• Posted: November 11, 2022
• Jack Campbell, Veterans Day

Many young boys want to be firemen, astronauts or race car drivers when they grow up. Not Jack Campbell — now a IBEW Local 134 organizer/business representative in charge of unionizing non-union electricians and contractors, Campbell dreamed of serving in the military for as long as he can remember.

“I wanted to be a soldier,” Campbell said. “My uncle was a Green Beret, my father was a military veteran, and my grandfather was a Navy veteran.” Naturally, Campbell took the same plunge — after completing basic training at various forts across the American South and Southeast, Campbell was stationed in Germany during peacetime, where he was able to put his skills in communications and electrical work to use.

“There were many things I learned in the military that made me a better worker,” Campbell said. “Things like discipline and service. The military makes sure you report on time, keep a schedule and stay organized.”

As a service member in the Army, Campbell also learned critical industry skills, which would later help him as a member of the unionized electrical industry. “Because I worked in communications, I also learned about the fundamentals of electricity, how to read blueprints, how to maintain and repair generators, and how to raise antennas. As far as the technical schooling that I went through, that definitely helped me when I joined IBEW Local 134.”

Creating a pipeline to post-service employment 

Eventually discharged due to an injury, Campbell now spends his time providing tools and resources to veterans in need of help. “The kids that are coming home today experienced something that I didn’t,” Campbell said. “Many have seen active combat, and they need to be reintegrated into our society — given good jobs and tools.”

Those tools come in the form of a number of initiatives. In his current role, Campbell is helping pave the way for veterans to seek educational and employment opportunities as electricians.

In addition to coordinating veteran outreach and educating recruiters on the benefits of working in the union electrical industry, Campbell works with other  IBEW Local 134 agents to organize Socks For Soldiers, a program that delivers clothing such as t-shirts, socks and underwear to homeless veterans. “Since 2015, we’ve given over $150,000 in resources to veterans,” Campbell said.

Socks For Soldiers is just one of many initiatives Campbell is involved in — others include hosting veteran lunches during sporting events, creating awareness about post-service programs that lead to employment, and more.

Making an impact through electrical work 

Through it all, Campbell believes IBEW Local 134 has been critical to his success as a veteran, as well as the success of his family, whose history is, in addition to military service, steeped in electrical work.

“The IBEW has kept a roof over our heads,” Campbell said. “Just like the military, my father was an IBEW Local 134 electrician, and my grandfather was also an electrician. The IBEW has put food on our tables for three generations now, and I am incredibly grateful and proud of that.”

Visit the IBEW Local 134 website, hover over the ‘members’ tab, and click ‘veterans’ to learn more about upcoming events for veterans.