Translating Military Service Into Civilian Success

November 11, 2024 | Careers

After serving as a Morse code analyst in the United States Air Force, Sharon Thompson is quick to note that military experience easily translates to the private sector.

“I use many of the skills I mastered in the Air Force in my current position,” says Thompson, who served as a USAF Technical Sergeant from 1980-1990 and joined OTO Development as an Accounts Payable Specialist in 2015. “The military taught me to pay attention to detail and to multi-task — the two strengths that most impact my job at OTO — and helped me develop a positive work ethic and a high standard of performance.” 

Being able to listen and type simultaneously — accurately — is a talent Thompson honed during her Morse code days. It’s a skill she puts to continued good use, processing the heavy volume of invoices that cross her desk while also taking calls from vendors and responding to emails.

And here’s something only coworkers of a certain age can truly appreciate: Thompson handled administrative tasks for her base commander during the 1980s, utilizing the earliest iterations of the personal computer. Working in that era of nascent technology required her to be endlessly adaptable to ever-evolving systems, a flexibility she maintains to this day.  

One common thread throughout her military and civilian careers is partnership, says Thompson, who holds an Associate’s Degree from Spartanburg Community College and a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Interdisciplinary Studies from the University of South Carolina.

“Building strong relationships with colleagues, emphasizing solid teamwork ... that’s important no matter what kind of work you’re doing,” Thompson says.

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