a surge of technology to connect the world and resolve the challenges that lie ahead. How can I not see this as a silver lining?
My advice to you all would be simply this: enjoy your dinners at home and watch hulk smash for the 100th time because you are present with your people. Continue to grow your brand and challenge your line of business with readiness to grow our economy in an unfolding future. Lastly, challenge yourself to look beyond your walls for ways to serve society and make an impact worthy of remembrance.
Regards,
Jesse Sargent
Partner
OVERWATCH MISSION CRITICAL
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