It’s said that when you become a Marine, you are a Marine for life, and that is true for Aaron Simpson. The Senior Corporate Recruiter on Haskell’s Talent Acquisition team has been with the company for a year and finds similarities between Haskell’s culture and that of the Marines to his liking.
Simpson, 44, lives with his wife, Patricia, in the Dallas suburb of Little Elm, Texas. He was living in Houston until the floods of Hurricane Harvey and the desire to be closer to his parents prompted his move to the Dallas area. Through LinkedIn, he found his current position with Haskell.
Simpson spent much of his military career in the Marine Corps Reserve. He was trained as a motor transport mechanic and was planning to leave the service in 2001 when the Twin Towers fell. His skill set was needed as the United States prepared for war.
Simpson joined the Marines after graduating high school in 1995. He said he was an unfocused and unmotivated student and, with no college plans, he and six friends enlisted. Simpson’s father had been drafted into the Army during the Vietnam War. Aaron Simpson joked that everyone was drafted into the Army and that he wanted a more challenging military career.
“The biggest thing I got out of the Marines is that I grew up,” he said. “I was the cliche. I was the kind of kid who, if I had just done my homework and paid attention, I could have graduated near the top of the class rather than near the bottom.
“The military forces you to mature. They take you in as a kid, and 13 weeks later, they expect you to be an adult. At age 19, I was carrying the title of U.S. Marine. Now, get out there, and go to work.”
After 9/11, word was that his reserve unit in Dallas would not be deployed. Leadership came to him and asked him to join a unit in California that needed his unique skillset, which was a combination of mechanic and customer service, experience he gained in his civilian life.
He spent the spring and summer of 2004 working with logistics officers in Fallujah, Iraq, helping displaced civilians. By this time, he and his wife decided that after nearly nine years it was time to end his military career.
The military taught him people skills and a trade. He left the service because his wife got tired of him smelling like diesel fuel, he said, laughing. The real reason was that he had two young boys whom he wanted to watch grow up.
While neither of his boys joined the military, his youngest did tell his father that the military was his “backup plan.”
“I told him I would disown him if he joined any other branch than the Marines,” Simpson said. “I also told him that the Marines are no backup plan. We are not a backup plan. We are a commitment.”
Prior to joining Haskell, he had worked recruiting laborers for other companies. After joining Haskell, he found himself in familiar surroundings. The culture is about building up team members rather than impeding their careers, he said.
“Haskell spends more time to develop its people than any other company I have been with,” he said. “The military has that in common. The military trains the general. It doesn’t hire the general. There is a lot of that here.”
Simpson finds the lack of company politics refreshing. Already he has found a sense of camaraderie similar to that of the military.
“I am proud of my service,” he said. “I am proud to say that I am a U.S. Marine. It’s a title you earn. I’m proud of that.”
Honoring Our Veterans
Haskell proudly employs veterans of the United States Armed Forces and currently has 76 team members who previously served our country. To commemorate Veterans Day, Haskell.com this week is spotlighting one of them daily. Additionally, Haskell annually presents each veteran on our team with a special thank you gift.
As Haskell grows rapidly across the United States to meet the needs of new and existing clients, veterans continue to play an ever-increasing role. Those who have served our nation understand mission, structure, results and accountability. They are a perfect fit with Haskell’s core values of Team, Excellence, Service and Trust.
Are you interested in transitioning from the military to a career with a vibrant, growing company that provides nearly unlimited opportunities? Contact us to learn more.
