By Shannon Collins DoD News Features, Defense Media Activity
WASHINGTON, November 11, 2015 — Smiles and the smells of
freshly baked bread, cakes and cookies greet visitors of Dog Tag Bakery here, a
place where disabled veterans can learn more than just baking.
Disabled veterans, their spouses and caregivers can participate
in a work-study fellowship that will help them as they transition from the
military to the civilian workforce, said Kyle Burns, senior program director
for the fellowship program at Dog Tag Bakery.
The Program
Burns said the program has three prongs: The first is
education, where they partner with Georgetown University to deliver a
certificate in business administration through the university’s School of
Continuing Studies. The second prong is rotations through the different
business roles at the bakery, such as management, human resources, marketing,
public relations, product development and customer service. The third prong is
developing transition skills such as resume preparation, interview skills,
group dynamics, resolving conflict in the workplace and networking.
“Throughout the course, we put what they learned from the
classroom into the hands-on experience here in the bakery,” she said.
The bakery opened last year, and its second set of students
began their five-month course in June and graduate next week. Most of the
students have post-traumatic stress or traumatic brain injuries.
“It’s incredible to see the transition for all of them,”
Burns said. “They start anxious and excited, and then they go through this
journey. It’s challenging, and it’s interesting and exciting. It’s just amazing
to watch as they blossom and grow and begin to see how valuable the skill sets
are and how needed they are in the civilian world -- and they begin the see
their place in it.”
Helping Veterans Plan for the Future
For Josh Tredinnick, a medically retired Army sergeant, the
Dog Tag Bakery fellowship gave him a new future.
Tredinnick was injured in 2009 in Afghanistan when he was
struck by an improvised explosive device. He had hip and back surgery and has a
TBI and PTSD. He said his work in a veteran support office was fulfilling, but
baking has always been beneficial for him.
“Baking has been very therapeutic as far as just getting me
involved in a healthy activity,” he said. “What I’ve enjoyed most about it that
you can take this set of ingredients, you can follow these steps, and you’re
more than likely to come out with this final product every single time.
“You take these small steps and do it correctly, you put
everything you’ve got into it, and you’ll come out with a better product on the
other end,” Tredinnick added. He said his favorite part of baking is the
variety of breads that can be made from the same basic set of ingredients.
He said his wife, Erica, has enjoyed his work at the bakery,
especially when he brings home some of the French baguettes he bakes.
“She’s been very supportive,” he said. “She’s excited for
what happens next.”
Taking Advantage of an Opportunity
Burns said Tredinnick is making the most of his fellowship.
“Josh is really dedicated to the program and what he can
take from it, taking advantage of all kinds of opportunities and making this an
experience that will benefit him in his future,” she said.
Tredinnick said he hopes to open his own bakery and already
has a job lined up at another bakery when he graduates next week.
He and Burns recommend that disabled veterans and their
spouses and caregivers consider applying to programs like this one.
“It’s okay to take help, and it’s okay to know that the next
steps are probably going to be a little difficult. But take advantage of the
opportunities that are out there, especially when you can find good programs
like this. It will really be beneficial,” Tredinnick said.
The professors provide handouts, resources online and a book
to reinforce the material for those with PTSD and TBI issues, he added.
“There are two fellowship programs each year,” Burns said.
“... We are always looking for wounded warriors, sponsors and caregivers to be
a part of those classes.”
The application is available at www.dogtagbakery.org, she
said, noting that they are recruiting right now for the January class. “We
encourage anybody who thinks this might be a great program for them to please
apply,” Burns said.
She also encourages anybody who would just like to visit the
Dog Tag Bakery to just stop by.
“We’re open Tuesday through Sunday in Georgetown, off M
Street and Wisconsin, toward the river. We have free Wi-Fi. Come down and get a
great cup of coffee and great pastry or a sandwich,” Burns said. “You can also
get a dog tag made on one of the original dog tag presses and take one home as
a keepsake, and we’ll hang the other up on the dog tag chandelier to honor a
fallen service member. Proceeds go toward the fellowship.”
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