By: Jonathan McKinley, Chief Field Services Officer, SAC Wireless
SAC Veterans: Meet Cory Toner
In times of both war and peace, the U.S. Army is the backbone of our nation and the upholders of democracy around the world. While unemployment during the COVID-19 pandemic is at an all-time high, plenty of markets face a shortage of people with the necessary skills and stamina needed to thrive in challenging and rewarding careers, including the wireless industry.
For U.S. Veterans that want to build upon their military service in the civilian world, the wireless industry presents a wide variety of options. SAC Wireless is actively recruiting U.S. Veterans of all abilities and will provide the training and resources needed to successfully apply bankable military skills to help us build and maintain our country’s digital infrastructure.
Most every word in the Army Creed is applicable to careers in the wireless industry. Companies like ours are building the networks that millions of people use every day, but rarely see. Wireless users often look to their screens to see how many bars of service they have access to, unaware there’s a large, complex and highly technical network infrastructure that delivers the broadband connectivity implied by those bars. Building and maintaining that network is a giant operation, one shared by the top national and regional wireless carriers and companies like ours that support them.
We help our customers scout locations, negotiate leases, design towers, install equipment and maintain systems. The widely-publicized rollout of 5G completely changes the game and small cells will be required to densify nationwide networks. It takes a highly skilled person to get the job done safely, efficiently, and thoroughly; companies like ours must go above and beyond to recruit and train this talent.
Last year, FCC Commissioner Brendan Carr told Inside Towers at least 20,000 more skilled workers are needed to complete 5G deployment. Veterans from the armed forces are desirable candidates for field work; they come in with many of the hardwired skills we need for success: the ability to learn complex, intricate tasks and deliver results in a variety of weather conditions; a strong work ethic and ability to put in overtime when needed; the ability to follow complex instructions with precision while also thinking quickly and strategically when solving problems.
SAC started an Employee Resource Group (ERG), led by Veterans on staff, to provide additional support to veterans as they transition to a civilian career. To date, we’ve hired more than 120 Veterans, and support our employees in the Reserves as they serve our country on military deployments around the world.
As we’ve seen during the pandemic, our nation relies upon this digital network to work from home whenever possible, take classes, engage in telemedicine services, stay connected with friends and family, and enjoy live streaming entertainment. Meanwhile, large sections of our nation, including rural communities, farms and ranches, and Native Lands are left on the other side of the digital divide. We’re committed to bridging the gap between the broadband haves and have nots in the years to come. This is why we need you.
SAC is currently hiring. These positions boast career growth opportunities and competitive benefits and pay. These jobs will be based in nearly two dozen states and markets, including: Alabaster, AL; Benicia, CA; Chicago, IL; Dallas, TX; Denver, CO; Houston, TX; Lawrenceville, GA; Minneapolis, MN; New Hudson, MI; Philadelphia, PA; Pompano Beach, FL; Renton, WA; and Tempe, AZ. We’ll train new hires at our state-of-the-art facility just outside of Chicago.
While the positions are open to applicants of all backgrounds, U.S. Veterans are ideal candidates. Cory Toner began his SAC career as a tower climber before being promoted multiple times to his current position as Construction Operations Manager. “Part of my job was military mountaineering,” Toner said. “So using ropes and climbing mountains and rock-climbing was part of my specialty.”
Our mission is to act as one team — it’s one thing to say it, it’s everything to live it day in and day out. Upholding ourselves to the highest standards will ensure we recruit and retain the talent we need to usher our wireless infrastructure into a long and prosperous future. You can learn more about careers at SAC by visiting https://careers.sacw.com/
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