From Bombs to Backhoes
Former Marine Brings His Cool Head and Problem-Solving Skills to Foley Equipment Customers
Jamee Kirmer did three tours in Afghanistan and one in Iraq as a member of the U.S. Marine Corps. His job? Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) technician — better known to you and me as “bomb squad member.”It’s a far cry from his current career as an equipment field technician at Foley, right?
“Really, it’s the same approach,” Jamee says. “Safety is a big concern in both instances. And as far as troubleshooting goes, you can’t just dive in randomly. You have to think through how something works, whether that’s an explosive device or a piece of equipment, and formulate your plan from there. You have to be patient, don’t let yourself get frustrated and keep a cool head.”
Go big (and go home)
Those are all skills Jamee learned in the Marines, which he joined at 17 — too young to sign the papers himself. After seven years of service, he began researching post-military careers.
The goal was to find a job that would be in demand for years, paid well and kept him entertained. He considered continuing as an EOD tech, but most of those jobs were based in the Washington, D.C., area. A native of Stafford, Kansas, Jamee wanted to be closer to home.
Then he stumbled on ThinkBIG.
A two-year, Caterpillar-sponsored instructional program, ThinkBIG pays students to train to become Cat® dealer service technicians. Participants alternate between labs and classroom work, complete a paid internship at a sponsoring dealership and graduate with an accredited degree (plus more than 2,000 hours of work experience).
Jamee completed his classroom work at Oklahoma State and his on-the-job training at Foley Equipment, rotating through a variety of different work areas.
“The fact that I could earn money while I learned really drew me to ThinkBIG,” he says. “The program costs around $20,000 — way less than a four-year college — and the GI Bill covered my tuition. It’s a great way to get into a good career with no debt. And it’s really easy to come out of that two-year training and go right to work.”Covering the field
Jamee’s first full-time position at Foley was as a technician in the service shop. After about a year, he decided he’d rather work in the field, where he could put the problem-solving skills he learned as an EOD tech to better use.
“As field techs, we’re there for anyone who has an issue with a machine on the job and doesn’t have the time or doesn’t want to bring it into the shop,” he says. “It’s a convenience for Customers: We troubleshoot the problem on site, give them multiple repair options and often can fix it right there in the field.”
And fixing it, despite the perception, doesn’t just involve turning wrenches.
“Everybody has the image in their mind of their dad or granddad covered in grease, but it’s not like that anymore,” Jamee says. “Everything’s gone electronic. I probably spend 80% of my time in the cab troubleshooting. The machine can tell me exactly what’s wrong with it as long as I know what to look for.”
Right now, Jamee is in the midst of a two-year stint as a “tech on loan” — a service Foley Equipment provides to Customers who need full-time technicians on site. He’s working for a contractor that is building a new state highway.
“They really enjoy having us out here on the job, solving problems for them,” he says. “We’re the face of Foley Equipment to them. The way we treat them is how they see the company.”In it for life
How Jamee sees Foley is not just as an employer but as a place to build a career. At age 34, he’s thought about the possibility of moving into a product support representative position down the road. But he’d be hard-pressed to give up the variety — and the benefits — that come with the equipment field tech role.
“My fiancée and I enjoy traveling a lot. We’ve got a 42-foot camper we like to take out. We’re paying for a house,” he says. “You’ve got to be able to afford all that, and this job really does enable that. Honestly, with the overtime pay, tech incentive pay, 401k match, tool allowance and benefits, Foley Equipment makes it really difficult NOT to be a tech.”
Then there are the less-tangible benefits.
“When I tear down a machine, get all the major components out, then put it all back together and it runs, there’s a big feeling of satisfaction,” Jamee says. “There’s the instant gratification you get when a machine’s back up and running, when the Customer comes to you with a problem and you can solve it.”
Maybe it’s not as life-on-the-line a career as bomb disposal. But for Jamee, it’s one that’s letting him live life to the fullest.