My Amazon Warrior Story: An army officer breaking barriers & jumping at new challenges while following the footsteps of my pioneering aunt

2022-01-10T15:35:36-05:00

One big reason I applied to West Point was to see if I could top my brothers’ already significant educational accomplishments by becoming the first female in my family to graduate from a U.S. service academy.

I was also inspired by the example of my great-aunt Elizabeth “Betty” Constantino, a Navy lieutenant and linguist in the Naval Intelligence Division during World War II. I was named after and have always looked up to this female military pioneer, who lent her talent in languages to the Allied effort to defend democracy.

Like my great-aunt, I leaned into foreign languages at West Point, as well as international relations. On May 26, 2012, I commissioned as a military intelligence officer in the U.S. Army, at the rank of second lieutenant.

I had orders to join a unit based in Italy. Within two weeks of arriving in Italy, however, I deployed to Afghanistan with 173rd Airborne Brigade Combat Team. I was the first person in my West Point class to deploy to either combat zone after graduation. In Afghanistan, I would earn my combat patch, which I proudly wear on my right shoulder.

Breaking new ground

Over 10 years in the military, I rose from the rank of lieutenant to captain. I learned to lead with confidence during times of stress and chaos and — sometimes literally — jumped at the chance to take on challenges. I wanted to own my story, and break new ground like great-aunt Betty.

Initially I led a platoon of 40 soldiers, and was second in a command of a 120-person intelligence company that supported a 3,500-strong infantry brigade of U.S. and allied partners. In deployments across Europe during a time of international upheaval, I served as an intelligence officer at multiple levels for a 500-person organization.

After getting my airborne wings, I attended jumpmaster school, eventually becoming one of the first female jumpmasters, certified to teach, train and prepare paratroopers for airborne operations anywhere in the world within 18 hours.

At Fort Benning, Georgia, I challenged myself again, attending the U.S. Army Maneuver Captain’s Career Course, which only by 2016 had started admitting women. Despite having not been in combat arms, I became an honor graduate of the course.

Problem solving, military style

In the military, I formed skills and instincts that serve me well in my civilian career at Amazon, where I’ve worked since 2018 as one of the 45,000-plus U.S.-based military- or Veteran-affiliated personnel. It’s no surprise Amazon is committed to hiring 100,000 more Veterans and military spouses by 2024, and I’m thrilled to assist in that effort by sharing my experiences at the company, where I still serve as a military intelligence reserve officer.

Amazon hired me through the Amazon Military Leaders program, called Pathways. As an operations manager, I led 200 people in Amazon’s fulfillment operations. In 2018, I started a week before Prime Day, and had to learn the new operation quickly! In the military, you learn to make it work.

I was next promoted to a site leader at an Amazon AMXL fulfillment center, staging shipments of extra-large equipment like treadmills and stationary bikes. I took over as the site leader two weeks before COVID-19 shuttered many people indoors, and when orders for home office and exercise equipment and other bulky items would skyrocket. How would I keep my team safe and socially distanced and lift and move and ship larger products? In the military, you learn to problem solve.

Now, as senior manager for Amazon Global Air, I serve on the board of directors of the Warriors at Amazon affinity group, which I recently expanded to support our broadening global community of military-affiliated personnel.

I also work with many former service members at Amazon Global Air, where we hire a high percentage of Veterans who served in branches of the military–including many logisticians, loadmasters and those with skills in ground handling and transportation operations.

If you’re transitioning out of the military and are considering a position at Amazon, here’s my advice:

Own your career development. No one pushed me out of an airplane — I decided to jump. Your post-military career is in your hands, and you own your story. Figure out what you want to do, and how you’re going to achieve your goals. Research job opportunities. Obtain counsel from family, friends, peers in the military and Veteran community, and supervisors and mentors. At the end of the process, make the decision that’s best for you.

Network. Use LinkedIn and RallyPoint to reach out to others who can provide career connections and advice in translating your military skills into civilian language.

Access resources. Take advantage of Amazon’s webinars and recruiting events for tips on applying for jobs and to get connected to recruiters.

Are you a Warrior in Transition? See if a career at Amazon works for you.

Learn more:

Read about Amazon’s pledge to hire 100,000 Veterans and military spouses by 2024: https://www.aboutamazon.com/news/workplace/amazon-will-hire-100-000-veterans-and-military-spouses-by-2024.

Check out Amazon’s hiring and skills development programs for transitioning service members and Veterans and military spouses: https://www.amazon.jobs/en/landing_pages/mil-transition.

Get more information about roles at Amazon through the Amazon Military Webinar Series: https://amazonmilitarywebinarseries.splashthat.com.

Apply for more than 38,000 open Amazon positions based in the United States at https://www.amazon.jobs/en/military and search by job category at https://www.amazon.jobs/en/search-jobcategory.

Explore Amazon’s Warriors at Amazon military affinity group and other employee-run affinity groups: https://www.aboutamazon.com/affinity-groups.

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Response by LTC Keith L Jackson made Jan 10 at 2022 3:44 PM

2022-01-10T15:44:46-05:00

Outstanding career and great share for any and all service members of all ranks, branches or specialties. Thank you for sharing.

Response by SPC Maurice Evans made Jan 10 at 2022 4:38 PM

2022-01-10T16:38:48-05:00

Good for your accomplishments and for your example of your great-aunt Elizabeth “Betty”
Constantino I always wondered why there were never any women in the highly secret rooms I worked in at the communications center, You can read my profile, The women only had secret clearances. i never talked to one I really didn't know how to approach it and had people looking over my shoulder constantly, I think now they are probably there. A salute to your determination.

Response by MAJ Ken Landgren made Jan 10 at 2022 5:03 PM

2022-01-10T17:03:25-05:00

Thank you for helping veterans. My unique trait as a leader was finding innovative ways to say thank you and having fun with the soldiers.

Response by Sgt Private RallyPoint Member made Jan 10 at 2022 5:11 PM

2022-01-10T17:11:23-05:00

MAJ Private RallyPoint Member Outstanding achievements Major. Welcome to RallyPoint!

Response by CWO4 Terrence Clark made Jan 10 at 2022 6:38 PM

2022-01-10T18:38:20-05:00

Excellent!

Response by Donald Halcomb made Jan 11 at 2022 11:05 AM

2022-01-11T11:05:49-05:00

Thanks for sharing. I like this story here you shared. Carry on!

Response by SGT Private RallyPoint Member made Jan 15 at 2022 4:19 PM

2022-01-15T16:19:15-05:00

Good for you MAJ Private RallyPoint Member !

Response by SGT David A. 'Cowboy' Groth made Jan 16 at 2022 3:56 PM

2022-01-16T15:56:46-05:00

Excellent share ma'am MAJ Private RallyPoint Member

Response by LTC Stephen F. made Jan 19 at 2022 11:25 PM

2022-01-19T23:25:15-05:00

Congratulations MAJ Elizabeth Brunette USMA class of 2012 and thanks for alerting us to the news about Amazon’s pledge to hire 100,000 Veterans and military spouses by 2024.

I graduated from the first USMAPS class which included women cadet candidates in June 1976 and the USMA class of 1980 which was the first class to include women.
Image: 2011 Hall of Fame inductees USMA class of 1980 women graduates.
FYI COL Kelly Zachgo LTC Kenneth Konstanzer COL George Woods MAJ Frank Ward MAJ Randall Von Rosenberg MAJ Richard Simis SGT Tiffanie G.SFC Kathy Pepper SPC Maurice Evans PO3 Edward Riddle Maj Maria Avellaneda LTC Charles Snyder LTC Phillip May LTC Doug Lobdell LTC Jeff Jones COL Mike Helmick, P.E. @Maj Kim @Sgt Kelli SPC Nancy Greene Sgt Private RallyPoint Member Maj Kim Patterson SPC Diana D.

Response by SFC David S made Mar 27 at 2022 3:16 PM

2022-03-27T15:16:22-04:00

Great career. lots of outstanding accomplishments.

I turned off my amazon account years ago for two reasons, first; is the number of trees being destroyed for shipping boxes and, two; is that everything I received was made in communist China.
I had an uncle fight in Korea against communist China and another uncle fought in Vietnam against communist China. granted other large companies use communist China for goods but amazon is the biggest supporter of communism.