Since its inception in 2012, The Walt Disney Company’s Heroes Work Here program has hired thousands of veterans and active-duty military personnel to become part of the magic. Every one of those cast members has an incredible story to tell, including Juan Garcia, who will achieve his dream this Veterans Day when he transitions from the Disney Military Fellowship Program into a full-time role at Disneyland Resort. His story is one of perseverance, meaningful mentorship and proving that the Heroes Work Here program truly provides opportunities for career growth and achievement.
Disneyland Resort cast member Juan, receiving a Master Technician award by his lieutenant colonel.
While studying engineering at college, Juan decided to enlist in the U.S. Air Force to gain valuable life experience and to put his engineering knowledge to the test. Juan recalls, “I always had the military in the back of my mind. My two stepbrothers were in the Marines, and my sister was in the Air Force, so I always thought about joining, too.” His goal was to secure a role in the civilian workforce after gaining hands-on experience in the field.
When his military contract completion date was soon approaching, Juan began looking at companies that actively hire military personnel through the Department of Defense SkillBridge program, which allows active-duty service members to gain civilian work experience during their last 180 days of service. When he saw The Walt Disney Company on the list of partner companies, he immediately jumped at the opportunity! It felt to Juan like the stars had aligned; he had always dreamed of working at Disney, sparked by his interest in how park attractions work.
Juan was selected to work at the Disneyland Resort through the Military Fellowship Program, reporting to Ariel Elias, a supplier diversity manager. During his fellowship, Juan was able to shadow leaders and assist with projects within various lines of business. His main focus was learning from the Facilities and Operations Engineering Services team, while also learning from Ariel in his role in sourcing. “Ariel provided me projects that could help build up my resume. He listened to my interests and then helped me find opportunities to network in those areas.” Juan also says he received important lessons in “the Disney way” – learning how things work within the company, which differs from the military’s procedures.
Ariel is consistently impressed by Juan’s passion for working at Disneyland Resort. “Juan was an exceptional mentee, demonstrating remarkable perseverance and a genuine eagerness to learn,” Ariel recalls. “Mentoring Juan was a rewarding experience, and it underscored the importance of providing guidance to our transitioning veterans.”
Juan, right, and his mentor Ariel, third from the right, representing SALUTE at a BERG event at the Disneyland Resort.
In addition to providing invaluable professional guidance, Ariel invited Juan to join the SALUTE Business Employee Resource Group (BERG) at Disneyland Resort. SALUTE is a community of cast members who are veterans, friends, families and allies. The SALUTE BERG activates throughout the year, with a focus on cast members, community and culture. Juan was surprised to see so many veteran and active-duty cast members working at the Disneyland Resort.
“Once I started shadowing around various departments, I noticed there were at least two or more other veterans working in the areas I visited.” Juan says this was comforting, as “no one fully understands the military mindset, or a veteran’s background, except for others who have been through the same experiences. Finding other veterans that understand what you’ve been through…that kind of support is important.”
This Veterans Day, about a week after completing his four-month fellowship, Juan will be continuing his Disney career journey as a full-time cast member! Juan is thrilled to be fulfilling his dream of working on the beloved attractions at Disneyland Resort as an outside machinist.
Juan’s dream of working at Disneyland Resort stemmed from his excitement over new attraction openings, like Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance and the upcoming opening of Tiana’s Bayou Adventure.
In his new role, Juan plans on remaining a member of SALUTE to stay connected with other veterans at the resort. When asked what advice he would give to others looking to follow a similar career path, Juan says, “have persistence, network, and understand how you can best present yourself during the application process.”
For more information on the Heroes Work Here program and its benefits, visit the program’s homepage.