Photo Caption: After spending more than a decade in the Army, with four deployments to Iraq, veteran Joe Yanez, 49, said he returned to school at South Texas College to learn a new trade as well as rediscover his purpose after his years of military service and personal setbacks.Photo courtesy STC Communications.
Joey Gomez, STC Communications
MCALLEN, TEXAS – For United States Army veteran Joe Yanez, returning to school at South Texas College became more than an opportunity to learn a new trade. It became a chance to rebuild his confidence and rediscover his purpose after years of military service and personal setbacks.
After serving 13 years in the Army and completing four deployments to Iraq, Yanez, 49, believed his path forward would center around automotive work. He had already earned an associate degree in Automotive Technology at another college in 2018 and planned to build a career as a mechanic.
But severe back issues connected to years of physical strain eventually forced him to step away from that career choice.
“I went to my doctor and I told him that something didn’t feel right,” he said. “I ended up needing surgery, and after that, being a mechanic wasn’t really an option anymore.”
Searching for a new direction, Yanez turned to woodworking while recovering from surgery. What started as a hobby quickly sparked an interest in Computer Numerical Control (CNC) routers and precision machining, leading him to STC’s Advanced Manufacturing Technology (AMT) program.
Using his military education benefits, Yanez enrolled in the program and began commuting from Brownsville to STC’s Technology Campus in McAllen several times a week to attend classes.
At STC, Yanez said he found more than technical training. He found support, encouragement and renewed sense of motivation.
STC became more than a campus, he said. It became a place where he could start over, discover a new passion and continue moving forward.
“The veterans services here helped me a lot. Staff at the college walked me through the paperwork, the benefits and everything I needed, and the counselors here are always checking in to see if I need help,” Yanez said. “As far as the program goes, it really gave me the opportunity to learn something new. The instructors and the machines, everything here helped me grow.”
Yanez recently completed a certificate in AMT, where he learned CNC programming, machining fundamentals and how to operate precision equipment like mills and lathes.
He said the experience not only expanded his technical knowledge but also helped him mentally during a difficult transition period after military service and surgery.
“Mentally, I had to stay busy,” he said. “Coming to school and learning gave me something positive to focus on.”
Yanez now hopes to continue advancing his education through additional certifications, and dreams of one day purchasing his own equipment to create custom precision parts.
He said STC gave him the confidence to help him continue pursuing those goals.
Now Yanez hopes his story encourages others who may feel it is too late to return to college.
“Don’t worry about your age,” he said. “Sometimes being older actually helps because you bring experience with you that may even inspire the younger students. Just never forget that there are opportunities here at STC. You just have to take that first step.”