Voices of Our Veterans: Brent Flaten | Kraus-Anderson

Veterans Day is the national holiday designed to recognize those who have served in the US armed forces. While the holiday is just one day out of the year, our active duty Soldiers, Guard and Reserve, and Veterans serve 24/7, 365 days a year, giving and receiving a lifetime impact for their dedication. Today Veterans comprise less than 10 % of the US population, with less than 1% of the US population in active military service; https://www.pewresearch.org/fact-tank/2021/04/05/the-changing-face-of-americas-veteran-population/ many Americans have little or no connection to a Soldier or a Veteran, making their contributions to our democratic way of life often difficult to fathom. This month we set aside time to talk with some of Kraus-Anderson’s Veterans about their military experience, what it means to them and how it shapes their approach to work, and what we all can learn from their perspective.

Brent Flaten, MSCE, WELL AP, is a Project Manager at KA’s Madison office.

You served as Captain in the Wisconsin Army National Guard, including deployments to Kuwait In 2020 as a member of the 924^th Engineer Facilities Detachment. What was the nature of the work you did in Kuwait?

BRENT FLATEN:  I was the Officer-in-Charge (OIC) of the construction projects team at Camp Arifjan’s Department of Public Works. I led a team of four Project Managers that oversaw $350 million in construction projects ranging from small trailer remodels to US Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) work at the Port of Kuwait, to ensure the end-users’ needs and goals were met. We worked closely with USACE, US contractors, and foreign contractors.

What accomplishments are you proudest of about your time in the Guard, and during deployment?

BRENT FLATEN:  I was proud to be the Distinguished Honor Graduate (1^st of 65 students) at my 19 week Engineering Basic Officer Leadership Course because our class was such a diverse cross-section of the United States. There were officers who attended MIT, University of MN, West Point, etc., and I was able to represent the University of Wisconsin by coming out on top.  During deployment, I’m proud of how resilient, adaptable, and willing to help the 924^th was. COVID found its way to Kuwait as well, and we had to scramble many, many times to make arrangements for quarantining and housing a significant number of Soldiers.

Your father is a Ret. MSgt who served 20 years in the US Army, and who also served in Kuwait. Anything you’d like to tell us about your shared military experience and how that has deepened your relationship?

Photo: Brent Flaten, far right, with his brothers and father (from L.) SSG Kyle Flaten, MSG (Ret.) Brad Flaten, SGT Joel Flaten

BRENT FLATEN:  Having my Dad pin my 2^nd Lieutenant rank on me at my commissioning ceremony in 2013 is a pretty sentimental moment we both share. I joined Army ROTC in college because I was following his advice, but then he still makes fun of me for being a Commissioned Officer. Thanks, Dad! He also served as a federal civilian employee on Ft. McCoy, WI after retiring from the Army.  It just so happened that I was at Ft. McCoy for annual training (AT) four years back when he was retiring from federal service for a second time, so I was able to get some time to “sneak” away to attend his retirement ceremony.

You joined KA in 2016 and were deployed for about 11 months in 2020, serving nine months in Kuwait. During that time, how did KA support you as an active duty military and also as a KA employee?

BRENT FLATEN:  My KAWI teammates reached out to check on me several times throughout deployment, and a few of them pooled together to send me a nice care package with snacks to remind me of home. I always felt that I was missed, and that KAWI was excited to have me back.

What stands out in your memory of your time in deployment?

BRENT FLATEN:  The heat is certainly going to be unforgettable. 120 degree days were not uncommon during the summer, and we would wake up early to work out at 5am to “beat the heat” when it was “only” 95 degrees or so.  I also spent some time in Kuwait studying history and how the US came to have such a large, enduring presence in such a small country.  Recent events in Afghanistan and even Iraq in 2014 really drove home the importance of our presence in Kuwait for me.

What positive message would you like to share in terms of the people and the culture you experienced during your deployment?

BRENT FLATEN:  I didn’t have much interaction with Kuwaitis, but I often think back to all of the Civilians who were also on Camp Arifjan that were crucial to keeping the base operational.  Cooks, janitors, and maintenance staff were typically citizens of The Philippines, India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Egypt, etc.   They were all some of the kindest people you would ever meet, and were always willing to make sure US service members were taken care of.

What did you gain from your military service?  How have those assets helped you in your work at KA?

BRENT FLATEN:  Stress from the military has undoubtedly given me more resilience and a thicker skin than I would have had.  I try to use the military as a benchmark to remind myself that a bad day at KA could be much worse.  My military service also provided me leadership opportunities at a very young age. As a new 2^nd Lieutenant, you’re likely a Platoon Leader at 22-23 years old, leading a platoon of Soldiers with more experience than you. This mirrors construction management very well because as a young PM, I’m not afraid to not know all the answers. I’m not afraid to acknowledge what I don’t know, and lean on KA Superintendents, subcontractors, and the design team for help understanding a problem.

Many Veterans are struggling with processing the events of recent weeks/months in Afghanistan. What advice would you offer to them?

BRENT FLATEN:   Please reach out to the friends you made in the service and/or a professional, and talk about it. Don’t keep it inside.  I know that some question why they gave a year (or more) of their lives to their mission, seeing this end result. I’d encourage them to find hope for the evacuees who are genuinely searching for a better life in the US.

Are there activities or organizations you are involved in supporting Veterans? What would you like to share about these activities?

BRENT FLATEN:   I’m not active in any Veterans organizations yet, but I will be taking a group of ~15 of my closest Army friends to the Badgers VS Army football game and hosting a tailgate on October 16^th.  PS – Go Badgers!

What advice would you offer to their friends, families and business associates to be better allies to Veterans?

BRENT FLATEN:   Supporting deployed service members’ families is critical for service members to have peace of mind that everything is OK at home, so they can focus on their mission abroad. Families get just as stressed as the service members. Many leave behind young families, and a simple gesture, such as mowing a lawn or shoveling a sidewalk, can really make a difference.