Jimmy Kim story:
An Army Infantryman with over 7 years of experience in the assistance and performance of reconnaissance operations. As an Infantryman, he has skills sets and experience in the ability to employ, fire, and recover anti-personnel and anti-tank mines; and locate and neutralize mines and engage targets using night vision sight. He also operated and maintained communications equipment in a radio net; constructed field expedient firing aids for infantry weapons; also performed as a member of a fire team during a movement to contact, reconnaissance, and utilized defense measures using situational awareness skill sets in security attacks and exercises during infantry dismounted battle drills.
While in the Army, Jimmy decided to obtain his Ma
ster’s Degree in Business Management which could also serve as an alternative plan for him to change his career path to a different genre, since he realized that the skill sets, he learned in the Army would simply transition him into positions related to Security or maybe into Federal Law Enforcement. He took a good look at his future career and decided to pursue an entire new career path in the power industry as a System Operator, realizing that this new career pathway would be challenging, but also very rewarding.
Prior to Jimmy’s transition out of the Army in March 2021, he did lots of research and planned out his new career path in a strategic fashion. He found out about the Power4Vets program via many comments and posts on Reddit, as well as via Google searches. He took a leap of faith and made that call, submitted his application and we accepted him into the program in January 2021. He started the Power4Vets program as he transitioned out the Army in March 2021 and started his new job as a security contractor for the federal government where he worked for high value clients, where he maintained the security and accountability of clients’ high value items and worked on rotating shifts.
During Jimmy’s training with the Power4Vets program he exemplified the heart of a champion. The training was definitely challenging for him, but he was determined, dedicated, and passionate about obtaining his NERC Certification to become a System Operator. It was not easy for him, but he would not be deterred from achieving his ultimate goal. Jimmy passed the NERC exam in December 2021 and then landed his dream job in March 2021 as a System Operator I, at ERCOT in Taylor, TX.
We are truly proud of Jimmy for being so dedicated and determined, as well as believing in the Power4Vets program and process, and we are elated that he landed such a prestigious career job in the industry as a System Operator!
Words from Jimmy Kim
I’ve decided to pursue a career in the electrical sector because electricity is an essential item in our lives. Although I didn’t have any experience, education, or connections in electricity, I still passed the NERC RC exam because of my determination, persistence, as well as mentors that I’ve met through Power4Vets and Reddit r/Grid Ops page. One important tip is that understanding the concepts are more important than pure memorization, because you need to know how to apply electrical principles and NERC standards during normal and abnormal conditions. Robin Podmore and David Wilke provided me with additional study materials and Zoom meetings a few weeks prior to my NERC RC examination. Finally, I like to thank David Miranda for preparing me for interviews with major electrical companies in TX, such as ONCOR, CPS Energy, NRG and ERCOT!
Without the Power4Vets program, my new career in the utility industry as a System Operator would not have been possible! Thank you Power4Vets!