John Deere encourages former and future military personnel to consider joining its dealer network as qualified technicians.

With many transferable skills, those with experience with military vehicles will be ideally prepared for a new career working with some of the world’s most advanced farm and lawn care equipment.

The equipment manufacturer announced it will host a free online career event on Sept. 1, 2022, where attendees will hear from people who have transitioned from military service to the John Deere dealer network.

One of the speakers will be former military man William Foster, who left the Army after 23 years of service and has done several combat tours, including Kosovo, Iraq and Afghanistan.

Upon leaving, he faced the prospect of finding a new job, a task made even more difficult by his first quarantine because of Covid, which began just four days after he left the service.

Although he didn’t get the first job at John Deere that he originally applied for, it did, however, give him the determination to pursue a career in the agricultural engineering sector and focus on how best to achieve his goals.

“The fact that I didn’t get the job made me realize how much I wanted to work with John Deere,”

William says.

“I decided to make that dream come true, give it a professional look and see if I could turn it into my next full-time career.”

To gain experience, William volunteered at one John Deere dealership and took a job at another before finally getting his final job as an agricultural engineer at Ben Burgess in Oakham, Rutland.

“The similarities between that role and my Army career are striking,”

William says.

I look at the depot as my forward operating base, the surrounding areas as my area of responsibility, and the enemy as problems to be dealt with.

“If you can fix a tank, you can fix a tractor.”

The principle of non-interference in leadership within the network was a breath of fresh air compared to the more authoritarian approach in the military. It was a welcome change for William, who first joined the military at age 17.

One of the things I like best about my new role is that I can talk to my line managers and supervisors the same way I talk to my former colleagues,” he explains.

We have mutual respect, but the pomp and ceremony is gone.

“I also like that the iconic sense of humor so prevalent in the services is as vibrant and healthy in the shop as it is in the tank farm.”

John Deere is holding an online career event for anyone who wants to learn more about the role of a skilled lawn or agricultural technician on Sept. 1 at 7 p.m.

“This is an incredibly exciting time to work in the agriculture industry,” says John Deere Branch Training Manager Allan Cochran.

The equipment we work with is mind-blowingly smart, and John Deere agriculture and lawn technicians learn about the most advanced equipment available on the market.

“It’s a great, rewarding career that can take you anywhere in the world, working with a globally recognized and respected brand.”