For the foreseeable future, some form of transportation based on the automobile will exist.

For those mechanically minded military members thinking about a career once they separate, working as an automotive mechanic may be an option.

"We look for a team-oriented person; someone who cares about his or her coworkers," Scott Tveten, co-owner of Tveten's Auto Clinic (www.tvetensautoclinic.com) in Lakewood, said.

A longtime fixture in the city and partner with Joint Base Lewis-McChord (JBLM) since 1949, Tveten's is located at 5425 Lakewood Towne Center Blvd. SW.

"The technical knowledge involved in servicing cars can be trained; it is the attitude of the mechanic that is important," Tveten continued.

He also pointed out that he looks for employees who are straightforward, confident, honest, and work to ensure customer satisfaction. "Servicemembers have all of these traits," Tveten added.

A large portion of ensuring that customers receive the best car care centers on the fact that Tveten's mechanics are Automotive Service Excellence (www.ase.com), or ASE, certified.

As cars have become more complicated, the technology and training needed to service them has increased as well. Since 1972, ASE has worked to improve the quality of vehicle repair and service by testing and certifying repair and service professionals.  There are more than 350,000 ASE certified professionals nationwide. "ASE certification is one of the most recognizable symbols of quality," Tveten pointed out."In line with this, we offer our customers a Lifetime Repair Program.  It represents our commitment to our customers."

While Tveten's is the oldest and most recognized name in local car care, Pacific Automotive Service Center (www.mysvscenter.com) is one of the newest.

"We want all of our mechanics to be ASE certified," Arielle Richardson, marketing director, said. "If they don't have the certification, we will work with them to achieve it."

Pacific Automotive Service Center is located at 12001 Pacific Hwy SW in Lakewood.  Sam Sebuwufu owns the business.

The center's mechanics must have excellent mechanical abilities, work hard, be honest and treat the customer with respect, Richardson said. "These are very much the same qualities we see in many of the Soldiers from JBLM who come in here for service," she said.

Recently, the business adopted a unit attached to the 47th Combat Support Hospital.

"They've been really good; I like the way they treat our Soldiers," Capt. Arslan Chaudhry, commander, Bravo Company, said.

Pacific Automotive Service Center is currently in the midst of a special - aimed at Servicemembers and first responders - that covers a host of maintenance and repair items. "Simply put, we care about our customers and we will work with them," Richardson said.

For more information, call Tveten's Auto Clinic at (253) 588-5201 or Pacific Automotive Service Center at (253) 582-2982.