CWTSatoTravel has been fortunate to have Marine Corps Master
Sergeant Dave Zimmerman as part of our team for the last several months.
Zimmerman joined us in February 2024 through a SkillBridge fellowship
as part of the Strategic Business Initiatives team to gain experience
as a project manager, office manager, and client executive. The DoD
SkillBridge program is an opportunity for service members to gain
valuable civilian work experience through specific industry training,
apprenticeships, or internships during the last 180 days of their
military service. DoD SkillBridge connects transitioning service members
with industry partners in real-world job experiences.
Zimmerman enlisted in the Marines in December 2003. His combat
deployments include Operation Iraqi Freedom, Camp Ashraf, Iraq with
Company A, Anti-Terrorism Battalion, 2D Marine Division from 2006 to
2007; and SPM AGTF Crisis-Response-Central Command 18.2 and 19.1, Ahmad
al Jaber Air Base, Kuwait with Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron 165 from
2018 to 2019.
Zimmerman's other services included duties as an Administrative
Clerk, Administrative Chief of Marine Light, G-1 Chief for Marine Corps
Cyberspace Command, Personnel Chief of Marine Corps Augmentation and
Training Support Unit, and Personnel Chief for Marine Corps Liaison
Element. His service outside the Operating Forces included duties as the
Operations Noncommissioned Officer for Recruiting Station Frederick,
MD; and Administrative Noncommissioned Officer of Center for Naval
Aviation Technical Training, MCAS New River, NC. His personal awards
include the Meritorious Service Medal, Navy and Marine Corps
Commendation Medal, Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal, and the
Outstanding Military Volunteer Service Medal.
Zimmerman officially retired from the Marine Corps in late April 2024
in a special ceremony at the Museum of the Marine Corps in Triangle,
VA. The ceremony included remarks from fellow Marines, the reading of
his certificates, and special renditions of the National Anthem and
Marines Hymn on guitar. The audience was composed of fellow Marines
along with friends and family members.
Please see below for a Q&A with Dave Zimmerman on his time in the
Marines as well as his participation in the SkillBridge program.
Why did you decide to join the United States Marine Corps?
I did not want to be mediocre. As a young kid, I admired military
service members. I was just about five years old when Desert Storm
kicked off. I remember watching news reports on TV, footage of Americans
and U.S Allies fighting the war. I knew I wanted to be a part of that,
and I knew it had to be as a Marine.
What are some of the skills you learned in the Marine Corps
that you think will help translate to other fields as you transition to
life after service?
Leadership is the most valuable skill the Marine Corps instilled in
me, one that will translate to every area of life after service. My
leadership training has taught me how to efficiently manage time,
communicate effectively, and to think critically. But above all, it
taught me how to understand, encourage, and take care of people.
What have you enjoyed most about your participation in the SkillBridge Fellowship?
There is an intense learning curve when moving from a life in the
military to working in a large civilian corporation. SkillBridge has
allowed me ease into this transition, gaining real-world work experience
while slowly phasing out of the military lifestyle.
What has been your favorite part about working at CWTSatoTravel thus far?
The best part of working at CWTSatoTravel has been the mentorship
from employees that have gone through the military-to-civilian
transition experience. It has proven indispensable in developing me as a
business professional and has helped me apply my military training to
the civilian sector.
What piece of advice do you have for service members as they transition to life after service in the civilian workforce?
Find a mentor that can provide guidance, encouragement, and assists
you in carving out a path to a successful and meaningful life after
service.