Aaron’s story holds themes of dedication, resilience, and a deep commitment to family and service. With a father and twin brothers who all served in the Marine Corps, Duty, honor, and courage are all values that helped shape Aaron from an early age, and became his foundation as he embarked on his own military career. 

A Family Legacy of Service

Aaron’s inspiration to join the Marine Corps was clear: it was part of the family tradition. In his own words, “I guess you could say it is the family business. My father is a Marine (Korea) and my twin brothers are Marines (Iraq and Afghanistan). Each of us felt a calling to be a part of something bigger than ourselves, to do our part to protect the American people and our way of living, which was only amplified following the attacks on 9/11. We challenged each other to be the best growing up, and that didn’t stop when it came time to embark on a career path–if you’re going to serve, you might as well do it with the best.” For Aaron, the challenge was not just about serving, that was in his blood—it was about being the best of the best, which meant joining the Marine Corps.

Rewarding Experiences and Lasting Bonds

Reflecting on his time in service, Aaron shares that the most rewarding aspect was the camaraderie and teamwork with the Marines he served with. “Hands down it was serving with the thousands of men and women over my 9 years.” He continued, “Getting to know these humans at the most intimate levels only reinforced my reasons for becoming a Marine in the first place.“

The bonds formed during this time are lifelong, and these experiences helped shape him into the person he is today. The phrase “It’s like seeing an old friend” takes on a whole new meaning when you get a group of Marines in the same room. 

Military Experience Shaping Civilian Success

After transitioning out of the military, Aaron faced the challenge of choosing his next steps into civilian life. He knew that his career path needed to align with his values and vision for the future, especially with his family’s well-being in mind. The transition wasn’t easy, and typically isn’t, but the leadership, problem-solving skills, and sense of discipline engrained in him by the Marine Corps proved to be more than invaluable.

The biggest challenge? “Deciding who I wanted to be, the pathway to get there, and how to provide for my family while I continued to plan and execute that plan.” Read that sentence again… transitioning servicemembers, unlike their civilian counterparts aren’t just jumping from one job to another, but are making decisions as they pertain to identity after the service. 

After a brief stint in logistics, Aaron saw what a successful transition to civilian life looked like, but knew early on that logistics wasn’t the right fit for him and he was back to the drawing board. 

“Leaning on new lessons learned and previous job hunt experience led me to a role in higher education where I spent nearly a decade before coming to Military Friendly®.” 

We asked Aaron to dive a little bit deeper into the experiences that led to him joining our team. “While exploring a career change in 2023 from higher education and exploring potential government contractors, I received an email invitation to attend a Virtual Job Fair that was hosting some of the companies I had been targeting. While attending, I noticed a booth labeled VIQTORY. Being a Marine, my curiosity peaked when I saw the “misspelled” work and splash of bright color over the logo. After some brief research and conversation with the booth rep, it was clear what my next move would be. We all have to do something that is considered “work” to sustain life, and I wanted to do that with an organization that closely replicated what I experienced in the military, continue to be a part of something bigger than myself, and help those who served.” Aaron joined the team almost immediately and has been an integral part of our success ever since.   

His diverse experiences have shaped the way he approaches his work, always driven by the same values he learned in the military. Today, Aaron is helping organizations recognize the incredible potential in military veterans, military spouses, and transitioning service members by showing schools, employers, and brands the wealth of experience, perspective, and ability they bring to the table. 

Supporting Military Talent in the Civilian Workforce

In his role, Aaron works with organizations to help them better recruit, retain, and advance members of the military community. When we asked what his motivation is, without hesitation he replied, “Easy–when they win the entire military community wins.” We went on to ask him what he felt business professionals in the civilian workforce should know about hiring veterans, transitioning service members, or military spouses, and we couldn’t have put it better ourselves – 

“When you think of your highest performers, your problem solvers, your transformational leaders, and your folks who flat-out get it done what do they all have in common? You’ll find exactly that, building out an organization that you can be assured will come in and have a positive impact from day one when you bring in talent from the mil/vet/spouse community.” 

Members of the military community bring unique leadership qualities, resilience, and a strong work ethic to the workplace, which will benefit any team. It’s not just about finding a job for a veteran—it’s about helping them thrive in their civilian careers.

Family Life and Values

The impact of military service doesn’t just apply to the service members, it affects the entire family. Regardless life stage, service impacts every aspect of your life. Aaron gave us the perfect example of how his military experience has influenced his family life. “It has been a major influence. In fact, we decided not to start a family until after exiting the military. While it is certainly doable, and many thrive while balancing military life and family, my wife and I decided to wait until all focus and attention could be placed on raising a family in a stable environment.” 

Aaron prioritizes the balancing of his career with family life, staying present for the important moments in his children’s lives. “In both my personal and professional life I maintain discipline in each aspect by being where my feet are–being present in the moment. Time flies and you are always living in the good ole days, some things can wait if it means you don’t miss out on important milestones or events.”

We asked what values instilled in him during his time in the service he has carried into his everyday life as a professional and as a family member and he broke it down perfectly – 

“I imagine just about any Marine’s answer here will be similar–Honor, Courage, and Commitment. 

Here is the textbook version: These values guide every Marine’s actions and help them: 

• Win battles (from Iraq to negotiating with a 6-year-old)
• Develop quality citizens
• Fight and win, even in personal situations, combat, or when faced with injustice
• Treat others with dignity and respect
• Adhere to higher standards of personal conduct
• Be devoted to professionalism and discipline
• Explained 
  • Honor: Marines abide by a code of integrity, are honest and truthful, and encourage new ideas.
  • Courage: Marines have the courage to meet demands, make decisions in the best interest of the nation, overcome challenges, and be loyal to the nation.
  • Commitment: Marines foster respect and care for the well-being of people.”

Honor, courage, and commitment are values instilled during his time in the service and still help guide him professionally, but are the same principles he carries into his role as a father and husband. 

Why Hiring Veterans and Military Spouses is Essential

At Military Friendly®, our mission is to connect the military community to civilian opportunities. Another way to say that? We are the bridge that connects employers, schools, and brands to the military community. We bounced our bridge analogy off of Aaron and asked how he feels it applies to him individually. 

“Sharing personal recollections as a member of the “target audience” for many organizations helps in aligning efforts that truly impact outcomes. I love witnessing the ah-ha moment when employers see the light bulb and progress is made to implement winning strategies to attract, hire, and retain mil/vet/spouse talent.”  The impact of hiring military talent goes beyond filling roles—it’s about bringing in individuals who are committed to excellence and will elevate the entire organization.

Aaron’s advice to employers who may not fully understand military talent is simple: “Do your homework, ask questions, and lean on those who are willing to share their wisdom. If not, you are missing out!” You’ll find that veterans and military spouses end up being some of the biggest contributors to your teams. They know how to solve problems, lead teams, and execute under pressure, making them ideal candidates for any organization looking to recruit, retain, and advance strong, dedicated talent.

Chaz’s path to Military Friendly® was shaped by a deep sense of duty and family legacy. With Grandparents who served in the Navy during WWll, he grew up with a profound respect for service and leadership beyond his years. His military journey began with a desire to make a difference and be part of something greater than himself, values he continues to carry with him in both his professional and personal life.

A Legacy of Service

For Chaz, joining the military was about being part of a larger mission. The events of 9/11 left a lasting impression on a young Charles Dorr. At 13, it’s hard to wrap your head around what you are seeing when you look at the TV and The World Trade Center is burning, followed by hearing on the radio that the Pentagon has been hit, and footage of people dancing on the American Flag. 

Take a minute and think about where you were in 2001. How did you respond? 

Chaz’s response? “I’ll see you when I’m 18.” And that he did. The Marine Corps instilled in him a sense of discipline, leadership, and commitment that shaped his time in the service and continues to help define his life today.

The Power of Camaraderie

One of the most rewarding experiences for Chaz during his military service was the camaraderie and bonds he formed with his fellow Marines. “Meeting my brothers in arms, shooting every Marine infantry weapons system we had, going on missions in a combat zone… The brotherhood and comradery going through these life-changing times are things you will wish you had back one day when they’re all gone. That’s how special those times are, you will sometimes wish you were deployed again to go through it with your boys!” 

Once a Marine, always a Marine. A saying that Chaz defines wonderfully – “It is something that to this day defines a big part of my identity. At boot camp, when you step on those yellow footprints you have committed to changing who you are with core values such as Honor, Courage, and Commitment as well as inspiring and motivating you to be part of the next best generation of America’s finest fighting force!” 

He continued, “Growing up I was more of a student who just got by and only got good grades in subjects I liked. After the Marine Corps, I became a top student in all classes because of the effort and dedication to be the best version of myself each and every day.” The Corps, the brotherhood it forms, and the values it instills are for life. 

From Military Service to Civilian Life

The transition from the service to civilian life wasn’t without its bumps. For Chaz, the biggest challenge he faced was the realization that he was on this next mission alone. “I had been surrounded by my brothers who I fought and served with and built an irreplaceable comradery with everyone to my left and right and when you get out, POOF that is all gone.”

His second realization is that the average recruiter or hiring manager really didn’t understand what it meant to be a part of the military community and the value veterans bring to the workplace. He puts it like this, “No one hiring you TRULY cares about what you accomplished in the military, or took my time in service as something that would be an asset to their organization.”

While no light task, as Marines do, he persevered and carved out a nice chunk for himself in the corporate world. Military Friendly® took Chaz off of the job market and when we did, we didn’t just see an MBA Graduate with 13 years of Sales and Account Management experience, but all of the intangibles that Chaz brings with him due to his service. 

Chaz’s time in the military helped him develop skills that have been critical to his success in civilian roles. The leadership, resilience, and problem-solving abilities gained in the Marine Corps have translated into his work with Military Friendly® employers, helping them realize the immense value of hiring veterans, military spouses, and transitioning service members.

Supporting the Military Community in the Civilian Workforce

We asked Chaz what his new mission looks like day-to-day – “With first-hand experience going through TAP class (Transition Assistance Program), as well as being part of the target audience for organizations, universities, and consumers, I can provide valuable insight toward marketing strategies for this audience especially while speaking to civilians who are not familiar with marketing to this audience.” 

As an Account Manager at Military Friendly®, Chaz helps organizations realize the untapped potential in the military community. It’s a massive yet underutilized audience and he’s passionate about educating businesses on the benefits of hiring military talent—individuals who bring leadership, discipline, and a strong work ethic to the workplace. Having lived in both military and civilian worlds, Chaz is the ideal tip of the Military Friendly® spear. 

Family Life After Service

For Charles, family life has always been at the top of his priority list, and after leaving the military, this new mission was clear. His military experience instilled a sense of discipline and commitment that now guides him as a husband and father. Being “family-oriented” can mean something different depending on who you ask, but we recommend you ask Chaz. “Prioritizing family over everything else in life and doing so by being present in their lives every day. My professional life allows me to provide for my family and in that aspect, I can lean on my family to help me through my professional life and lean on my professional life to enable me to provide as a father and husband and provide the quality of life that we like to live.”

We asked Chaz a lot about military values, more specifically, Marine Corps values, but we’re really interested in how those values impact everyday life after the service as a professional and as a family member. 

“We had a saying in the Marines of God, Family, Corps. Being faithful to God is something that has been a huge part of my life and spiritually I remain strong with a bond to God and our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Family, being a devoted Father and husband as well as son and member of extended family, to be a pillar to lean on and a model to lead by example. Corps, being a patriot and committing to our motto Semper Fidelis (Always Faithful).” 

Like in the service and in his civilian career, Chaz applies the values of honor, courage, and commitment to his family life whether it’s a family excursion or coaching the little one’s sports. In his professional role, Chaz has always stayed passionate about supporting military families as they transition into their own civilian careers. He understands the importance of stability and opportunity for military families, having come from one, and having worked to provide that for his own.

The Impact of Hiring Veterans and Military Spouses

Military Friendly® is where America comes to connect with the Military Community, and in his roles as an Account Manager, he acts as a bridge between employers/schools/brands, and the military community. This got him fired up – “What excites me? Being able to indirectly help people through Military Friendly®, and potentially provide a path to universities, companies, and entrepreneur opportunities. Providing stability and continued purpose toward growth and achievements personally and professionally for our audience.”

He went on, “We connect you (employers, schools, and brands) to the audience and share valuable insights on what things you can do to make your organization more appealing to the military community versus others. The term “Monday Morning Quarterback” comes into mind as there are many “should of”, “would of”, and “could of” scenarios that I wish I could have explored but was not given the right opportunity or knowledge before making a life-changing decision like pursuing a degree that might not truly align with my career goals. Military Friendly can do this through all aspects of your life; education, employment, where you choose to live via state guides, and how to continue to grow and pass on knowledge to the next generation of the military community.”

For Chaz, supporting military talent isn’t just a job—it’s a mission to ensure that these individuals get the recognition and opportunity they deserve, both in their careers and in their families’ futures. 

In parting, we asked Chaz to share a message with employers who may not fully understand the power of hiring military talent. “Give a transitioning service member a chance to wow you, I’m almost certain they would do just that given the opportunity, training, and guidance. No one will thank you more or be more loyal than someone coming out of the military looking for purpose. Most of us get out equally as lost, exploring what we want to do in life.” 

Chaz is a testament to the fact that Veterans are better off for their service.