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Military Leaders in Transition – A Great Resource for Senior Military in Transition to Civilian Life Military to civilian transition is a complex process that takes time; it does not happen overnight. It will affect each service member and spouse differently, depending on many factors including resilience, financial stability, outside interests, spiritual strength, comfort with networking, level of education, etc. While limited resources dictate that current government and private sector initiatives focus primarily on transition for junior service members, many are surprised to learn that the transition process can be equally difficult for those leaving military service after a long career. While senior military leaders often have strong educational backgrounds, many have not had to interview for a job for more than 25-30 years. The longer the duration of military service, the harder it can be for some to adapt to new workplace cultures and different organizational hierarchies. In a recently-conducted, informal LinkedIn survey of O-6 retirees, over half of the respondents felt they had not fully transitioned nearly two years after leaving military service. Military Leaders in Transition (www.seniormilitaryintransition.com) is an online forum and resource for senior leaders in transition to civilian life. The site includes interviews with former military leaders who have successfully transitioned into the public, private, nonprofit and academic sectors and are willing to share their advice about the opportunities and potential pitfalls in the transition process. We also feature companies such as Boeing, Accenture and Booz Allen Hamilton that have hired former senior military leaders. Executive coaches and recruiters who work with military leaders during the transition offer helpful tips about personal branding, the use of social media, as well as common mistakes to avoid. Several interviews address the cultural and psychological challenges that many experience in the abrupt departure from military life and the importance of addressing one’s mental and physical health needs that may have been placed on the back burner during the last busy months in military service. The site also addresses topics of potential interest to senior military spouses in transition as they consider what’s next in their own lives. Some spouses may pick up a career they previously left, decide to return to school to pursue a new degree or identify new volunteer and social outlets they wish to explore, no longer constrained by frequent relocations that accompany military life. If you are a senior leader/ senior spouse in transition and would like to learn more or have a transition story to share, please visit us at: www.seniormilitaryintransition.com. You can also follow us on Twitter @Mil2CivTrans -Vera Steiner Blore Bio of Vera Steiner Blore Vera Steiner Blore is a consultant with a twenty-five year history in the public, private and nonprofit sectors. She has served as a lobbyist, adjunct professor, nonprofit board member and executive director. Currently, she is a consultant to the Military Officers Association of America and is a writer and speaker, focusing on senior leader military to civilian transition (www.seniormilitaryintransition.com) Ms. Steiner Blore holds a Master’s Degree in Public Administration from Columbia University in New York and a B.A. in Political Science from Barnard College. She served as a Presidential Management Intern within the federal government and is the spouse of a retired flag officer. |
