WHAT’S NEXT Transition to Civilian Life By Eve Nasby & Kristin Hennessy
Shedding Light on The Black Curtain Everyone who’s transitioned out of the military has a story. Most of these stories include feelings of fear, anxiety, and even depression. Facing the unknown is difficult. This difficulty exists whether you do 4, 8, or even 26 years of active duty in the US Marine Corps, like Chris Keane. Chris shares his advice and provides valuable resources so you can take the right steps to making your story one of success and less stress. Give Yourself Two Years Before Decision Time “The transition process is not one you can leave to the last minute, and it is one that you cannot do on your own,” says Keane. Two years before Chris filed his Appendix J to inform Headquarters Marine Corps about his intentions to retire, he started his transition journey. During this time, he attended transition courses and networked with peers and retirees in the industries where he felt qualified, including aerospace professionals, entrepreneurs, and other business owners, both Veterans and civilians. These efforts opened his eyes to the requirements and processes involved in making a new role part of his next chapter. By the time he made his decision, he had a good understanding of what he needed to do and where he wanted to go. He recommends giving yourself a minimum of 24 months to plan your individual transition. Be Prepared for The Black Curtain Deciding to embark on your next chapter is no small feat and can create tremendous stress and anxiety. Chris calls this transition process the “Black Curtain,” 30
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because you likely have no idea what’s on the other side. “We do not know what to wear, how to talk and better yet, we have no idea what it takes to be successful. We have spent the better part of our adult life working and living in a military culture with a structure, history, and language that we have come to love,” says Keane. By following a few simple steps, you can successfully navigate through the Black Curtain, so your next chapter will be enjoyable and fulfilling. Whether you are finishing up your first enlistment or completing 20+ years, your next chapter starts with some thought, planning and a little help from your friends in your network. 1. Ask yourself honest questions. Do you want to slide right from terminal leave and into your next role without skipping a beat? Or, do you want to take a break from all the stress, hustle and bustle and start in 6 months to a year after service? Are you excited about getting into that nonprofit or to start making a difference in a different sector? These types of questions will help you understand your goals better and will help guide your decisions. 2. Make checklists that work for you. There is a process of what you need to do to prepare. Breaking up these tasks into a checklist helps keep you on track and serves as a visual reminder. “Some folks like to use checklists, and as a pilot, I am fond of a nice, neat representation of complicated tasks,” says Chris. Chris shares one of the finest retirement checklists by Kirk Windmueller. You can find him on LinkedIn and download his checklist at: www.linkedin.com/in/kirk-windmueller 3. Join networks and immerse yourself. Networking is key to understanding other people’s stories; fellow military and veterans want to help their peers succeed. Whatever your story is, or how you see yourself entering the next chapter, connecting and learning from others is essential.
