A Letter from the Founder

Dear Readers,

Welcome to Veteran Transition Advocate Magazine (VTAM). We are excited to present this quarterly publication to you. We hope to capture and offer you some useful information and resources to help you with your transition. There are many benefits available to you.

A little bit about the Founder, In my senior year of high school and like most high school seniors, I wasn’t sure what I wanted to do with my life. I decided to sign up for the US Navy in the delayed entry program. Six months later, I found myself heading off to US Navy boot camp in Chicago, Ill. This was my first time on an airplane and my first time away from home. I was fortunate to serve in the Navy. I was stationed overseas in ROTA Spain and on two aircraft carriers, US JFK and the US America.

What a wonderful new world and new experience! I considered my overseas duty station my home away from home. Upon completion of active duty, I decided to go back to civilian life, get married, start a family, and look for a new job. While in the Navy, I attended Aviation Machinist mate school in Memphis, Tenn. It made complete sense that I stay in aviation.

I knew I had to start somewhere. I picked up the local paper and saw an ad for an aviation technician at a local aircraft battery shop. I made deliveries and did what I had to do until I was ready to work the bench as a skilled tech. Although I found a good job, I knew I had to be patient and grow as a new employee.

“Something was missing.” I missed the people I served with and the feeling of being part of something. I enlisted in the Air Force Air National Guard. While this was reserve duty, I was able to work around my civilian job and provide one weekend a month, 15 days throughout the year. Being part of the Military gave me that self-satisfaction back. I eventually retired with a total of 22 years. The Military has given me guidance and direction and has allowed me the utilization of my knowledge and skills.

VTAM is excited to share some more stories of transitioning government employees and veterans. We intend to deliver the magazine in a format that keeps you informed and interested. We understand that there is an influx of information out there and that the time required to sort through it all can prove difficult. I would like to take a moment to thank our team for their dedication, contributions, and hard work. A big thanks to our subscribers and advertisers! We couldn’t publish without you.

Sincerely,

Dave Schiavone Founding Publisher

Co-Founder/CEO Dave Schiavone

Co-Publishers

Eli

Stepp

(702/465-2027)

Managing Editor Vickie Buonocore

Production Editor Matt DuBois

Advisory Board Member Nick Trotta

and Annamarie Buonocore