NatSec@Work - National Security Workforce - July Issue

Military Transition

HOW TO REBUILD YOUR IDENTITY Rebuilding your identity is not only possible, it’s a journey worth embracing. RECOGNIZE THE TRANSITION IS MORE THAN A JOB CHANGE Leaving the military isn’t just switching careers, it is a transformation of lifestyle, purpose, and identity. Give yourself space to acknowledge the gravity of the shift. Be patient with yourself, because no skill is perfect overnight, and adapting to a whole new lifestyle takes time. You may feel a mix of pride, grief, confusion, and hope. All of those emotions are valid. Instead of rushing to “move on,” pause to reflect on what the military meant to you. This is an important step in not ‘creating’ the new you, but growing and evolving into who you are capable of being. Keep in mind all of the lessons learned while serving and what parts of that experience you want to carry forward. REDEFINE YOUR “WHY” In uniform, your purpose was often tied to a collective mission. But in civilian life, you get to define your mission. It is not less of a ‘team’ mindset, but more of an individual mentality. You are no longer responsible for those who stand in formation to your left and right. Now is the time when you can ignore the feeling of guilt and focus on your personal reasons of ‘why’. That can feel daunting, but it’s also incredibly freeing. ASK YOURSELF: • What do I value most? • What kind of impact do I want to make now? • What brings me meaning outside of rank or title? • This process helps you uncover a new ‘why’. This new ‘why’ is one that’s aligned with your current life stage and goals.

EXPLORE, DON’T JUST ‘EXECUTE’ In the military, you’re trained to take action. You are in an industry of executing orders and accomplishing the mission. Rebuilding your identity isn’t about checking boxes, it’s about discovering more than just what the mission is and how to complete it. You don’t have to get it right the first time. Try out different career paths. Volunteer. Take a class that has nothing to do with your MOS. Get back into a hobby you loved as a kid or try something completely out of your comfort zone. Every experience brings you closer to who you are becoming. RECONNECT WITH COMMUNITY AND FIND YOUR NEW TRIBE One of the most overlooked losses during transition is the sudden absence of community. In the service, you always had a team. In civilian life, you have to build it again. For some reason, when Service Members transition into being a veteran, they put up walls between their life and the military. This inadvertently secludes you from the safety net that has supported you for years. This is sometimes intentional, but it can happen unintentionally. Don’t purposefully remove yourself from your support group, but if you have found that it has happened, there are ways to get back to a safe place.

By Aaron Knowles

Seek out veteran groups, both in-person and online. Get involved with clubs, sports leagues, creative groups, or faith communities. Don’t limit yourself to just “military” spaces— sometimes your new identity blooms in unexpected places. Consider taking classes in your hobbies or crafts, and then go from there.

REMEMBER : a tribe isn’t about shared background—it’s about shared values and mutual support.

W hen a service member transitions out of the military, no one hands us a roadmap for who we’re supposed to become next. While serving, we are given nearly everything we need: where to be, when to be there, what we are doing, and what to wear. The only thing that we are responsible for is having the right attitude when we get there. The mission-driven lifestyle, tight-knit community, and clear structure that defined our daily life feel like they vanish overnight, leaving you asking: Who am I now?

That question is one many veterans wrestle with, sometimes for years. But here’s the truth: our identity doesn’t disappear with the uniform. It evolves.