Military to Private Sector Transitions: Lessons from The Honor Foundation By Paul Falcone Transitioning from a military career path to the private sector can be daunting because of a fear of the unknown. That’s reasonable for even the most selfconfident service men and women attempting to find their new “true north” in a world that may feel alien to them. But there’s no need to start from scratch and reinvent the wheel: lots of books, articles, and websites are available to guide you through the maze of job finding and interviewing opportunities that await in order to land a position that matches your interests and longer-term career goals. That’s where The Honor Foundation (THF) can provide some valuable insight. THF is a world-class institute for U.S. Special Operations Forces that helps navigate the transition from military to civilian life and careers. Its three-month transition program focuses on education, role play, research, and a whole lot more. Per Matt Stevens, the chief executive officer of The Honor Foundation, “THF offers a progressive in-person and virtual education environment with a proven curriculum that has benefited over 700 graduates and 31 cohorts over the past five years.” Even if you’re not a Navy SEAL or Marine Raider, however, there are gems you can pull and emulate from THF’s programs to create your own personalized career transition plan. The core foundation of THF’s program focuses on achieving higher levels of selfawareness, career direction, and an enriched world view. From that higher level, the program then narrows its focus to translating specific military skills to corporate life and creating the narrative around what you do in the military and how those skills and leadership abilities translate into hardcore benefits for private industry employers. 24
WWW.HomelandMagazine.com / JULY 2020
“To make a donation or to learn more about The Honor Foundation and how you can impact the lives of transitioning U.S. Special Operators, visit www.honor.org for more informatiuon.”