Transitioning Vets: ?Be Like Mike

 It’s easy to theorize about what could or should be done to make a successful transition, but nothing communicates an idea better than a story.  

The names below are changed to protect the successful.

 Mike and his family enjoyed a naval career which spanned nearly three decades.  Command at sea, major command, and challenging shore tours were the hallmark of his career.  When given a choice between challenging or cushy jobs, Mike always chose the assignment that would make the biggest difference for the Navy.

 While commanding in his final tour, Mike and his family decided it was the right time to transition.  They faced no shortage of challenges:

-  Transitioning while on sea duty:  Interviews, networking and transitioning administration are made all the more challenging. 

-  Homeported in an area they knew would require a move:  An added level of uncertainty and complexity to depart one location while finding a home in a new location several hundred miles away. 

-  Enrolling his child in a new school in time to begin the year.  

Sound familiar?  You bet.  But Mike's story is no more or less challenging than the obstacles faced by other transitioning veterans.  There is rarely a perfect time and a perfect place to make a transition.  Sometimes you just have to make stuff happen.  Here's what Mike did to make his transition happen:

- He started early.  Fostering relationships with people he met throughout his career.  Always connecting with them through various points in his career letting them know what he was doing and asking for insights.  Slowly but surely he built his network.

-  He activated his network.  When he and his wife decided it was time to transition, he reached out to the people he met over his career and let them know he was transitioning.  Knowing the kind of person Mike was and the skills he possessed, the people in his network were willing to help.  He didn’t go it alone.  He was the chairman of his own board of directors.   

-  He communicated with his family.  Mike and his wife had an idea of what they wanted the next phase of their life to look like, and where they wanted to live.  Having these conversations ahead of time, long before submitting retirement or resignation papers, is crucial to ensure a family is aligned on what the next chapter in the journey should look like.  It’s easy to dismiss these conversations:  too early; too uncertain; too scary to consider life outside of the Navy. But these discussions must take place.  When an offer came in the right industry and the right location, they were able to move quickly and thoughtfully.

 How did the story end?  Today Mike is a program director for an energy technology company near a big city on the East Coast.  He’s applying all the skills he acquired in the Navy in a different environment and is off to a great start.  He’s smiling, and so is his family.  

Every transition is different.  We all have different circumstances, skillsets, and goals.  But being like Mike - starting early, activating personal networks, and being aligned with family - can greatly increase chances of making the type of successful transitions we are all striving for.