Kevin Johnson, director of Veteran Recruiting for Hearst Television and retired Sergeant First Class of the United States Army, led a diversity panel discussing the value of military veteran inclusion in media and the workplace at the 2023 NAB Show in Las Vegas. In a discussion with NAB’s Sylvester Smith, Johnson described the connection between his military service and broadcasting career.
Over my lengthy career, I’ve worked in several different positions at Hearst Television, including working at a local station in Milwaukee, Wisc., and leading the centralized graphics hub in Orlando, Fla. My military experience has translated into skills I have used in each situation. The “soft skills,” such as leadership, responsibility, accountability, being on time and communication, are all skills that were honed in the military and that I’ve used during my career at Hearst Television.
My military career spanned over 20 years. I finished high school in a town with little to no diversity and was thrust into basic training at Ft. Jackson, S.C., as one of 60 trainees in my platoon. The Army taught me many things over the years, but it all started with fellow soldiers from diverse backgrounds and experiences working towards a common goal. I spent 13 years in the 44th General Hospital unit (think M*A*S*H on a larger scale) and was deployed to Germany in 1991 for Operation Desert Storm. I was the acting First Sergeant at the 521st Maintenance Battalion for the last five years of my career. The First Sergeant is responsible for the development and well-being of the unit’s soldiers.
I was a nuclear, biological and chemical warfare specialist in the Army. Obviously, the hard skills were not something I used in television, but the leadership training I received throughout my military career and working side-by-side with a diverse group of people toward a common goal allowed me to apply those experiences and skills in my civilian career. In my current role as the director of Veteran Recruiting, my military career is essential to bridging the communication gap between “military speak” and English.
When recruiting, there are four types of military service to consider.
Separating from active duty: These individuals are transitioning out of the full-time military and probably need the most help in translating their skillset into the private sector.
Prior military: They served in the military and got out several years ago. They have worked in the private sector but are looking for a meaningful career.
Reserve component: People in the Reserves and National Guard serve a minimum of one weekend a month and two weeks a year on active duty. Nearly 40% of the U.S. military forces are reserve components.
Military spouses: Spouses share much of their military counterparts’ responsibility and burden. A typical military career is full of transitions and deployments. Throughout their partner’s career, they have dealt with the logistics of housing, family care and ever-changing conditions.
Veterans bring unique skills and experiences to Hearst Television, and to any company for that matter. These are ordinary people with extraordinary experiences that they can bring to any situation. Mission | Team | Self is a military mindset that any company can benefit from its veteran employees.
Learn more about Hearst Television’s veteran recruitment efforts here.
