ONE ‘PECULIAR’ FELLOWSHIP


newly established programs cast the net even wider, looking to hire veterans of all ranks into various functional disciplines.


In 2015, for example, Amazon partici-


pated in the Camo2Commerce program, an initiative between several western Washington employers and Joint Base Lewis-McChord, Washington. Te pro- gram accepted highly qualified military personnel who were in the process of separating to participate in a 12-week fellowship with Amazon while still on active duty. Te fellows worked in opera- tions,


recruiting, facilities or Amazon


Web Services with the possibility of earn- ing a full-time position.


Te program costs participating compa- nies nothing and provides an employment opportunity for military candidates who otherwise might not make it through the stringent requirements of initial hir- ing. At the same time, it allows both parties, the business and the candi- date, to thoroughly vet each other. Te Camo2Commerce program’s first


three


Amazon cohorts consisted of a total of 12 military fellows and resulted in a 75


A VISIT FROM LEADERSHIP Lt. Gen. Michael E. Williamson, center, principal military deputy to the assistant secretary of the Army for acquisition, logistics and technology, meets with military fellows assigned to Amazon on Feb. 26: from left, Navy Lt. William Hall, the author, Navy Lt. Niki Elizondo, then-Lt. Col. William Fairclough and Air Force Capt. Matthew Getts. During the same visit to company headquarters in Seattle, Williamson, director of the Army Acquisition Corps, met with Amazon leadership and pre- sided over Gutierrez’ promotion ceremony. (Photo by Jon Kaplan, Jon Kaplan Photography)


percent hiring rate, with eight accepting full-time positions.


In 2016, Amazon embarked on a part- nership with the U.S. Chamber of Commerce’s Hiring Our Heroes ini- tiative, substantially expanding the fellowship opportunities


for transition-


[Amazon’s] workforce is the heart of the ubiquitous corporate behemoth that seems to disrupt, if not dominate, most market spaces it chooses to enter.


166 Army AL&T Magazine July-September 2016


ing to the company with the addition of four locations: Washington, D.C.; Fort Hood, Texas; Fort Huachuca, Arizona; and Fort Campbell, Kentucky. In the boldest pledge yet to hire talent from the military community, Bezos and first lady Michelle Obama in May announced a partnership in which Amazon commit- ted to hire 25,000 additional veterans and military spouses over the next five years. Te military’s loss can be a big gain for companies like Amazon.


For more information about the Ama- zon Military Talent Partnership, go to http://www.amazonfulfillmentcareers. com/opportunities/military/ and http:// amazondelivers.jobs/about/military/;


about the Camo2Commerce program, http://camo2commerce.com/;


about


the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Founda- tion’s Hiring Our Heroes initiative, https:// www.uschamber foundat ion.org/ hiring-our-heroes; and about DOD’s proposed Force


of the Future


initiatives,


http://www.defense.gov/Portals/1/ features/2015/0315_force-of-the-future /document s/FotF_ Fact_ Sheet_-_ FINAL_11.18.pdf.


LT. COL. STEVEN D. GUTIERREZ, a U.S. Army Training with Industry Fellow with Amazon.com Inc. from July 2015 to June 2016, is a member of the Army Acquisition Corps and is Level III certified in contracting and program management. He holds an M.S. in management, acquisition and contract management and a master of public administration degree from the Florida Institute of Technology, and a B.S. in criminal justice administration from San Diego State University.


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