Tim Sepkoski: transitioning from boots to business shoes

Courtesy Photo | Far East District Commander, COL Christopher Crary, presents SSG Timothy Sepkoski, Southern Resident Office Quality Assurance Rep, with an end-of-service award. Upon separation from the Army, Sepkoski will join SRO as a Civilian. (FED file photo)  

SOUTH KOREA

07.01.2021

Story by Sameria Zavala 

U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Far East District

By Jaehoon Smith and Sameria Zavala

Former Army Staff Sergeant Timothy Sepkoski recently received an end-of-service award from the Far East District for his military service as a Quality Assurance Representative (QAR) within the Southern Resident Office (SRO). His dedication and hard work throughout his time as a Soldier with SRO showcased how much of an asset he was to the team, which helped in securing a job during Sepkoski’s transition from Soldier to Civilian.

Because the District is always looking to recruit and retain top talent to deliver engineering excellence in the peninsula, hiring a tested-and-proven Sepkoski was a clear decision. Following his separation from the Army, Sepkoski did an about-face and transitioned out his boots for business shoes as a Civilian QAR working at the Southern Resident Office.

During his service, Sepkoski worked as a 12H Construction Supervisor and Platoon Sergeant (PSG), wherein he discovered that the responsibilities and relationships were identical to those of a QAR.

“My time as a PSG is what prepared me for my assignment as a QAR, and I understood how I needed to perform and apply my experience,” said Sepkoski.

Sepkoski centers his work on the practice of leaving a place better than when he arrived. This sentiment is embodied in the impressive list Sepkoski’s career accomplishments. Sepkoski was a member of the teams that built the brick engineer castle in front of the 555th Engineer Brigade at Joint Base Lewis-McChord, constructed a wooden castle for 92nd Engineer Battalion at Fort Stewart, and built a Noncommissioned Officer (NCO) arch for the 91st Military Police Battalion at Fort Drum.

Outside of his direct responsibilities, Sepkoski continually looks for ways to contribute to making the work environment better. He worked to update an outdated Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) that was eventually developed as the baseline for the final draft of a District project.

As an FED Civilian, Sepkoski is excited to continue using his decade’s worth of experience and attention to detail to contribute to the organization. “I knew I could still continue my service with the United States Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) and have some sort of influence on making life better for service members, their families, and also be a member of the driving force that improves not just our military readiness but also our country’s infrastructure,” said Sepkoski.

Sepkoski’s overall day-to-day experience has not changed significantly. Due to his experience as a Soldier in the same field, Sepkoski hopes to continue performing as a strong QAR. “Really the only big change is the uniform and the fact that I don’t need to lug around a ridiculous amount of gear and equipment,” said Sepkoski.

With an ongoing, smooth transition to civilian life underway, Sepkoski plans to reignite a past hobby: creating art. Sepkoski began drawing well before his Army career began and continued nurturing the hobby during the early years of his enlistment. Due to the high operational tempo of the NCO lifestyle, Sepkoski had to postpone his art but hopes to return to it soon, pen in hand.

• Date Taken: 07.01.2021
• Date Posted: 06.30.2021 20:06
• Story ID: 400159
• Location: KR