WHAT’S NEXT Transition to Civilian Life By Eve Nasby & Kristin Hennessy
Your Obstacles are Your Stepping Stones The transition to civilian life is often overwhelming, stressful and can trigger feelings of inadequacy. Why? Because it’s a change. Suddenly that feeling of belonging turns to feeling alone. Executing on planned missions is now a stumble through a maze in the dark. But, when you entered into the military, did you know everything going into it? Nope. But you figured it out, right? Yup.
When you encounter an obstacle, you have a couple options. Throw up your hands in defeat, or figure out a way through. Floyd decided to teach himself how to swim through months of nonstop and intense training. His preparation and dedication worked, as he was able to pass the Basic Underwater Demolition/SEAL (BUD/S) Physical Screening Test. Quitting isn’t Failing if it’s a Recharge Is that where the fairytale ends? You guessed right. Nope. After suffering an injury that resulted in him losing both 30 lbs along with the will to continue, he quit during his first attempt of Hell Week. The decision to quit served him in the moment, but 15 months later, he realized that being a positive representation for his friends, family and fellow Americans was more important to him. He followed his gut.
Can’t Swim? Get in the Water When Floyd McLendon enlisted into the United States Naval Reserve in the summer of 1992, he didn’t enter as an expert in the field. After 14 months of Active Duty service, he chose the path Electronics Technician (ET) “A” School to become a radar and Floyd graduated with BUD/S Class 254, officially satellite communication’s expert. And an expert he becoming a U.S. Navy SEAL. He spent the next 13 years was. Did he stop there? Indeed not. After 6www.bandofhands.com years, he at four different Naval Special Warfare commands. He thought of his family, friends and fellow Americans deployed 5 times, with presence in 24 countries over as he decided his next goal. He then decided to 5 continents, including two combat tours to Iraq and undertake the most grueling and difficult challenge Afghanistan. of his life: becoming a U.S. Navy SEAL. There was just one problem: Floyd didn’t know how to swim. It’s no surprise that Floyd’s first line of advice for those
in transition is Think Big, Dream Big. If you’re facing the challenges that come with transition, consider Floyd’s words of wisdom to help you cope and rise up to the challenge: 1. Your profession in the military does not define your future in the civilian sector. Everything you’ve become good at was learned. Just because you start off cleaning barnacles off of a ship doesn’t mean you’ll be doing that in 10 years. Similarly, everything you’ve learned and done in the military is incredibly valuable and transferable in the civilian work world. 2. Understand your wealth. You bring unmatched knowledge and experience to the table. Think of all your experiences leading teams, executing on projects and missions, and how you were a team player. This is far more valuable than straight skills.
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WWW.HomelandMagazine.com / JANUARY 2022
