Buck Knives partners with U.S. Army PaYS program
CJ Buck (L), CEO and chairman of Buck Knives in Post Falls made the partnership with the U.S. Army PaYS program official; Buck is shown with Lieutenant Colonel Lee Spencer Wallace, the Seattle Army Recruiting Battalion Commander during the ceremony Monday.
ELLI GOLDMAN HILBERT/Press
POST FALLS — Buck Knives has begun a partnership with the U.S. Army PaYS program, connecting Army soldiers with career options following their military service.
With about 1,000 PaYS partners across the United States, the program connects servicemen and women with up to five companies, guaranteeing them an interview and perhaps long-term careers.
“This partnership is an honor,” said CJ Buck, CEO and chairman of Buck Knives, at a ceremony held Monday at Buck Knives headquarters in Post Falls.
“Ceremonies like this reinforce the gravity and the importance of relationships,” said Lt. Col. Lee Spencer Wallace. “These relationships are vital to the continued success of the U.S. Army.”
A collaboration between some of the military’s best-trained servicemen and women and American companies that are vetted for the program brings benefit to all involved, Wallace said.
“Even before the COVID-19 pandemic the challenge existed for our nation’s veterans to find meaningful careers after their time in the Army is up,” Wallace said.
Wallace said that in 2020 there were over 581,000 unemployed military veterans. Fifty-four percent of them are between the ages of 25 and 54 and are a crucial part of our nation’s workforce, Wallace said.
The program doesn’t guarantee the veteran will be hired, but it provides key support veterans need as they reintegrate into civilian life following military service.
Service and a deep commitment to quality products that are exclusively made in the United States are a top priority to the Buck family.
CJ Buck began working for the family business in 1978 and became CEO in 1999.
Buck is the fourth generation to run the company that was founded by Hoyt and Daisy Buck.
Hoyt began making knives by hand in Mountain Home following World War II. The first official Buck Knives factory was a 10-by-12-foot lean-to in the backyard of his San Diego home.
“When you produce a product that has a forever warranty, you need to know that you're putting out your best,” Buck said. “It is nice to know that the craftsmen behind it will also be the very best the nation has to offer.”
The spirit of excellence instilled through military training perfectly integrates with the qualities that Buck Knives has always been dedicated to, Buck said.
“Our soldiers possess technical skills, incredible work ethic, discipline, character, competence and commitment — they’re just tremendous folks,” Wallace said. “Buck Knives is setting the stage for the future success of those men and women that we recruit — and for that we are grateful.”
The PaYS Program was started in 2000 for eligible Army soldiers. Once the initial term of enlistment is served, usually two to six years, they contact their PaYS partner to schedule an interview.
In 2002, the program was extended to members of the Army Reserves, Army National Guard, Reserve Officers Training Corp, Reserve Component Cadets, Officer Candidate School and Warrant Officer Flight Training.
Businesses that would like to partner with the U.S. Army PaYS program must have about 500 employees, have impeccable reputations for excellence and be offering permanent, full-time employment positions.