NatSec@Work - National Security Workforce - July Issue

TIRED OF UNCERTAINTY? CREATE YOUR OWN STABILITY.

Military Transition

Your Next Chapter Starts with Veteran Service Brands

CREATE A NEW ROUTINE AND STRUCTURE In the military, your day was mapped out with precision. Civilian life can feel unstructured, even chaotic. You can feel lost, without motivation or passion, or even empty, without the day-to-day tasks, formations, etc. To ease the transition, build your own routine. Create a daily routine to get you back on track until you find a better way to operate at a civilian pace. INCLUDE: • Physical fitness (helps with stress and mood) • Daily goals (small wins create momentum) • Time for reflection or mindfulness • Intentional connection (family, mentors, friends) • Structure isn’t restrictive—it’s grounding. It gives you stability while you forge a new path. PERMIT YOURSELF TO GRIEVE AND TO GROW It’s okay to miss the uniform. It’s okay to miss the clarity of purpose and the camaraderie. It is okay to miss the built-in daily stressors. You’re not weak for feeling lost or uncertain. Those emotions are proof that your service mattered. But you need to turn those feelings into motivation to find a new mission, a new goal, or whatever it is that you may discover on this journey to a new you. But once you’ve processed that grief, turn your focus forward. What’s next? What legacy do you want to build now, not just as a veteran, but as a leader, creator, parent, entrepreneur, or advocate?

YOU BRING INCREDIBLE (MARKETABLE) STRENGTHS TO THE TABLE: • Leadership under pressure • Strategic thinking • Teamwork • Adaptability • Integrity Whether you’re starting a business, going back to school, managing a household, or advocating for others, those skills still apply. You just need to reframe them in ways that resonate with civilian audiences (and sometimes yourself). REACH OUT FOR SUPPORT—IT’S A SIGN OF STRENGTH No matter how far removed you are from the service, you’re not meant to go through this alone. There are transition coaches, VA counselors, mental health providers, and nonprofit organizations dedicated to helping veterans find their footing. Some programs will help you at the local, state, and federal levels. Many of these programs are created to help before, during, and after you have already started the transition into civilian life. Do not let pride get in the way of you requesting any type of assistance that you might need. Asking for help isn’t weakness—it’s wisdom. And often, it’s the key to unlocking your next chapter with clarity and confidence. You’ve served your country. You’ve lived a life of purpose, discipline, and dedication. Now, it’s time to serve yourself with that same energy. Rebuilding your identity takes courage, but you already have that in spades. This next chapter isn’t about forgetting who you were, it’s about discovering who you’re meant to become. And trust this: who you are now will be just as powerful, just as impactful, and just as needed.

“Owning a VSB franchise gave me the structure and support I needed to build something stable for my family. I stopped worrying about what's next and now I’m in control of my future.” Damian Schlereth USMC Veteran & Owner of PAINT CORPS Denver West

You’re not leaving your identity behind, you’re expanding it.

LEVERAGE YOUR MILITARY STRENGTHS IN CIVILIAN LIFE Once you find what you are passionate about, you can then implement what you have learned from your time in the service. You can expand on what you enjoy doing, you can find purpose in that, and if things align and it is a marketable idea, you can then turn that into potentially a next step for you. Start by looking at what you did during your time in the service, then think about what brought you fulfilment while in that role. Once you have these ideas picked out, you can now think about how your military training, career, and experience will make you more marketable for those roles.

NO EXPERIENCE REQUIRED OWNER-MANAGER ROLE WITH LEADERSHIP FOCUS LOW COST, FAST GROWING FRANCHISE PROTECTED TERRITORY & NATIONAL MARKETING SUPPORT BUILT BY VETERANS EXCLUSIVELY FOR VETERANS

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