WHAT’S NEXT Transition to Civilian Life By Eve Nasby & Kristin Hennessy
Kristin & Eve
TRANSITIONING Mach 10 Style
“Remember, the Navy needs Maverick! Companies need you”
In full disclosure, your authors over here
have quite an, errrm, semi-obsession with Top Gun Maverick. Between the 2 of us, we’ve seen it 12 times in the theater. Combine that with a passionfor helping our transitioning military be preppedand ready, an we’ve got a relatable one for you this month!
If you haven’t seen it yet, we won’t spoil it. But either way, you can probably relate. You are good at what you do in the military. But transitioning out could seem like your toughest assignment ever. If you think you’re not qualified or don’t have the skills for the civilian world, remember you’ve been well-trained. With the right preparation and mindset, you’re on a mission to success. Maverick was the MAN in Top Gun. He thought he was coming back to fly the MOST dangerous adventure yet. After all, he was the best. Due to a little ego inflation and pushing the Mach 10 limits against all orders, he’s put in his place. He finds out he’s not flying it. He’s been recruited to TEACH others to fly it. With no opportunity to negotiate, he had to suck it up and trust the commander. Was it a success? (We said we wouldn’t spoil it.) 38 WWW.SanDiegoVeteransMagazine.com / JULY 2022
“Coach? Sir?” Life may not deliver exactly what you expected. As you transition out you may be asked to do something you don’t feel prepared to do, or even want to do. Do it anyway. Don’t be afraid to take yourself outside of your limits. You just may find out that if you do it, the outcome will be rewarding. “I don’t like that face, Maverick.” “It’s the only one I got.” You are you - a unique blend of skills, talents, experiences. Your past and present experiences shape your future, so use those to decide what you want your future to look like. Where do you want to live? What kind of work excites you? Research your options before transitioning out and stick to what speaks to only YOUR unique self.
