Maintenance Technician

Southeast
US Navy, E-3

My hiring process with Mercedes-Benz took about a month. After I completed a practice skill assessment through Orion, I went to Mercedes-Benz and completed a three hour Technical Test and an interview. The following morning, I came back for a shop assessment. Within a week, I accepted a position as a Maintenance Technician. My Orion recruiter was there at every step of the way from phone calls and interviews to testing.

My first couple of months here have been wonderful. My team members are great to work with, and they teach me a lot about the job. The shift that I work is new, but it's not all that different from the shifts I worked in the military. I feel like I have found a place that I want to stay with until I retire, and the compensation is great!

I completed 'A' school in Aviation Electronics Intermediate Level and then completed 'C' school where I specialized in High Power/Fire Control Radar systems in FA18s (component level technician). My training as an Aviation Electronics Technician definitely prepared me for the Technical Test. I greatly attribute my success here at Mercedes-Benz to my technical knowledge gained while in the Navy.

Anyone who is looking for a company that meets and/or exceeds the benefits and expectations they had while in the service will be more than happy with Mercedes-Benz. From 5S to similar software for ordering parts and generating work orders, they have a lot of the same mentality and programs as the military. It made the transition much more pleasant and rewarding. They also give you a benefit credit each month, so it's like you’re not even paying for insurance (I pay just over $3!).

My advice to transitioning veterans is to make sure you research your potential employer very carefully and make sure the company is the right fit for you. I did this, and I knew Mercedes-Benz was a perfect place for me. Transitioning from such a strict and orderly environment with so much rank structure into a civilian job again can be terrifying and extremely difficult. With Mercedes, I have met veterans who were Master Chiefs in the Navy, E-3’s like me, as well as individuals who know nothing about the military and are eager to learn about it. It is a wonderful mixture that maintains a lot of the structure and benefits of the military while being a little more relaxed.