Barbara Thompson’s Post

As a woman veteran, aligning with your core values and priorities is essential for rediscovering your sense of purpose after military service. Clarifying what truly matters can pave the way to a fulfilling post-military life that resonates with your personal and professional pursuits. Here are some suggestions to help you get started: Define Your Values and Priorities 💎 Identify what truly matters to you by determining your core values and understanding how they impact your goals. Get Clear about Your Goals 👀 Create a vision board or a list to prioritize different aspects of your life, such as family, education, career, or community involvement. 🤔 Ask yourself: Which area of your life is your top priority now, and why? Feel free to share your thoughts in the comments below; your journey and insights could inspire others in our community to reflect on their values and priorities. #SimmonsLifeStrategies #VeteranWomen #PostMilitaryLife #WomenVeterans #LifeCoach #FemaleVeteran

As a woman veteran, aligning with your core values and priorities is essential for rediscovering your sense of purpose after military service. Clarifying what truly matters can pave the way to a fulfilling post-military life that resonates with your personal and professional pursuits. Here are some suggestions to help you get started: Define Your Values and Priorities 💎 Identify what truly matters to you by determining your core values and understanding how they impact your goals. Get Clear about Your Goals 👀 Create a vision board or a list to prioritize different aspects of your life, such as family, education, career, or community involvement. 🤔 Ask yourself: Which area of your life is your top priority now, and why? Feel free to share your thoughts in the comments below; your journey and insights could inspire others in our community to reflect on their values and priorities. #SimmonsLifeStrategies #VeteranWomen #PostMilitaryLife #WomenVeterans #LifeCoach #FemaleVeteran

There is no such thing as 'too late' in life.” ― Mitch Albom, Tuesdays with Morrie. Though, this small beautiful quote from the famous book 'Tuesdays with Morrie' has universal application for everyone, however, this is particularly a profound and timely message for veterans looking for transition in their careers. This would certainly help one overcome one's insecurities, self- doubts and fear of failure, if any. Let this quote be your guide while you embrace uncertainties and march boldly to optimise your inherent potential and realise your deepest dreams. -------------------------------------------- #linkedinstrategy #jobsearchstrategies #transitioningmilitary #transitioningveterans #Lifeskills #mentorship

Jason Murray's Approach to Planning for the Next Objective 👉🏾 In this enlightening conversation, Jason Murray shares invaluable insights on the importance of having a plan and preparing for the next objective. 👉🏾 Drawing from his military experience, Jason emphasizes the significance of backward planning and defining clear goals to achieve success. He underscores the need for open and honest discussions with family members to determine post-military aspirations. 👉🏾 With a focus on proactive decision-making and leveraging available resources, Jason encourages viewers to take charge of their transition journey. Join us as we delve into Jason's perspective and uncover the key strategies for planning and executing the next chapter in life. 🎬 #TransitionPlanning #MilitarySuccess #JasonMurrayInsights

Jason Murray's Approach to Planning for the Next Objective 👉🏾 In this enlightening conversation, Jason Murray shares invaluable insights on the importance of having a plan and preparing for the next objective. 👉🏾 Drawing from his military experience, Jason emphasizes the significance of backward planning and defining clear goals to achieve success. He underscores the need for open and honest discussions with family members to determine post-military aspirations. 👉🏾 With a focus on proactive decision-making and leveraging available resources, Jason encourages viewers to take charge of their transition journey. Join us as we delve into Jason's perspective and uncover the key strategies for planning and executing the next chapter in life. 🎬 #TransitionPlanning #MilitarySuccess #JasonMurrayInsights

Do you know the stories your family's veterans carry in their hearts? 🇺🇸 ♥️ The stories of our grandparents' valor and sacrifice often make up the tapestry of our family legacies. Yet, as time marches on, we risk losing these personal accounts of history. 🪦 Now is the crucial moment to engage with the veterans in our families — to ask, listen, and record their military experiences that shaped their lives and our heritage. 🎖️ My own experience with this preserves a chapter of my family's story forever. A naval aviator in the family, who flew in blimps during the Korean War, shared his tales on video 📹. Those recordings are now beyond valuable, especially as we navigated the challenges of his worsening dementia. I pose a question to all of you: Have your grandparents shared about their time in the military? 🪖 The reflections they share could offer insights into resilience, courage, and history that textbooks often overlook. Their service deserves to be honored and remembered by generations to come. For those eager to preserve these living histories, Our Patriot Stories offers a platform to record their military history for free.  Find out more and get started by visiting the link in the comment below. It's a gesture of gratitude you'll cherish—a narrative thread in your family's story that you won't want to miss. #MilitaryHistory #FamilyLegacy #Veterans

MEMORIAL DAY | Like more Americans than you might think at first blush, I didn't really know anyone in the military while growing up. No bases nearby, no signs of the military-industrial complex—my environment offered no glimpse into those realms. Sure, I occasionally encountered veterans, observed the holidays, learned the history, and, of course, would thank servicemembers on the off-chance I saw one in uniform at the airport. But the significance of that gratitude eluded me and most people I knew. Think about the following statistic: active-duty military personnel comprise less than one-half of 1% of the U.S. population. Even taking into consideration anyone with military service in their background? Still single digit percentages. And, truth be told, a vast majority hail from just a handful of states. Let that sink in... one-half of 1%... This is why I write this post. To the many, perhaps like myself once, or you, reader, who might be tangentially connected, deeply caring, but lacking regular exposure to that world day in and day out. For myself, it has been 13 years of military service. A profession that has taken me across the world, forged lifelong friendships, broadened horizons, and brought both joy and pain. This isn’t unique—each servicemember has such personal stories, although often resonating just within their own circles. Which brings us to today, Memorial Day. A time to honor and remember those who made the ultimate sacrifice in military service. Our world is a fractured place lately, every issue laden with "baggage." Yet, we can get beyond it by striving to understand one another, giving grace to others, and embracing our collective strength over prevailing forms of individualism instead. Need somewhere to look? Those we honor on Memorial Day embodied this ethos. Please take a moment to remember and honor them, but perhaps also take a moment longer and seek to understand more about their lives, their sacrifices, and their communities. I promise you won't regret doing so. And, most importantly, the families of the fallen who keep their stories alive, they're heroes. #memorialday #inspiration #military

Embracing the Universal Brotherhood of the Military - In the heart of every soldier lies a bond that transcends borders. 🌍💂♂️ In my journey as a soldier, I've come to realize that the camaraderie among soldiers knows no bounds. It's a bond that goes beyond language, culture, and geography. Recently, I had the privilege of interacting with a fellow soldier from a different continent, a testament to the universal brotherhood that defines our profession. During our conversation, I found myself asking the same questions I would ask any fellow soldier: What regiment did you serve in? How rigorous was your physical training? What were the guiding principles that shaped your ethos? And perhaps most importantly, where and how did you face combat situations? Despite hailing from different corners of the world, our experiences echoed a familiar sentiment—the dedication, sacrifice, and unwavering commitment to our duties as soldiers. It's this shared sense of purpose that unites us, regardless of our backgrounds or affiliations. The beauty of the military fraternity lies in its ability to foster connections that go beyond mere acquaintance. It's about understanding that while our uniforms may vary, our dedication to service remains unwavering. In a world often divided by differences, the brotherhood of the military serves as a powerful reminder of our common humanity. As I reflect on my interactions with soldiers from around the globe, I'm reminded of the words of General Colin Powell: "The ties that bind us are stronger than the occasional stresses that separate us." Let us continue to cherish and celebrate the universal bond that unites soldiers worldwide—a bond built on respect, trust, and shared experiences. #MilitaryBrotherhood #GlobalSoldiers #UnityInService

Love has many different meanings. For us, it means always putting the needs of our deserving military families first. Our core values of Courage- with strength in the face of fear and difficulty; Effectiveness- in doing what is right to achieve the best results; and Love-in putting others' good ahead of our own are all a part of the 'why' of what we do. If you think helping others through courage, effectiveness and love sounds like something you might want to be a part of, give me a call and we can chat about where you might fit in changing lives with First Command #WeHireLeaders #FirstCommand.

Great write-up below from the Military Order of the Purple Heart of the U.S.A., Inc. about the history of the American Purple Heart... Did you know that the Purple Heart was originally designated as the Badge of Merit in 1782 and George Washington 🤯ONLY🤯 awarded three servicemembers with the honor? It's true - check out the post below to learn more!!