Employee Tim Ratcliff thankful for company’s ‘military friendly’ attitude

Coast native Tim Ratcliff has spent time in and around three of the country’s largest military branches.

Ratcliff, a general warehouse driver at Mississippi Power’s Materials Distribution Center in Gulfport, now serves as a 2nd Lt. in the U.S. Army National Guard as an intelligence officer.

“I’ve been in the service for nine years,” said Ratcliff. “Six were with Air Force reserves, where I worked in air transportation. I basically handled anything that went on an airplane. I even served at a base in Hawaii where I was able to rub shoulders with some pretty important VIPs. When my term was up, I was recruited by the Army for its Officer Candidate School.”

Ratcliff graduated from OCS in August at the top of his class and received the highest score in his class in physical training.

“My grandfather was in the Guard for 30 years and inspired me to join the service,” he said. “I used to see him in uniform all the time and that got me interested. Sadly, he died before I graduated from OCS. I was hoping he could see me finish.”

That military background and attention to detail helped Ratcliff find work at the Naval Construction Battalion Center (Seabee Base) in quality control as a civilian. When an opening came at Mississippi Power a year and a half ago, Ratcliff jumped at the opportunity.

“My background and the company’s military-friendly attitude helped me get here,” Ratcliff added. “Military-friendly companies like Southern Company and Mississippi Power are a blessing. I’ve known a lot of people who’ve left the service and couldn’t find jobs, but I was fortunate enough to land here.”