By O鈥橠ell Isaac
The Gazette
COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. 鈥� Jason Costello, a former Air Force pilot, felt somewhat adrift when he retired from active duty in 2020.
After a 25-year career that included critical combat missions as well as leadership roles at the Pentagon and NORAD, Costello could tell that something was missing from his post-military life, but had trouble pinpointing it.
鈥淚t took a while to figure out that I needed something that gave me a sense of purpose and camaraderie,鈥� said Costello who graduated from the Air Force Academy in 1995.
Aaron Black, a combat engineer currently stationed at Fort Carson, was looking for a post-military career that would allow him to use some of the skills he acquired during his 11 years in the Army.
鈥淲hen your active-duty time is up, the desire to serve doesn鈥檛 go away,鈥� said Black, who will separate from the Army in April. 鈥淚 knew I wanted to continue to serve my community.鈥�
Costello and Black both found what they were looking for with Global Medical Response (GMR), a pre-hospital care organization with operations in Colorado that provides air and ground emergency transport service across the U.S. and around the world.
The parent company for American Medical Response 鈥� which holds the 911 contract in Colorado Springs 鈥� GMR employs nearly 35,000 clinicians and support personnel, about 15% of whom are veterans, officials said. Costello has been flying critical care missions for Guardian Flight, which is part of the GMR organization, since joining in 2022. Black, who did a 90-day EMS apprenticeship through the Department of Defense鈥檚 SkillBridge program, will begin working as a full-time EMT later this year.
鈥淪ervice members, when they leave the military, want to continue to be of service to their communities,鈥� said Natalie Jobst, GMR鈥檚 military program manager.
鈥淲e are a service-based industry, and veterans have a passion for serving. That passion, plus their adaptability and unique skill sets, lend themselves well to our organization.鈥�
Despite the existence of several programs aimed at helping transitioning service members find jobs in the civilian sector, many are uncertain about their future employment when they leave active duty. According to data from the Pew Research Center, about 1 in 4 veterans say they had a job lined up when they left the military.
GMR officials are hoping their dedicated programs, partnerships, and targeted hiring events will help provide more transitioning service members with a pathway to a fulfilling post-military career. The organization currently offers opportunities to serve in several capacities, including EMT, paramedic, flight nurse, aviation maintenance technician, and rotor-wing or fixed-wing pilot.
鈥淪ome people come into this field and it becomes clear, early on, that they鈥檙e not cut out for it,鈥� said Jobst, an active-duty spouse. 鈥淏ut military service members have experience working in high-stress situations, so the transition makes sense for them, and for us.鈥�
SkillBridge connects service members who are in their last 180 days of active-duty service with partners that offer on-the-job training in a number of fields, according to the Department of Defense. Black, who knew he wanted to work in the emergency medical field, was participating in a ride-along with the Colorado Springs Fire Department when he met technicians from GMR.
鈥淚 thought they were interesting,鈥� he said. 鈥淪o I looked into them.鈥�
After obtaining his Colorado EMT certification, Black began his working with GMR, through SkillBridge, in October.
鈥淭he people here have been very knowledgeable and helpful,鈥� he said. 鈥淚鈥檝e learned a lot.鈥�
When Costello began flying for Guardian Flight, he knew he鈥檇 found what he was missing.
鈥淲e鈥檙e so used to having a sense of purpose and mission in the military, and when we go into the civilian sector, we feel like that鈥檚 lost,鈥� he said.
鈥淣ow, I鈥檓 helping critical patients who need a high level of care. There鈥檚 an intrinsic sense of worth in what I do on a day-to-day basis. I go home after work, and I feel good knowing I may have made a difference in someone鈥檚 life 鈥� maybe even saved a life. That鈥檚 a good feeling.鈥�
Black said he has found a similar sense of purpose with his new career path.
鈥淲hat鈥檚 not to like about serving the community you live in?鈥� he asked.
GMR representatives work closely with the Defense Department鈥檚 Transition Assistance Program and make regular appearances at hiring events for transitioning service members, Jobst said.
鈥淥ur military programs are not as well-known as we would like them to be 鈥� yet,鈥� she said. 鈥淲e鈥檙e working to change that.鈥�
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Mayor Yemi Mobolade and several city leaders kicked off Navy Week by welcoming a contingent of visiting active-duty sailors to Colorado Springs in a brief ceremony at the U.S. Olympic and Paralympic Museum Monday.
Colorado Springs-based combat veteran competing in her 4th Paralympic Games
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