As of August 31, 2022, I’ll officially have retired from the United States Navy after serving for 20 years. Those who have gone before me say I’ll experience a rollercoaster of experiences, and they weren’t kidding. I’ve been super excited to have served and moved on, but that’s mixed with a seemingly overwhelming volume of anxiety about what the future holds. While I am a bit nervous, I do have a plan.
Step1 – Finish Training Program. I’m enrolled in a training and certificate program with the Chamber of Commerce called Hiring our Heros, which help veterans prepare for the workforce. I’m specifically engaged in the IT Automation with Python course, offered by Google via Coursera. Even without the scholarship, Coursera is an awesome platform for learning. It takes a large concept, like Python or Project Management, and breaks them down into bite-sized courses of instruction that deliver the total package. I highly recommend checking it out if you’re looking to break into a new market or expand your current skillset.
Step 2 – Wrap up Bachelor’s degree. I’m currently studying Organizational Leadership at the University of Charleston, West Virginia, and I’m on the home stretch. I’m packing in the courses in order to wrap up by Spring of 2023, so it seems like every available free moment is dedicated to learning. I don’t mind, since I can see the obvious benefit of adding a degree to my 20 years of military experience in conducting tactical, operational, and strategic intelligence and project management.
Step 3 – Enjoy Life. While I continue my post-military career job search, I try not to get too stressed about an uncertain future. Instead, I’m focusing on making up for lost time spent away from my family during my career. I’ve had the pleasure of serving all over the world, including living in Japan, Singapore, Bahrain, and deployments to the Mediterranean Sea and Arabian Gulf. Now, I just want to spend time at home.