FourBlock and the Psychology of the Transition Battle: An Inside Look

I met Queta Rodriguez at a LinkedInMilCity meetup event back in 2019 when I first transitioned from the military and relocated to San Antonio, Texas. She told me about FourBlock, a program dedicated to helping transitioning military members prepare for the business world. Although I was warned that seats fill up fast, they filled up faster than I anticipated. There was still plenty of available programs at my disposal and they were great.

Programs like USO Pathfinder, America's Corporate Partners, Hire Heroes USA, Onward 2 Opportunity, Veterati, Centurion Military Alliance, AMVETS, Disabled American Veterans, Military Mojo, Hiring Red White and You, Joint Base San Antonio Alliance, Texas Veterans Commission, LinkedInMilCity, VET TEC, CH31 VOCREHAB the list goes on and on, and I absorbed all of it. All of those programs have outstanding representatives, some of which I claim as close colleagues and friends.

However, there was just something about FourBlock that really appealed to me. I knew a few alumni that I had served with and they had nothing but praise for the professionalism and insight that FourBlock provided them as they transitioned to successful, meaningful careers. They have the credentials to back that up. Top Rated Non Profit for 5 consecutive years!

As much as I wanted to attend class in person, as I feel that connections are more meaningful than the woeful "Zoom Socials", these are challenging times in the era of COVID19. On September 8th, 2021, the 10 week course would begin. I would see some familiar faces both with the coaches and the staff as I've been in the transition community for a few years. Some might say that I've already transitioned since I am currently employed and have been out of the Navy long enough that I've already checked boxes outside employment such as getting acquainted with services offered by the VA. In fact, quite a few were a little surprised to see me in FourBlock as a student and not a coach. I even got called out a few times for not coaching as some thought I was there to do just that. They were wrong. Here's why:

Transition isn't a check in the box much like a PCS move is for military. Getting the job doesn't end transition. Meaningful relationships don't end at the "job offer". Transition is a process that develops over time the more you put into it. I can speak from experience because when it comes to other's transition, I put forth effort in assisting or advising them, yet, I rarely, if ever, follow my own advice. Having an education in psychology has only made this self-destructive tendency worse. A mentor that I highly respect actually told me during class, "You really do yourself a disservice in your personal outlook when it comes to opportunities for you". I understand exactly what he meant by that.

That's why I was so excited to attend FourBlock. If there was a clear cut path to successful transition for all, it wouldn't need heartfelt dedication from former military and veteran supporters; it would just be a coloring book with a few broken crayons that's handed to you on the way out of the military door. There is no clear cut path. It falls squarely on you and what you put into it, and believe me, that can get really frustrating. Especially alone.

The first week starts and throughout the course, we got to meet and get to know wonderful representatives from USAA, Wells Fargo, EY, First Command Financial, Accenture, Centurion Military Alliance, and many others. I was assigned a coach with a similar background in Industrial Organizational Psychology to which, she actually knows what that is, which is refreshing because even though I have a degree in it, I have no clue as to what it actually entails. I got my degree out at sea. Other things were on my mind as you can imagine. The Middle East is hot. Really hot.

We went over resumes, elevator pitches, mock interviews, but that's not what sets FourBlock apart, as many non-profits also offer those services at no cost. It's the atmosphere. The excitement of the staff and coaches is only matched by that of the students. Most of the students were in the early stages of their transition and often times, my presence might have had a negative effect on that since I can sum up decades of effort with just a few cynical remarks. A personality trait I often weaponize. Knowing your strengths is great, but recognizing your faults is a strength in of itself.

In summary, the experience as a student with FourBlock surpassed my already high expectations. Queta Rodriguez has done an outstanding job with this program and her staff here in San Antonio is nothing short of phenomenal. Their dedication and commitment to helping veterans transition successfully is their ultimate goal and sacrifice, and it doesn't end when the class ends.

I hope that I was able to provide a little insight as to why transition continues and that even though I'm a little ahead in that journey, there's still many mountains to climb. I'm honored and humbled to know that as part of the FourBlock alumni and community, those mountains don't get climbed alone. We climb them together.