During the month of November, the Office for Equity and Accessibility team is encouraging all protected veterans to self-identify through Hokie Team or their own human resources office. Self-identification allows Virginia Tech to recognize and support our veterans and supports strategic efforts to create and maintain diversity within faculty and staff. As part of this effort, we are highlighting some of our veterans who proudly served.

Jeremiah Gwozdziewycz, a U.S. Army veteran and division operations coordinator for the Intelligent Systems Division of the Virginia Tech National Security Institute since 2023, talked about his military experience, what he hopes employers would know about veterans, why he considered working at Virginia Tech as a civilian, and more.

How did your service prepare you for your role at Virginia Tech?

I had a chance to serve with people of all ages, all branches, both military and civilian, in many environments, which included a training environment that was very college-like. The goals and methods may be different but we’re all one team working toward the same goal. The value of each individual and his or her contributions to the team was reinforced daily in countless ways.

What skill or talent did you master in the military that you still use today?

Balancing competing priorities. It takes planning, time management, and communication to get everything done, all of which may need to change at a moment’s notice. I use that in both my professional and personal life.  

If you could narrow it down to one thing, what do you wish employers understood about veterans?

If you’ve met one veteran, you’ve met one veteran. We all share some common or general experiences, but it’s worth getting to know how our unique experiences have shaped us and how we can bring those experiences forward to work.  

What was your favorite experience in the military?

My favorite experience was having the privilege to serve as a service school instructor, getting to teach newer service members of all branches the skill they need to do their jobs and helping to ensure that I was leaving the branches in capable hands in my own small way.

What has been the best part of working at Virginia Tech?

The best part has been the welcoming environment. I got a good feeling about Virginia Tech from my interview and felt like part of the team from my first day.

What made you consider Virginia Tech as a place to work as a civilian?

I had worked in higher education before joining the Army and enjoy working with the college-aged population. Virginia Tech presented an opportunity to return to that environment in a different role.  

What advice would you give to current service members who will be joining the workforce soon?

Talk with other veterans who have made the transition, especially if you’ve been serving for a while. Remember that your service is part of who you are, not all of who you are. There are people out there willing to help you make the transition go more smoothly, so seek them out.

Resources for veterans

For protected veterans who want to update their status, contact your own human resources representative or utilize the self-service link on the Hokie Team Access Menu.

For any veterans in need of assistance or community, the Virginia Tech Veterans Caucus is one of 10 faculty/staff caucuses representing differing communities at the university. The purpose of the Veterans Caucus is to improve the working, learning, and living environment for employee and student veterans; advocate for the mentoring of, and transitional support for veterans returning to work and/or school, and recommend actions to improve the recruitment and retention of employee and student veterans. If you are interested in learning more, email Virginia Tech Veterans Caucus at vtvc07@gmail.com.

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