WHAT’S NEXT Transition to Civilian Life By Eve Nasby & Kristin Hennessy
Use your Combat Strengths to Combat the Paradox of Choice In December of 2000, Isaac Lee checked into his first CH-53E helicopter squadron after over three years of training. “I had finally made it to a deploying fleet squadron! My timing was either perfect or terrible, depending on the perspective,” says Lee. As was a young Naval Aviator, he was fueled with motivation. While unclear on what to expect, he knew that hard work, being a great teammate and immersing himself in learning from more experienced officers and enlisted personnel in the squadron were critical for him to succeed..
Fast forward to Summer 2017. Isaac’s 20 year career as a Marine Corps Officer came to a close. The memories of his experience were vivid. He’d spent most of his career fighting and flying in the long conflicts following the attacks of September 11, 2001. That experience exceeded his wildest expectations. It covered the gamut of the emotional spectrum, often lingering on the extremes. He’d been deployed seven times, four of those to combat zones in Iraq and Afghanistan. He had served in almost every billet in the CH-53E squadron, including Commanding Officer. The Wild Mission of Transition The thought of transition was also a feeling beyond his wildest dreams. “How was I going to figure out how to start an entirely new chapter of my life for my family and I? Where were we going to live? What was I going to do for a career?” The endless options and decisions were beyond overwhelming. 34
WWW.HomelandMagazine.com / FEBRUARY 2022
Transitioning is challenging for everyone, and each case is unique. Isaac knew that to be successful, he had to go back to the beginning and approach transition with the same mindset that had made him successful in the squadron. This meant hard work and demonstrating his abilities as a great teammate. Most importantly, he needed to fast-track and learn as much as possible from everyone he met. With that in mind, Isaac has 5 key takeaways to share with transitioning veterans that he attributes to his success. 1. There is no such thing as starting too early. Isaac started reaching out to retired officers three years before he was even eligible to transition. In fact, he wasn’t even sure that he wanted to transition! But, this would help him make an informed decision. Those early conversations were invaluable and helped him start building an action plan. So, he decided he’d transition in 2 years, and had one year left in uniform to set himself up for success. He dedicated almost every bit of his spare time in that last year working on a transition plan. 2. Don’t underestimate the superpowers of networking. Networking is critical to transition success. During his final year in active duty, he was networking at least three or four nights a week. He went to events hosted by organizations, informational interviews, and met people for coffee who were willing to share advice. Every one of those interactions was educational. 3. Get your resume and LinkedIn profile done right they’re the bridge to your next success story. Isaac received a ton of advice on his resume and LinkedIn profile, and quickly realized that he could spend endless time on those two things alone. He recommends that everyone get a good first version of their resume and then utilize their LinkedIn profile to highlight additional information that is not on their resume. LinkedIn is a great tool, but you must get your profile done and start using the tool! It is a great way to tell your story to everyone you meet. 4. Find organizations that help transitioning veterans - and get involved. Several outstanding organizations exist to help transitioning veterans, and
