Sunday, October 15, 2023
HomeCyber SecurityWhat Veterans Day means to Cisco’s VETS Inclusive Group

What Veterans Day means to Cisco’s VETS Inclusive Group


Each November eleventh, you might even see extra flags flying and folks thanking navy veterans for his or her service. Veterans Day is a federal vacation that honors navy veterans of the US Armed Forces yearly on November eleventh, which marks the tip of World Battle I on November 11, 1918. It’s a day to have fun veterans for his or her willingness to serve, for the sacrifices they and their households make, and for his or her love of their nation and the individuals they defend.

Cisco is dedicated to constructing an inclusive future for all, together with supporting our veteran workers and their households. Cisco’s Worker Useful resource Organizations at the moment are generally known as Inclusive Communities, and we now have one for veterans known as World Veterans Enablement Troop Assist (VETS).

The mission of VETS is to supply assets, mentoring, profession steerage, and assist to Cisco’s veteran neighborhood. We attempt to boost consciousness inside Cisco of veterans’ contributions and expertise as potential workers and help transitioning service members as they commerce their uniforms for company apparel. Lastly, VETS actively engages the local people to assist our deployed servicemen and ladies with care package deal campaigns, calling card drives, and outreach packages to close by navy installations.

Be taught extra from members of VETS about what Veterans Day means to them.

Gary Bantad

Buyer Venture Supervisor

A man in military clothing
Gary Bantad, Buyer Venture Supervisor at Cisco

Gary Bantad has been with Cisco for 4 years and is at present working as a Buyer Venture Supervisor for US CX Facilities, RTP. Gary served within the U.S. Military for over 20 years, retiring as a Lieutenant Colonel. He served the primary 7 years as a PATRIOT Air Protection Artillery Officer, and the rest as a Civil Affairs Officer. He lives along with his household in Cary, North Carolina.

“For many individuals, Veterans Day means thanking a veteran for his or her service — for many who have served, and people at present serving the nation. I’ve all the time been stunned and humbled when individuals say, ‘Thanks in your service,’ however I typically marvel in the event that they actually know what which means to a veteran, particularly for somebody like me.

My time within the Military was throughout the interval earlier than and after 9/11 — generally known as the World Battle on Terrorism period. This meant many, many weeks away from household, to coach in distant locations earlier than happening a number of deployments to Iraq and Afghanistan. Initially, the deployments have been one 12 months — so I missed birthdays, our anniversary, my children’ whole tutorial faculty 12 months and sports activities occasions, household occasions like weddings, and each single U.S. vacation. Throughout a few of these deployments, teammates have been injured or killed. Later, deployments have been lower all the way down to beneath 9 months, however I nonetheless confronted the identical hardships.

That is arduous to explain in phrases, however the best possible feeling on this planet is flying again residence from an extended deployment and reuniting with your loved ones. You’re in tears however ecstatic on the identical time. Additionally, I can’t clarify it, however ‘coming residence’ all the time rekindled my love of the US. So, on Veterans Day, if you happen to thank a veteran, please consider the sacrifice and hardships they endured in service to the nation. I guess they are going to be stunned, humbled…and recognize it!”

Kristina Maybin

AppDynamics Discipline Advertising and marketing Supervisor

Woman in a military uniform
Kristina Maybin,
AppDynamics Discipline Advertising and marketing Supervisor

Kristina Maybin has been with Cisco for 4.5 Years and is at present an AppDynamics Discipline Advertising and marketing Supervisor. Earlier than becoming a member of company America, she served within the US Military for 11 years and reached the rank of Chief Warrant Officer 2 (CW2). The spotlight was Her final project as IT Advisor to the one hundred and first Airborne Division Commander. She lives within the Atlanta Metro Space.

“I come from a household of veterans with my father, brother and sister all serving. Veterans Day is particular to me as a result of it’s a day when your complete nation stops and acknowledges those who have served. I recognize being acknowledged for my contribution and repair and revel in seeing the outpouring to all veterans.

That is an event for veterans to return collectively to assist and have fun one another. I’m impressed by the resilience of the veteran neighborhood.

It has grow to be widespread to say, ‘Thanks in your service.’ I believe Veterans Day is the proper day to take a second to actually recognize the sacrifices service members and their households have made.”

Welton Chase

Director, Buyer Expertise

A man in military uniform
Welton Chase, Director, Buyer Expertise at Cisco

Welton Chase has been with Cisco for practically three years and is at present Director, Buyer Expertise. He served 31 years within the US Military as a signalman (Sign Corps Officer) after which a Basic Officer. 

“I’ve been round veterans my whole life. As a younger youngster rising up in Kansas, I keep in mind the veterans who shaped my neighborhood in a small city the place the troopers of the First Infantry Division have been making ready to go to Vietnam. Many would by no means come residence and as younger youngsters we watched these casualty notification groups come a lot too ceaselessly throughout the heavy preventing in 1967 and 1968. These veterans got here residence to a rustic that didn’t absolutely recognize their service or sacrifice.

Those that survived the struggle did what the nation requested after which reintegrated into ‘regular’ life. My recollections of those veterans will all the time remind me of what it means to do your responsibility, make nice sacrifices, have braveness, and to serve one thing better than self. These attributes formed the communities I lived in and would encourage me to affix the navy. Thirty-one years later my time within the Military reaffirmed how actually particular our nation is to have People prepared to placed on the material of the nation, go into hurt’s approach, and serve one thing better than themselves. I used to be honored to serve amongst them and like those that I watched as a younger youngster, bought to see how their service and sacrifice make our nation actually higher.

To all our veterans — thanks!”

Akeeya Umstead

Integration Program Supervisor

A man standing with his hat over his heart
Akeeya’s father standing for Faucets

Akeeya Umstead has been with Cisco for about 3 years and is at present an Integration Program Supervisor on the Company Growth Integration group within the Finance Group. She at present resides within the RTP Space. Her father, Wallace Umstead, served within the US Military from 1968-1971 and at present resides in Alamance County, North Carolina.

“Veterans day is widely known yearly with a lunch date with my dad. He was drafted to serve within the Vietnam Battle and was despatched to Germany as a medic. He was honorably discharged, then went on to develop a profession within the medical subject the place he labored for over 20 years.

He didn’t have a alternative in service however there are lots of those that sacrifice and select to be of service to our nice nation.

A few years after service, I used to be lucky sufficient to get my dad care by the Veteran Affairs (VA) well being system. Strolling into the VA hospital with my dad and listening to veterans speak about their struggle tales could be very particular.

Each day the VA performs Faucets, and we have been attending a Veteran Amputee occasion. For the primary time I noticed my dad rise to consideration with no assist, and he took his hat off and positioned it over his coronary heart and I watched the opposite vets do the identical. At that second it was like all of them went again to a time after they have been both on base or within the subject and needed to salute or stand at consideration for the enjoying of the bugle name.

In that second I then had a deeper understanding of why everybody stops a vet or lively navy and says, “thanks in your service.” It’s as a result of we now have sure freedoms that our navy fights for on our behalf. So, I’ll proceed to have fun Veteran’s Day yearly!”

honor veterans all 12 months

 When veterans return to civilian life, there’s a lot they should alter to, together with discovering employment. That’s the reason Cisco led the creation of packages designed to assist veterans and their spouses develop new expertise for a profession in tech, and to pursue roles immediately at Cisco and our companions.

Past thanking veterans for his or her service, listed here are a couple of steps you may take by yourself to indicate your assist to associates, household, colleagues, and members of your neighborhood who’ve served:

  1. Be taught extra concerning the lived experiences of veterans by books, podcasts, or documentaries.
  2. Search for organizations that serve veterans and their households and take into account donating or volunteering.
  3. Don’t simply present your assist throughout Veterans Day. Take heed to, have fun, and honor veterans all 12 months lengthy.

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