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May 10, 2023

Honoring Those Who Served: Les Albert

May is National Military Appreciation Month in the United States. MSCI will celebrate by featuring member company employees — our MSCI Metals Veterans — who have served their country in uniform. If you are veteran or member of the military and would like to share your story, fill out this questionnaire. Readers: we hope you will honor these courageous individuals by sharing their stories on social media using #MSCIMetalVets and tagging MSCI.

Name: Les Albert
Company: United States Steel Minntac
City and State: Mountain Iron, Minn.
Current Position/Job Title: Production truck trainer
Education: Fire Science, various equipment training, MSHA train the trainer
Military Branch: U.S. Marine Corps
Years of Service: 1996-2000
Job/MOS in the military: Military police officer

What memorable phrase or word will never be the same now that you served? “It is what is.”

What is something new you learned about yourself from serving? Never give up on someone or something.

How have you applied lessons in the military to your job/career? In the military, we were taught to take care of our own and I still try to do that here at Minntac. I have been with U.S. Steel for just over 10 years. With the work schedule I have, I have the opportunity to help out in our communities with our serve program and with Hometown Hero Outdoors, which is a nonprofit organization where veterans, law enforcement, firefighters, and emergency medical technicians are taken on various types of outdoor excursions for therapy and comradery with others. I’m trained in the Assist Program, which is Applied Suicide Intervention Skills Training to help others when they are in a troubled time in their life. Since starting with Hometown Hero Outdoors I have earned the position of assistant state director for the state of Minnesota, which means not only do I still do the trips for the organization, I help do the paperwork and logistics for the staff members trips, events, and fundraisers. 

Do you have a favorite quote, mantra, or personal motto? Help others and treat people with respect.

How can the metals industry do a better job connecting with veterans? Getting more information out to the veterans and sending veterans to job fairs to help with getting the word out about job opportunities. Companies also should visit some of the nearby military bases in our communities when they have job fairs. 

Anything else that you would like to share regarding your experience? For our family of veterans: when you are needing to talk or need help, please reach out to someone. Remember it is okay to not be okay. Don’t get stuck there. 

Thank you for your service, Les! Click here to read other profiles in this series and join the Military Appreciation Month conversation on MSCI’s Community Forum.

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