From the Marines to the Service Truck: How Military Experience Drives Success at United Rentals

For Bryce, service has always been part of the plan.

Growing up, he was fascinated by the military. Just two weeks after graduating high school, he left for boot camp and began a four-year journey in the United States Marine Corps. Today, nearly three years into his career as a field service technician with United Rentals in Pueblo, Colorado, he continues to apply the lessons he learned in uniform every day.

"I was always really interested in the military," Bryce said. "Right after high school, I was gone."

As a motor transport mechanic in the Marines, Bryce spent three of his four years of service overseas. The experience provided a strong technical foundation while teaching discipline, accountability and adaptability—skills that continue to shape his work today.

"Essentially, the basics of being a mechanic or technician that you learn there translate directly into what I do now," he said. "You still have to continuously learn because the equipment is newer, but the foundation is the same."

Like many veterans, Bryce found that transitioning from military service to civilian life came with adjustments. After years of operating in a highly structured environment, suddenly being responsible for charting his own path required a different mindset.

"In the military, every day is planned out. Someone is telling you what to do and where to be," he said. "Then all of a sudden, you're making those decisions on your own."

Fortunately, that transition happened quickly. Within weeks of leaving the Marines, Bryce interviewed with United Rentals and started his new career.

One of the things that stood out immediately was the number of veterans across the organization.

"The majority of people at my branch are veterans from different branches," he said. "Everybody's been through a similar process. It's people you can talk to, and everyone already understands what teamwork looks like."

Bryce believes military experience naturally prepares people for careers like his.

"When you hire veterans, you're getting people who already understand how to work, how to show up and how to be part of a team," he said. 

As a field service technician, Bryce spends his days helping customers solve problems directly on the jobsite. Whether responding to a service call or getting a piece of equipment back up and running, he enjoys the opportunity to make an immediate impact.

"That's a great feeling when you can get somebody going again and make their day," he said.

He also sees direct connections between military values and customer service. Reliability, responsiveness and following through on commitments matter in both worlds.

"Being on time is a huge one," Bryce said. "Customers appreciate quick response times and getting problems solved."

What has surprised him most about United Rentals is the sense of belonging.

"I wanted to work somewhere that I didn't feel like just another number," he said. "At any United Rentals branch, you feel like you're part of something good."

That connection runs even deeper for Bryce. His father and brother also work for United Rentals, making the company a family tradition as well as a career.

Today, he carries the same pride in his United Rentals uniform that he once felt wearing Marine Corps green.

"I feel that same sense of pride being able to wear a United Rentals uniform," he said.

Outside of work, Bryce is focused on family and home life. One of his proudest accomplishments was buying his first house at age 24. Whether he's working on home projects or spending time with loved ones, he values the balance he's been able to build since leaving military service. 

For veterans considering their next chapter, Bryce's story demonstrates how military experience can translate into meaningful civilian careers—and how the right workplace can provide both opportunity and community.

"Beyond the uniform, I'm a family man," he said. "And United Rentals has been a great company for that."