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During a seven year-enlistment that included a combat tour to Iraq, Michael Folsland learned to embrace the Air Force’s core values: "Integrity First, Service Before Self, and Excellence in All We Do."
That’s why Hilton Hawaiian Village Waikiki Beach Resort hired him in July and assigned him to Camp Penguin Kids’ Club, where he now protects, serves and entertains the resort’s pint-size visitors.
While some might view the transition from security forces to hospitality to be a stretch, Folsland said it was a natural fit because the Air Force and Hilton Worldwide share similar values. Surprisingly, he said keeping order at Camp Penguin is similar to his time policing at Bellows Air Force Station, a military recreation site on Oahu’s windward shore.
"You have to keep order and do it in a friendly and nonthreatening way. In both jobs I had to have strong customer service skills," said Folsland, who is among 46 military veterans, reservists and family members who work at Hilton Hawaiian Village.
Hilton Hawaii has hired approximately 220 veterans and military family members since the 2013 launch of Operation: Opportunity, its parent company’s pledge to hire 10,000 former active-duty armed forces members, reservists and their families by 2018.
Altogether, Hilton Worldwide has hired 7,800 veterans and military family members since beginning its hiring operation Sept. 1, 2013. Hilton also has provided training and educational opportunities to help military members and their families transition into the company.
The hotel chain established a military career website, hiltonworldwide.com/militarycareers, which matches military skills with available hospitality jobs. It also launched a resource group in 2014 to promote professional growth and give veterans an opportunity to share their unique perspectives with the company.
"Hilton Worldwide has been strongly committed to supporting military veterans and their families since our founding nearly a century ago by Conrad Hilton, a U.S. Army veteran who served in World War I," Christopher J. Nassetta, president and CEO of Hilton Worldwide, said in a press release. "We are very proud to build on this legacy with Operation: Opportunity."
Folsland said Hilton’s support is important to the military community.
"It means a lot that they made that commitment," he said. "A lot of veterans struggle when they get out of the military. It’s especially hard for veterans who have PTSD or have served 20 to 30 years before transitioning to the private sector. The military has amazing school benefits and a Transition Assistance Program, but some service members don’t necessarily know what to do."
In addition to bolstering its military hires, Hilton Hawaii is expanding other support for military members and their families, who were featured prominently in Hilton Worldwide’s annual Global Month of Service initiatives in Hawaii.
On Oct. 14 Hilton Hawaiian Village, DoubleTree by Hilton Alana Waikiki Beach, Hilton Waikiki Beach and Hilton Grand Vacations hosted a fall festival for military personnel and their families, complete with games, relay races, face painting and live entertainment. During the event more than 70 Hilton volunteers served more than 200 military personnel and their families.
"Taking care of each other and our community is something that’s ingrained in our culture here in Hawaii," said Jerry Gibson, area vice president of Hilton Hawaii. "Although we participate in volunteer activities year-round, it’s incredible to be a part of this volunteer initiative which impacts communities worldwide. Hosting the fall festival was a natural choice since Hilton Worldwide has strong ties to the military, including its Operation: Opportunity program."
Hilton Hawaiian Village also raised $10,000 at The Great Waikiki Beer Festival and donated it Oct. 21 to Hawaii’s Wounded Warriors. The money was used for accessible Beach Day Events, which were attended by Wounded Warrior transitional units from Marine Corps Base Hawaii, Schofield Barracks and Pearl Harbor.
Additionally, Hawaii’s Hilton Grand Vacations set a goal of raising $5,000 for Fisher House Foundation, which supports ill and injured service members, retirees, veterans and their families; and The Puppy Rescue Mission, which rescues and fosters pets of soldiers deployed to war zones.
The armed forces community, including military spouse Liz Lytle, who attended Hilton’s fall festival with her two young sons, has noted Hilton’s efforts.
"When you are a military family, there are constant deployments and moves," said Lytle, whose husband, Christopher, is an enlisted Navy sailor stationed at Marine Corps Base Hawaii at Kaneohe Bay. "It’s sometimes hard to find activities for the family and to make new friends. Events like the Fall Festival are so important because they help get military kids and spouses out into the community."
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KRYSTLE MARCELLUS / KMARCELLUS@STARADVERTISER.COM
KRYSTLE MARCELLUS / KMARCELLUS@STARADVERTISER.COM