Transition

“I think that dig was the first time I had laughed as much and as hard as I had since I was in the service."

Disability isn’t an unemployment sentence

For Lorenzo Leon, coming home was almost as difficult as deploying in the first place

Here are some essentials to pack with you that will make sure you are prepared for your new assignment as a civilian.

Facing the next chapter in your life after the military can feel daunting when you think about everything you need to accomplish before joining the civilian ranks

For some veterans, the thought of leaving the service can be incredibly difficult. Many wonder if they’ll ‘make it’ on the outside, and be able to support themselves and their loved ones. On top of that, many military members are second or third generation, which means they’ve spent their entire lives in a sort of nomadic state, moving from one base to another every few years. I spent 10 years in the Army and came from a military family; by the time I finally chose to ditch the combat boots, I’d moved 28 times.

Online learning can be ideal for active duty service members and veterans looking to pursue higher education. The flexible environment makes studying available to working veterans, busy families, and those stationed around the world. With accessibility comes great demand, however: you may not be living in a dorm, but you can still be easily distracted by piles of laundry, your job and that Reddit thread you’ve been following for over 3 days already.

Air Force veteran Anthony Luton has seen a lot of things in life, good and bad. Now he wants to use his experience to help others like him

When the Twin Towers came down, lives changed around the world. For Ed Maldonado, only a sophomore in high school, it was a pivotal moment that affected the trajectory of his life. From the war in Iraq to his work at DuPont, Maldonado has spent his life in service. It has shaped his person and defined his path to success and fulfillment

"For whatever reason, it's too hard to mutter the words, 'I need help.' We provide a lot of different mechanisms to do that."

Brynt Parmeter spent almost 27 years in the Army, including time at West Point. After nearly six years in the private sector in Silicon Valley, he was named Walmart's new Senior Director of Military Programs in October, and he has big shoes to fill

Hard-working high school student Amy Tregre was expected to go to college. Instead, she joined the Navy in 1999, enlisting as a cryptologic technician interpretive, to learn a language, see the world and fund her eventual higher education

The manufacturing field offers a surprising variety of job choices for a post-military career. Three veterans exemplify the diversity of opportunities in a company like Mohawk Industries, "the largest floor covering manufacturer in the world"

Kevin Releford spent five years in the Army as an Armor Officer. After transitioning out of the military, he earned his MBA from Harvard Business School and now works as a senior director at Gap Inc. This experienced leader shares with us the military skills that made him successful, and how veterans can have a smoother transition into civilian workplaces

Walmart has been a leading military brand for the past decade. One of the leaders behind it is retired Brig. Gen. Gary Profit, a 31-year Army veteran and senior director of military programs at Walmart

Much of America doesn't understand what it means to be a member of the National Guard or the Reserves. But today's citizen soldiers, sailors, airmen, and Marines are exceptionally skilled at balancing their military duties with their family lives and civilian jobs

Her decision to leave the United States Air Force as an Intelligence Officer was a tough one, but ultimately, Kelly Hill knew it was the right choice for her and her family. Now she's forging a successful career at Discover

Your time in the military is coming to a close and it feels like the world is your oyster. But just like you can prepare an oyster a thousand ways, sometimes having countless options feels more overwhelming than exciting

"PayPal really cares for the whole person, and that includes veteran status"

Bobby Grey's a former Marine, 2003 to 2007 — a mission that has given him great pride and great anguish. Twelve years later — anguish or not — he still loves the Corps to the core. Semper Fi — always faithful. But he acknowledges, though, that that's where the scars originated.

Brad Lieurance was never one to settle. From his time in college through his 25 years in the Army to his career with Xerox, he has pushed the limits and achieved success in ways he never thought possible. Now Lieurance is using his experiences to encourage others to step outside the career comfort zone.

Today, Kimberly Bryant's family isn't merely surviving, they're thriving. "I wholly attribute where we are today to Comcast," she says.

Ben Longworth enlisted into the Navy Sonar Technician program in 1978 and served for six years. He chose the field because it would give him experience in mechanical, hydraulic, and electronic systems. Longworth still uses that machinery experience as an Electrical Superintendent at CHS Inc., a Fortune 100 agricultural and energy company

When the Marine Corps assigned John Mechkowski to the field of communications, he didn't imagine that several years later, he would work as an associate data network engineer at U.S. Cellular. His time in the military gave him experience that not only made him successful in his job search, but brought him to a veteran-friendly company that he loves

Air Force veteran Adam Gubitosi has many strengths. His 21-year career in the Air Force helped him hone the talents he already had and develop new traits to further his civilian career. By relying on his strengths — fostering personal growth, networking, and goal-setting — Gubitosi has created a successful career at WESCO Distribution, Inc.