During our season of giving back through The Home Depot Foundation’s Operation Surprise campaign, we’re celebrating our brave service men and women by spotlighting the military members in our orange family. In the coming weeks, former and active-duty military and spouses share their stories and career experiences working at The Home Depot.
Jabarr Bean is a veteran who served as an Infantry Captain during his time in the Marine Corps from 1998 to 2004. Today, he’s a regional vice president at The Home Depot.
Growing up in Long Island, New York, Jabarr’s father, an army veteran, encouraged him to attend the New York Military Academy for high school. He later enrolled in the Virginia Military Institute for college. After that, Jabarr says joining the military was a natural next step.
When it came to choosing which branch to enlist in, Jabarr was inspired by one of his high school teachers who served in the Marine Corps. “He always talked about the camaraderie, teamwork and relationships he built in the Corps,” Jabarr says. “I wanted to be a part of that.”
He served six years of active duty in the Marines and two years in the reserves. “I’m incredibly proud of my time in the Marine Corps,” says Jabarr. “I’m most proud of the time served with my Marines during Operation Iraqi Freedom.”
After his time in the military, Jabarr joined The Home Depot after discovering that its company culture was one he was already familiar with. “The Home Depot’s core values aligned with my personal values, and are very similar to the values of the Marine Corps.”
In his time at The Home Depot, he considers his fellow associates to be his favorite part of the job.
“Much like my time in the military, they have become close friends and family,” he says. “The Home Depot is a great organization that supports transitioning military veterans,” says Jabarr. “You’ll find you get the opportunity to use some of the same skills you learned in the military, too.”
The Home Depot is proud to employ more than 35,000 veterans and military spouses throughout the company. Since 2011, The Home Depot Foundation has invested more than $350 million in veteran causes and improved more than 48,000 veteran homes in more than 4,500 cities. To learn more about our veteran initiatives, please visit HomeDepotFoundation.org. If you’re a veteran looking for career opportunities at Home Depot, visit www.careers.homedepot.com/military.
