From service to SkillBridge: Jamie McClung's transition to civilian work

From service to SkillBridge: Jamie McClung's transition to civilian work

CLEAResult's SkillBridge program gives active-duty service members the opportunity to gain civilian work experience before leaving the military while giving our teams the chance to work alongside people with different experiences and perspectives.

Senior Master Sergeant Jamie McClung is wrapping up 20 years in the U.S. Air Force, a career that placed her among the top 3% of enlisted leaders. With just 45 days remaining before retirement, she joined CLEAResult's Total Rewards team through the SkillBridge program.

► Watch: Jamie McClung SkillBridge video on YouTube

Starting from scratch

"I had no civilian experience - I joined right after high school, never had a job before," she said. "I wanted to participate in SkillBridge to gain experience in the civilian workforce."

While searching for opportunities near Mechanicsburg, Pennsylvania, Jamie came across CLEAResult and quickly connected with the company's values.

"I really resonated with the values of the company," she said. "They're very close to the values we're taught in the military."

Building a new sense of belonging

Leaving the military means more than leaving a job. It means stepping away from the people who became family over years of shared service.

"You kind of lose a sense of belonging," Jamie said. "Some people could qualify it as a loss of self."

CLEAResult's Veterans for Success employee resource group gave her a community to connect with from the start. She reached out to Pete Lakoff, Business Development Director, fellow veteran, and group leader, and found colleagues with shared experiences.

"I think that group really is a way CLEAResult is working to create that camaraderie for veterans who need it," she said.

Day-to-day at CLEAResult

Jamie joined the Total Rewards team under Kristie Aradine, Vice President of Total Rewards and People Operations, where she contributed to a job architecture project that organized roles into job families and aligned compensation structures. The Air Force uses a similar process, which made the work feel familiar and gave her a useful foundation.

"The military has a different way of instilling things in their people," she said. "Risk management, meeting deadlines - they ingrain those in us at a very deep level. I think most military members are going to bring that to any company."

The work itself felt familiar. The language around it was a different story.

"If Kristie gave me something to do, I'd say, 'Copy,' which in the military means, 'Yep, got it, I'll get it done,'" she said. "And in the civilian world, I could just say, 'Okay.'"

Kristie helped her adjust by translating military phrases into more familiar workplace language - a small gesture that made a real difference.

An unexpected passion

While working on the job architecture project, Jamie was introduced to Asana and discovered a new passion.

"I really dove into Asana and just played with it and fell in love," she said. "Being able to task people, set deadlines, and track goals. Maybe I love project management."

Through SkillBridge, Jamie had the opportunity to explore new areas of work and discover interests that may shape the next chapter of her career.

A mission that carries forward

For someone who spent 20 years serving a mission larger than herself, CLEAResult's purpose resonated immediately.

"Your goal is to improve energy efficiency across the nation," she said. "That is definitely something that is needed and very admirable."

During her time at CLEAResult, Jamie gained a clearer vision for her post-military career and a deeper appreciation for the team that supported her transition.

"Thank you to CLEAResult. Thank you to the People team," she said. "I'm very fortunate to have had this experience."

Jamie's story reflects what SkillBridge is designed to do: create opportunities for service members to explore what's next while enriching our teams with the leadership, discipline and perspective gained through military service.