“Mr. Rains informed me when Pipeline NC was initiated and began giving me material on the program. He recommended I go to the website and check it out. I did and immediately found two jobs that interested me. I applied for both and was interviewed over the phone. One week later I was notified that I had been hired." - Thomas Kriston

DUBLIN — Thomas Kriston’s life has come full circle since that fateful day in February 2006 when he suffered a traumatic brain injury in a training accident at Fort Bragg.

Soon after the accident occurred, many doubted that he would ever be able to return to the workforce. But today he is working in his chosen field for a contractor with the U.S. Army on Fort Bragg.

A native of Shelton, Conn., Kriston became interested in computers while in high school.

“I wanted to know what made them tick,” he said. “So I studied and worked with them every chance I had. After high school, I went to work as a file custodian in the bank where my mother worked.”

About one and one-half years later, Kriston enrolled at Housatonic Community College near his home. He continued working and went to school part-time. He then left his job to go to school full-time, but returned to the workforce after two semesters because of financial difficulties. He was hired full-time in customer service and because of his computer savvy was soon promoted to the help desk, a job he says he really enjoyed. He was offered contracting jobs with several companies.

Then something happened that changed his priorities.

“When 9/11 came, it changed my perspective on life—on what was important,” Kriston explained. “So I finally decided to enlist in the Army,” he said. “I was 27 (years old) when I enlisted in the Army on Dec. 1, 2003.”

Kriston was sent to boot camp and paratrooper training at Fort Benning, Ga. After completing initial training, he was assigned to special operations for training at Ft. Bragg in May 2004.

Less than two years later he was involved in an airborne operation accident that nearly took his life. As a result of the accident, he suffered a traumatic brain injury, fractured pelvis, and an injured back and neck. For the next two years he underwent rehabilitation and eventually received a medical retirement on Feb. 15, 2008.

He met his wife, Rebekah, during rehabilitation and the couple married in August 2008. Soon afterward, they moved to Connecticut for about six months, but decided to return to North Carolina.

Shortly after returning he enrolled at Bladen Community College in the Computer Information Systems program (now called Computer Information Technology).

When asked why he chose BCC, Kriston said, “My wife is from Lumberton and we moved to Lumberton when we came back to North Carolina. I looked into two community colleges and after looking into them more closely, I decided that BCC would be a better fit for me.”

Kriston praised the efforts of BCC VA Counselor Tommy Rains and the faculty in the Information Technology program for their diligence in doing their jobs. He attributes much of his success in school to their efforts and those of his wife.

He learned of the program that ultimately led to his current employment while working as a VA work study with Rains.

“Mr. Rains informed me when Pipeline NC was initiated and began giving me material on the program,” he explained. “He recommended I go to the website and check it out. I did and immediately found two jobs that interested me. I applied for both and was interviewed over the phone. One week later I was notified that I had been hired.”

Kriston now works for Smartronix, a company that provides information technology services.

“I support the customer, with regard to their computer systems,” he said. “I really enjoy my work and am doing something that really interests me,” he said.

He attributes his time at BCC in large part for preparing him for the workforce.

“The program is great,” said Kriston. “Everything in the program fits into what I wanted to do. They give you a very good combination of skills. You get classes in business and in the specialty in such a way that it gives you a much wider range of options in the field. The faculty and staff are just wonderful, and being a veteran, they have been absolutely great to me.”

Kriston is scheduled to graduate with his class in May. He plans to continue his educational journey in a bachelor’s degree program at either The University of North Carolina at Pembroke or Methodist College.

The job he has requires him to obtain Security Plus certification. He took the exam for the certification on March 18 and passed. The company paid for him to take the certification exam. He plans to apply for additional certifications after he graduates in May.

“My goal is to get a variety of industry certifications that will make me more marketable in my profession,” he said.

According to its website, PipelineNC is an education and workforce platform for job seekers and employers in the Fort Bragg region. It aligns and integrates the area’s labor supply, education, employment and training capabilities, and emerging employer occupational demands.

The site is funded by the Wounded Warrior program but is open to anyone.

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