Q: Tell us about yourself as a veteran and as an employee of Altice USA.
A: I served as a Ground Surveillance Systems Operator in the US Army from 2002 through 2006. I served in South Korea, Fort Lewis (Washington), and Iraq. I have worked for Optimum since 2007 as a Field Service Technician on Long Island, including The East End, Hauppauge with OV4B and in Lindenhurst.
Q: How did your experience in the military impact your career? Are there any similarities?
A: The Army did impact my career by teaching me to adapt and overcome, working hard at being the best I can be and being reliable.
Q: What do you like about working for Altice USA? Describe a typical day on the job.
A: There is no typical day for me, as my tasks change hourly at times. I do like that my day is never the same, and although the basic tasks stay the same, the challenges of each job vary and keep me learning.
Q: What does being a veteran mean to you?
A: I am not only proud to be a veteran, but am proud to be the son of a veteran. I take a lot of pride in it. The Army taught me to not only help others, but to be the best I can be at whatever task I am involved in. I love my country.
Q: What would you want others to know about the sacrifices veterans make to serve their country?
A: Walking away from friends and family to a far off place is not easy. Spouses probably make more of a sacrifice, by taking care of the home front and family needs while a service member is away.
Q: Tell us about yourself as a veteran and as an employee of Altice USA.
A: I am a Broadband Technician IV Maintenance and have been with the company for eight years.
I served in the Kentucky National Guard for six years, from 2002 to 2008. I had two deployments, one overseas in Afghanistan and one home land security mission.
Q: How did your experience in the military impact your career? Are there any similarities?
A: While I was in the military, I served as a Signal Support Specialist. I worked on the radio systems, networking, troubleshooting and installation of the different equipment that we used. Today I work with coaxial cable, fiber, Internet and phone cables.
Q: What do you like about working for Altice USA? Describe a typical day on the job.
A: I enjoy working for the company and the cable industry because it makes me think. I like getting out and trying to figure out what is causing the issue for the customer that I am helping. I don’t know how to quit when it comes to solving a problem. I’ll work on the issue until I can get the customer’s needs taken care of and they are satisfied with their services. I work mostly maintenance turn overs and noise issue. I also work on the corporate escalations that come in.
Q: What does being a veteran mean to you?
A: It means a lot to me. I love this country and I will still defend it to this day. I am very proud to say that I did serve in the military.
Q: What would you want others to know about the sacrifices veterans make to serve their country?
A: There are a lot sacrifices that veterans go through every day. When you serve and are deployed to another country, you are away from your family and loved ones. We always remember the names of the fellow soldiers that did not make it home.
Q: Tell us about any veterans groups or community organizations you are affiliated with and why.
A: I am affiliated with the VFW (Veteran of Foreign Wars). They are people that I can discuss the things that I saw and was exposed to. They have the same types of stories and memories that I have, might be from a different war but they are similar in a way. Most veterans that have seen war don’t like to discuss it unless it is with another veteran.
Q: Tell us about yourself as a veteran and as an employee of Altice USA.
A: I am in Direct Sales with one year with the company. I was a corporal in the Marine Corps infantry.
Q: How did your experience in the military impact your career? Are there any similarities?
A: My experience made me into a tougher but well-rounded individual. I can’t say that there’s a lot of similarities, but the Marines did help prepare me for the work force (accountability, networking, good work ethic).
Q: What does being a veteran mean to you?
A: I don’t really think about that. I am just really glad I joined. My maturity, work ethic, and social skills absolutely improved because of my Marine infantry experience.
Q: What would you want others to know about the sacrifices veterans make to serve their country?
A: There are a lot of veterans that embellish or lie about their sacrifice, so I would be careful about hero worshipping. All I care about is the respect. I’ve seen some things that another may not understand and that’s alright. They shouldn’t try to act like they understand, everyone leads their own lives.
Q: Tell us about yourself as a veteran and as an employee of Altice USA.
A: Air Force
2002-2006
Osan Air Base, Korea 03-04
Andersen Air Force Base , Guam 2004-2006
Altice USA
Field Service Technician, three years
Q: How did your experience in the military impact your career? Are there any similarities?
A: The military was the very start of my career. Before I joined the Air Force I didn't know very much about technology. After a year of training I was sent to Korea where I worked on all different types of communication equipment. Just like now, I worked on modems, routers, and telephones except now I'm installing them in homes to provide entertainment. In the military the need for these types devices serve a much different purpose, and it’s essential that their down time remains at a minimum. Maintaining the integrity of the devices and fixing them as quickly as possible was a task I faced daily.
Much like working at Altice USA, we maintain the system, fix and replace equipment, troubleshoot issues using a meter. Serving in the Air Force I learned discipline, respect and integrity. One of my favorite parts of my current job is interacting with the customer and showing them how to use new technology and features that we offer.
Q: What do you like about working for Altice USA? Describe a typical day on the job.
A: I like working for Altice USA because there are so many different positions you can apply for and they have certain programs that help fund college courses to progress your career. The benefits are second to none. Lastly I enjoy my job.
On a typical day I start off testing my safety equipment, then I call my first customer and head out to the job location. After backing into the parking spot and putting the safety cones around my truck, I greet the customer. You always want the customer to feel comfortable so I always find something we have in common and talk about that for a minute. I've found that most people have a relative in the family who served their country so right there I have something to talk about. After the job is complete, I head off to the next one. If we’re finished early, we call around to see if any techs need a hand with a job. Another thing that I like about working for Altice USA is the camaraderie the techs have with one another. Sometimes we get stuck at a job and need a hand, it is nice knowing that someone is already on their way.
Q: What does being a veteran mean to you?
A: To me, being a veteran means that I served my country and the values it stands for. It means you know how to take orders and can also be a leader. Being a veteran is an honor all its own. We live in the greatest country and I was able to serve in its military. I learned more than I could have imagined in four years.
Q: What would you want others to know about the sacrifices veterans make to serve their country?
A: The biggest sacrifices veterans make is leaving home. The worst feeling is leaving and not knowing when or if you’re coming back. We retire any rights we had for the next eight years and become property of the Geneva Convention. We celebrate holidays with a friend or two as we wait for the sun to come up on the other side of the globe to wish our loved ones a happy holiday.
Q: Tell us about yourself as a veteran and as an employee of Altice USA.
A: Currently I’m serving my sixth year with the US Air Force as a Crew Chief on the KC-10 refueling aircraft. My years of service are from August 2010 to the present all with the Air Force Reserves. I’ve been stationed at Travis AFB California, McGuire AFB NJ, Al Udeid AB Qatar, Al Dhafra AB UAE. I’m currently a field service tech for Altice USA going on my third year with the company.
Q: How did your experience in the military impact your career? Are there any similarities?
A: My military experience has taught me how to be a leader and teach the new hires that are my responsibility to train. It has also prepared me to work without supervision and get the job completed in a timely manner. My experience as an aircraft mechanic also taught me how to improvise on the fly when regular maintenance practices won’t resolve the issue.
Q: What do you like about working for Altice USA? Describe a typical day on the job.
A: You get to be working for an organization that looks out for you, and work with a great group of colleagues. They also trust you to be out in the field by yourself and complete all your daily tasks.
Q: What does being a veteran mean to you?
A: Being a veteran means that I belong to a small group of people that have stepped up and paid their service to this great nation. I pride myself in knowing that I am another piece in the puzzle that helps keep our home safe and sound from any of our enemies.
Q: What would you want others to know about the sacrifices veterans make to serve their country?
A: It is definitely not easy with what they ask from you. You have to be willing to pick up and leave on a moment’s notice and for an extended period of time. A veteran is willing to sacrifice the ultimate price to protect the rest and that is the most noble aspect of serving.
Q: Tell us about any veterans groups or community organizations you are affiliated with and why.
A: I have helped the local recruiters in my area visit high schools and talk to the students who were interested in taking a path similar to mine. I did that because sometimes it’s easier to talk to a younger military member who has been through the initial process— from swearing in all the way through finishing trade school—than someone who remembers their experience going through the initial process several years ago.
Q: Tell us about yourself as a veteran and as an employee of Altice USA.
A: I served in the Army from 1988 to 1991. (Germany Duty Station 546 Maintenance Company / 66th Maint. BN - Fort Campbell, KY 101st Airborne Division A Co 3/502nd) I have been with Suddenlink since 2007 and am currently in the call center in Parkersburg, West Virginia.
Q: How did your experience in the military impact your career? Are there any similarities?
A: The time I served taught me to adapt to change and meet standards. The same can be said of my time with Suddenlink.
Q: What do you like about working for Altice USA? Describe a typical day on the job.
A: I enjoy solving issues for our customers. Each day there is always a new challenge. I am in tech support, but take billing issues on some days, which keeps me balanced.
Q: What does being a veteran mean to you?
A: Being a veteran is a great honor and to be associated with those who have served is something nobody can take away from you.
Q: What would you want others to know about the sacrifices veterans make to serve their country?
A: It takes a lot to leave your family and not know where the military will take you or what will be asked of you. Those who volunteer to do what needs to be done, no questions asked, leave themselves open to all kinds of judgement. Those who judge need to remember who defends the right to do so.