In honor of May’s Military Appreciation Month, 84 Lumber is currently running its seventh annual Operation Appreciation campaign, celebrating and recognizing our nation’s heroes. This year, the company is casting a spotlight on Dylan Fessler, retired U.S. Army Staff Sergeant and Co-Manager at the Newnan, Georgia 84 Lumber store. Fessler is one of many military Veterans that 84 Lumber is proud to employ. See below for our interview with Dylan as he describes his time in the Army and what eventually brought him to 84 Lumber.
Tell us a little about your military background.
I was enlisted on March 5th, 2007 as an Infantryman. I attended Basic Training at Fort Benning, GA for One-Stop Unit Training (OSUT). After graduation, I was assigned to the 1st Infantry Division, Dagger Brigade, 1-18 Infantry Regiment the Vanguards in Schweinfurt, Germany. Less than a month out of basic training I was landing in Bagdad, Iraq for my first deployment, Operation Iraqi Freedom 06-08 (OIF). I was a dismount rifleman in a heavy infantry company that fought out of Bradley fighting vehicle. The Dagger Brigade was the hardest hit unit in the entire war. Our unit lost 126 soldiers during the deployment.
Our unit in Germany was reflagged to the 172nd Separate Infantry Brigade in 2008. I deployed with this unit for my second deployment OIF 08-10. My duties included: Rifleman, Team Automatic Rifleman, Team Leader, and truck commander.
Following this deployment, I earned the rank of Sergeant. During the 12 months back at duty station I attended Warriors Leadership Course. There I was awarded Commandant’s List for having been in the top 10% in GPA of classroom and field curriculum.
In 2010 we arrived in Afghanistan for Operation Enduring Freedom in the Kush mountains in the triangle of Laghman, Nangarhar, and Kunar area in the middle of the Kush Mountains. We moved to the areas we were needed as a separate infantry unit. While in Afghanistan I earned my promotable status to Staff Sergeant which I pinned shortly after returning home to Germany. Duties included: Team Leader, Truck Commander, Squad Leader, and Coalition Forces Instructor.
During Afghanistan deployment, I herniated my T-5 disk in my spine. This was my primary reason for being Medically Discharged Honorably from the military on December 24th, 2014.
How would you describe your personal leadership style?
My personal leadership style is that a leader wins, period! Whatever it takes. A leader is with his men leading from the front. I wouldn’t ask anyone to do something I personally haven’t done. Follow ME! The follow me is the Infantryman’s moto. I also consider myself a Servant leader. I serve first, leadership seems to follow that mentality. I personally love the freedom of just doing what I’m told too but, but when you see ways to make something better and are willing to do it, you tend to be placed in leadership roles. Serve first, lead second.
What lead you to 84 Lumber?
The customer service I received doing a non-profit project. I was so impressed by the customer service and the fact that the company was so giving to our cause. Since I’m an active community-driven person this grabbed my attention. Our greatest customers are our community customers.
What qualities gained through your military experience help you succeed at 84 Lumber?
Absolutely, values. In the military, we live by the acronym L.D.R.S.H.I.P. Loyalty, Duty, Respect, Selfless Service, Honor, Integrity, and Personal Courage.
These values attribute to who I am and why I continue to succeed. Also, when groups live by these values, the group works more cohesively and efficiently. This is the foundation of how to build great culture and brotherhood.
Do you work with other military veterans from other branches of the service? And/or volunteer for local military organizations?
Every day I wake up ready to work and contribute to the Military and its Veterans. We may not have walked in the same shoes but, we have walked many of the same paths. It’s difficult to stay connected with all my brothers out there. I always encourage military and veterans to reach out to their community and continue to serve the ones we love. Distance is the greatest obstacle. I continuously support my local non-profits and more specifically, the Warrior Outreach with its founder and CEO, Ret. CSM Samuel Rhodes with the efforts he makes in my local community. I also stay connected by finding ways to partner with other non-profits when possible.
When I first arrived at 84 Lumber, I teamed up with Flags for Vets non-profit to do a flag dedication for a retiring 84 Lumber associate and Military Veteran. It was a worthwhile event that was really rewarding.
What is your advice to a Veteran looking for a career at 84 Lumber?
Continue to serve, live by values, and continue to be in the top 1% of this nation in whatever you do. Find creative ways to fill need areas within your scope and always drive our mission to be the top-performing professionals in the field. Our Military is the best and your service comes with a badge of honor, which speaks volumes in the civilian world and will vault you forward in your career path with 84 Lumber.
What do you want to tell people about Newnan, GA, and the community in which you work and live?
Georgia continues to be the top place in the country to do business 8 years in a row. We are also the best place for small businesses in the country. As the new Empire State of this country, we are booming with opportunity and excellent quality of life. Come check out Newnan, Atlanta, and the rest of the state and its top commodities. Our top commodities include pulp, peaches, and pecans. The fourth “P” would be its people.
A career at 84 Lumber can be a perfect transition to life after the military. To explore career opportunities with the nation’s largest privately held building materials supplier, click here. To view a video featuring Fessler, visit the company on social media. And to learn more about this month’s Operation Appreciation campaign, visit: https://www.84lumber.com/about/press-room/84-press-releases/operation-appreciation-2022/.