Military Member Profile – Theodore Harding

What were some of the reasons that you joined the military?  How did you choose your branch of service? 

I joined the service because of my stepdad and my older brother who fought in Desert Storm and ended up dying while in the service. I choose the Army because my brother was in that branch.

How did you tell your family and friends that you were joining the military? Are there any conversations that stand out from that time? 

I called my mom and stepdad and told them that I had just signed up to join the Army and that I was leaving in a couple months for basic training. The only conversation that we had was what was I going to be doing while I was in and where basic training was going to be held at. I do remember my dad telling me that he was proud of me for joining.

What was basic training like? Can you describe a funny moment from boot camp?  

Basic training was physically hard and pushed me mentally to overcome things that I never thought I could do. One funny moment was when we took Kool aid packets and dumped them into our canteens of water and were caught by the Drill Sergeant, so they made us poor out our water on our heads AKA Kool aid and finish the day in the heat all sticky. Luckily, I only had about a drink left of mine compared to other people who had full canteens.      

What role(s) did you perform during your military service? Can you share details about your favorite assignment/location and why? 

I was a Combat engineer in which we blew up roads and bridges and dug fighting positions for tanks and other equipment. When I was deployed, I was attached to a unit helping them clear roads and paths. My first duty Station was in Baumholder, Germany. This was also my favorite duty Station because of being able to travel and see a lot of Europe.      

How long did you serve?  What was the process like when you left the military? 

I served for 5 years. When getting out of the service, it was not easy. I had to make sure I had a place to go to when I got home, trying to find work before I left and realizing that I was going to be leaving these guys behind which was very hard to do because it was like starting all over again.  

What was your biggest challenge of returning to civilian life?  Do you have advice for others transitioning out of the military? 

My biggest challenge for me was not having people there that you trusted and knew they had your back no matter what you were doing. Not having the bond that I had with the guys. If you are getting out, try and make sure that you have people back home that you can count on to be there for you.

What was your first job after your military service ended?  How did that lead to you joining the Matrix family?  Do you feel your military experience and the skills gained while serving set you up for success in your civilian career? 

My first job out of the service was driving Armored trucks for a company. Well, that didn’t lead me to joining the Matrix family. I moved up to Blaine, WA from Portland Oregon, and then met a guy who got me the job with Matrix at the BP Cherry Point site. I do believe they have set me up for success working for Matrix. The things you learn about chain of command and the attention to detail and to make sure that the people below you come first.

How long have you worked at Matrix?  What is your current role with the Company? 

I have been with Matrix since Dec of 2007. I was laid off a few times due to lack of work. I have almost 15 years with Matrix and as of this August, it will be 11 straight. My current role is Project and Tank Coordinator at HF Sinclair in Anacortes, WA. 

Do you feel supported by the environment Matrix provides for Veterans?  Do you have any suggestions for improvement? 

I do feel supported by Matrix towards Veterans. My only suggestion would be to put out more info about the veteran programs and how Matrix is there for them. To make sure that all employees get this information because not all of them have Matrix email.  

​We are grateful to our military members and veterans who protect our freedom. Thank you for your service to Matrix and to your country.