“The Responsibility of Planning Your Transition: Why You Must Leave at Your Strongest”

One of the greatest mistakes people make is waiting until they’ve had enough—until they’re beaten down, exhausted, physically injured, or mentally drained—before they decide to leave a difficult environment. This is particularly true for those in the military and policing. But here’s a hard truth: if you wait until you’re broken, you’ve already relinquished control over your future.

Why should you leave your transition to chance, or worse, to the point of collapse?

You must take responsibility for your future while you’re still at your strongest—emotionally, physically, and mentally.

Here’s how you can do it:

1. Take Stock of Your Position and Chart a Path

What are your strengths right now? Where do you want to be in five years?

If you’re not consciously planning this, then you’re adrift, allowing external forces to dictate your destiny. I know of an Australian Army veterans who understood the necessity of planning his exit early. He didn’t wait for burnout. Instead, he positioned himself as a military policeman while still in the service, gaining the skills he would later use to transition seamlessly into a civilian police force.

That’s how you do it. That’s how you take control.

2. Pursue Education and Certification: Fortify Yourself Against Chaos

Education isn’t just about gaining credentials; it’s about building the fortifications necessary to withstand the inevitable uncertainties of life.

Think ahead. What certifications or degrees will you need to move forward?

Pursue them now, while you have the resources and energy. Every skill you acquire is an armour plate that will shield you from the chaos of the unknown.

3. Build a Network of Competent People

You’re not going to get far alone.

You need to align yourself with people who are competent, disciplined, and knowledgeable in the areas you want to move toward. If you don’t already have a mentor, find one. Someone who’s walked the path before you can show you what you can’t see on your own. Your network is an antidote to isolation, and isolation breeds despair.

4. Master Your Mind: Mental Health as the Foundation for Success

Let’s be clear here: transitioning out of the military or police force is no small matter.

If you’re not psychologically prepared for it, the change can shatter you. That’s why your mental health is not something to be neglected. You need to be resilient, capable of enduring stress and uncertainty without falling into despair. Focus on fortifying your mental state now, before you’re standing at the precipice of change.

5. Take Responsibility for Your Future: Own Your Exit

The service doesn’t own you—you own yourself.

The transition is yours to manage. If you wait until circumstances push you out, you’ll find yourself vulnerable, weakened, and unprepared for the realities of civilian life. But if you choose to act now, with purpose, you’re taking full responsibility for your life, and that’s a tremendous act of courage. It’s how you build a future that’s solid, secure, and meaningful.

So ask yourself—will you wait until you’ve had enough, or will you act now, when you’re still capable of shaping your future?

If you’re serious about planning your transition, start today. Take responsibility, build yourself up, and prepare for what lies ahead.