Uncleared connection: stories of friendship

Abbey Miller and Joy Taylor reunited for a photoshoot in the uncleared room where they first met.

Joy—It’s a name, but it’s also the emotion Abbey Miller felt when she entered the uncleared room at the John C. Drummond Center on her first day of work after New Employee Orientation. A friendly face welcomed her to an unfamiliar workplace as she began her exciting career at Pantex in Project Management.

Abbey was assigned to sit behind Joy Taylor and knew instantly they would be friends.

“Everyone needs a Joy in their life,” Abbey said. “When we met on the first day, she walked me through everything. She took me under her wing and made me feel comfortable.”

In Room 106, Row 4, Abbey sat across from Joy, a safety analyst in the Nuclear and Explosive Surety Department. The two formed a fast friendship.

“She was assigned to sit right behind me. She was so bubbly and fun, and I knew we’d hit it off well,” Joy said. “Abbey is hilarious. She kept us laughing with her stories.”

What is it about a room filled with up to 79 strangers from different backgrounds, education, experience, and interests that brings people together? Joy says it is all about leaning on each other.

“We’re all experiencing big life changes and learning new things at the same time,” Joy said. “Having the support from the people around you while navigating through new tasks makes a huge difference. The friendships I’ve made from being in the uncleared room are friendships that I can see lasting a lifetime.”

There’s no set time for how long it takes an employee to be granted a clearance so they can move to their permanent workspace. People can spend months to over a year in the uncleared room. During that time, networking helps build professional relationships and diversify personal knowledge of the plant. Joy and Abbey work in different areas, but owe their friendship to those professional conversations and work performed in the uncleared room together.

“It was nice to walk in to work and have welcoming faces smiling and letting you know the transition and all of the changes are going to be okay,” Abbey said. “We both support the mission in different ways and now we make an effort to see each other outside of work.”

Eventually both Abbey and Joy gained their clearances and moved out of the uncleared room.

“I was sad when I left because I was leaving the people that I was closest to,” Joy said. “Sad and happy at the same time. I was excited for the work I was going to get to do after gaining my clearance, having more responsibility and the opportunity to get to know my team better. But I knew I’d miss my friends from the uncleared room.”

The old adage, “it’s not what you know; it’s who you know” perfectly describes the significant impact connecting with coworkers in the uncleared room has by enhancing employees’ base knowledge and building professional – and personal – relationships in new areas.

“You find that person to answer your questions, calm your nerves, eat lunch with, be an outlet,” Abbey said. “We don’t work together anymore, but I’m so thankful to have met her.”