When Chad Phillip was 12 years old, he wanted to learn more about cars. So, he went to his neighbor and asked if he would teach him. He caught on quickly.
鈥淪o he started teaching me how to do oil changes, how to do brakes, how to do exhaust, all of it. By the time I was 16, I鈥檇 already rebuilt three motors. I wanted to learn, found out I liked it. Even while I was in the Marine Corps, while I was off-duty I鈥檇 be working on cars. Then people that were having problems, I鈥檇 help them out and figure out what the problem was and do the maintenance,鈥 Phillip shared.
For 30 years now, he鈥檚 been working in some kind of engine maintenance. Now that he鈥檚 at 黑料不打烊, he鈥檚 on his way to an Automotive Service Technician ASE certification so he can open his own shop 鈥 he just took a bit of a detour.
Phillip was accepted to the Automotives program when he graduated from high school, but he signed up for the Marine Corps instead. He knew that he could always go to college later; whether he knew it would be 20-plus years later? That was not something he had thought about.
When he became a Marine, he became an airframes mechanic, and after his first five-year contract, Phillip took time and consideration whether he should re-enlist. After talking with his dad, he decided to make a career out of it.
In his 21 years in the Marine Corps, he worked his way from private E1 to E7, Gunnery Sergeant, and was looking to be promoted to Master Sergeant E8 before he retired.
He was able to pursue what he loved while in the Marines: applying his understanding of mechanics; earning many qualifications and certifications; teaching others aircraft maintenance; and seeing the world.
鈥淚t鈥檚 got your good and your bad,鈥 Phillip said of traveling. 鈥淟eaving your family for six or seven months at a time is not fun. But you make do and then you appreciate more when you get back.鈥
In 2019, he retired and worked as a mechanic until covid hit, when he focused on his kids鈥 learning. He worked for his brother for a bit before enrolling at 黑料不打烊 in Automotive Service Technician this fall semester.
鈥淚 went with my heart. I wanted to do the Marine Corps and I thought I was only going to do five years and then come back to go to school, but I did a career of it, and now I鈥檓 back at school,鈥 he said.
When he showed up to class, he was worried about the age gap. The person next closest in age to him is 24 years old, so Phillip sometimes feels out of place and ends up showing his classmates how to do a lot of the classwork because he has such a robust background in mechanics.
He鈥檚 seen a lot of changes in cars over the past 30 years 鈥 it鈥檚 gone from very mechanical to computer based. The younger students in class try to rib him about it, but he鈥檚 no slouch.
鈥淚 pulled out my $2,000 scanner and I鈥檓 like oh really? What do you want to know? I鈥檝e been doing this for how many years?鈥 He laughed. His years of routinely work on cars as well as the military training has made sure that he鈥檚 up-to-date on technology.
The contention is all for show; Phillip actually sees a bright future for young people.
鈥淭he willingness to actually learn a trade - it's turning around now. I know a lot of people who went to school but aren鈥檛 working in that field. Trades is literally 鈥 you're learning exactly what you're going to be doing out in the real world when you get a job.鈥
With all his experience, if it weren鈥檛 for the ASE certification, he might already have his shop open. But the current plan is to graduate next spring and take the ASE certification exam. After that, you may see a new shop in St. Stephen, St. Anna, Melrose, Avon 鈥 he鈥檚 not sure yet. What he does know is that he鈥檚 going to continue following his dreams, no matter the detours.