Brantley Lockhart’s Post

Transitioning from Military to Civilian Life: It’s Not Easy. Leaving the military and entering civilian life can feel like stepping into a new world. The clear hierarchy, the structured environment, the sense of purpose; it’s suddenly all gone. And what’s left is a feeling of uncertainty, a need to redefine who you are, and a struggle to make your experience and skills resonate in a completely different context. I know this journey all too well. It took me 8.5 years to find my path, to figure out how to navigate this new terrain, and to stop feeling like I was always one step behind. Building a professional network, understanding the civilian work culture, and finding mentors who get it are no easy feat. It can be lonely, frustrating, and overwhelming. But here’s the thing: you don’t have to do it alone. There’s a community where veterans like you and me come together to share our stories, support each other, and find our way forward. It’s where we understand the pain of transition because we all live it somehow. If you’re struggling, feeling lost, or just looking for a group that gets what you’re going through, consider joining us. The doors to our community are closing soon, and this could be your chance to connect with others who truly understand the unique challenges of this journey. Remember, your skills, experience, and leadership are valuable. Let’s find a way to translate that into a new purpose together. #VeteranTransition #CommunitySupport #FindYourPath #YouAreNotAlone

How I Doubled My Income in 6 Months | Military to Big Four Career Transition Discover how I achieved rapid career growth and doubled my income within six months of transitioning from the military to a Big Four firm. Learn valuable insights and tips for success in this video. #CareerTransitionSuccess #MilitaryToBusiness #BigFourOpportunity #IncomeGrowth #CareerGrowthTips #BusinessLearning #CareerInsights #SuccessStories #MilitaryTransition #ProfessionalGrowth

Transitioning Out of the Military: My Experience Hi, I’m Tristan, a transitioning service member with nearly 6 years of active-duty experience. Here are some of the challenges I’ve faced during this process, and I hope sharing them can help others: 1. Lack of Support from Leaders and Peers. This might sound harsh, but many leaders and peers in the military may not fully support your transition. Why? Because you’re leaving their team to pursue opportunities in the civilian world—opportunities that might not even exist within the military. It’s not that they don’t care; it’s just that you’re moving on to something new, and it can be hard for those still serving to fully understand that journey. 2. Getting on LinkedIn Late I joined LinkedIn much later than I wish I had. If you know someone who isn’t on this platform yet, tell them to join! Networking with recruiters and professionals earlier would have made a huge difference in my transition. Now, I’m trying to reconnect with mentors and business contacts from the past, which is more challenging than if I had stayed connected along the way. Don’t wait—start building your network now and keep those connections alive! 3. Too Many Options, Not Enough Time Yes, that’s right—I have more options than I can handle, but I don’t have the time to explore them all properly. I thought 8 months of preparation would be enough, but I was wrong. Looking back, I realize I should have started planning my exit strategy from day one. Once you start thinking about leaving, it can affect your morale and drive in your current role. The mental shift is real, and balancing it with 12-16 hour workdays is tough. There are so many resources out there to help you and your family with transition. Just because you’re separating doesn’t mean you should disconnect from your veteran networks. Stay engaged, and lean on the community that understands your journey best! A big shout out to Mario P. Fields for the value and support he gives to transitioning service members! What you taught me in one week will live with me for a lifetime. Thank you to Dana Lescoe with INvets for helping my wife and I reach companies around our home base. #TransitioningServiceMember #NewCareer #LinkedIn #Veterans

🌟 Embarking on a New Chapter: The Journey from Military to Civilian Life 🌟 After two decades of dedicated service, transitioning from the military to civilian life marks the beginning of a new chapter, one filled with opportunities and challenges alike. As I navigate this significant life change, one virtue stands as a guiding light: Patience. Patience isn't just a virtue; it's a necessity. Here’s why: 🛤️ Understanding Your New Path Takes Time: Decades in a structured, disciplined environment have honed our skills and resilience. Yet, the civilian world operates differently. Finding where our skills, values, and passions intersect with civilian careers might require time and exploration. 🌱 Personal Growth and Adjustment: Transitioning means rediscovering oneself outside the military identity. This process of growth and self-realization can't be rushed. Patience allows us to gradually adjust to our new roles in society, fostering a sense of belonging and purpose. 🚀 Career Transition: Moving into a civilian career often means starting anew, which might feel like a step back. But with patience, we can see this as an opportunity to build upon our rich experiences, bringing unique perspectives and skills. 🌉 Building New Relationships: The camaraderie in the military is unique. Outside, relationships might take longer to form, requiring patience and openness. Each new connection is a step towards integrating into and enriching your new community. 🔍 Finding the Right Opportunities: It takes time to find the right job, community, and role. Patience ensures we don't settle for less but wait for the right fit that honors our service and aspirations. As I transition, I’m reminded that patience is not about inactivity but maintaining a steady pace in uncertainty. It's about preparing, planning, and persisting, knowing that the best is yet to come. To my fellow veterans embarking on this journey, remember that our military service has equipped us with unparalleled resilience, leadership, and the ability to thrive under pressure. These are our strengths as we patiently carve out our place in the civilian world. Here's to the next chapter: patience is our compass, and perseverance is our path. 🌟 #MilitaryTransition #VeteranLife #NewBeginnings #Patience #CareerChange #LifeAfterService #Veterans

Military and Police veterans... If You're Going to Be a Phoenix, You Have to Burn First... Transitioning from military or police service to a new civilian career is like the journey of a phoenix. To rise anew, you must first face the fire of change. The Process: 🔥 Embrace the transformation.  🔥 Transitioning involves reskilling, adapting to new environments, and often, starting from scratch.  🔥 It's a challenging yet rewarding path. Choices:  🔥 Choose resilience and determination.  🔥 You need to commit to lifelong learning, seek out opportunities for growth, and stay open to new experiences. Sacrifices:  🔥 Letting go of the familiar can be tough.  🔥 You might need to leave behind certain comforts, face financial instability, and confront the uncertainty of a new career path. But remember, the flames you endure forge a stronger, more adaptable you.  Rise from the ashes with a renewed sense of purpose and a robust set of skills ready for the next chapter. BE THE PHOENIX SUCCESS RISES Have a great weekend. Kelly Hopkins Hayley Ann Boswell ⭐️ Matthew Smit Daniel Talbot Elise Stephens Chris Knight Colin Whittington #VeteranTransition #PhoenixRising #CareerChange ***************** Enjoy this post?  Connect and Follow Solve Transition Company Page and Prof. Neil Curtis

🌟 **Take the Shot: Transitioning from Military to Civilian Life** 🌟 “**You miss 100% of the shots you don’t take.**” – Wayne Gretzky For those of us transitioning from military service to the civilian workforce, this quote resonates deeply. The structured environment of the military provided a sense of security and purpose, with a steady paycheck and a clear mission. But stepping into the civilian world can feel like standing at the edge of a vast unknown—exciting yet daunting. 💰 **The Safety Net of Military Paychecks**   One of the biggest struggles is leaving behind that reliable paycheck. In the military, every month is predictable, allowing you to plan your life with confidence. But in the civilian world, uncertainty can be intimidating. Will you find a job that values your skills? Will the salary match what you’re used to? It’s easy to let fear hold you back from taking the leap. 🌐 **Navigating a New Landscape**   Transitioning to a new career means entering a landscape filled with unfamiliar jargon, corporate cultures, and networking challenges. Many veterans find it tough to translate their military skills into civilian terms, leading to self-doubt and hesitation. It’s easy to stay within your comfort zone, avoiding opportunities that feel risky. ✨ **But Here’s the Good News:**   Just like in the military, the civilian world rewards those who are willing to step up and take risks. Every application, every networking event, and every interview is a chance to showcase your unique experiences and skills. Remember, the skills you honed in the military—leadership, teamwork, resilience—are invaluable assets that many employers are eager to tap into. 🚀 **Embrace the Opportunity**   Don’t let fear hold you back. Take the shot! Each step you take in this new direction brings you closer to success. Seek mentorship, attend workshops, and connect with fellow veterans who have walked the path before you. They can offer guidance and encouragement that will help you navigate this transition with confidence. Remember, every great achievement begins with the courage to take that first step. Your future is waiting, and it’s filled with possibilities. Let’s turn those uncertainties into opportunities! 💪 Sales Platoon JOHN RENKEN, CPD 🇺🇸 #VeteranTransition #TakeTheShot #CivilianLife #EmbraceChange #VeteransSuccess

🔄 What’s something you wish you knew before making a career change? And ✅ What’s something you did that proved to be very beneficial? Whether you transitioned from the military to a civilian career, graduated college and started your new profession, switched industries, or even just changed companies—we want to hear your experiences and tips! Share your stories and let’s learn from each other. 💬 #CareerChange #CareerAdvice #ProfessionalDevelopment #TransitionTips #CareerGrowth #LinkedInCommunity

"Your time is limited, don't waste it living someone else's life." - Steve Jobs Good Morning Sunday, It's been a while since we've chatted about your #militarytransition. This March marks six years since I retired, and as I reflect back, I can tell you transition will continue long after you hang up your uniform. Learning who you are and what you are passionate about is an evolution that takes time. It's okay if your first job after leaving the service falls flat after six months, or a year. You learned something, at a minimum it taught you what you didn't want to do. While you might be overwhelmed by your own anxiety about change or self-doubt, don't let that prevent you from exploring what makes you happy. Personal growth and maturity in your new civilian environment takes time. Don't be deterred by the noise and the distractions of life, that keep you from finding what works best for you. Remember it's ok to change your mind now, it's not "quitting." There are plenty of transition resources and mentors to help you with your personal development and growth beyond your uniform. #militarytransition #transitioningveterans #retiredlife #smallbusinessowner

Transitioning Service Member...that is a title I have been excited to see since I decided to make the Air Force my career. As I hit my 3-week mark in this transition...I wanted to stop, take a step back, and reflect on "the process". Here are some of the things that I have noticed: 1) The stress and worry of what to do "when you grow up" is real, but remember; 2) The military has prepared us for this, so we must stay strong, find the good in the experience, and grow! 3) The best way to grow is to learn something new every day and NETWORK! 4) When you think you have networked enough, think again and keep going! 5) Find the positive in the process, for me...the beard growing is going on strong! 6) Finding the right skillbridge program is essential (I am loving Hiring Our Heroes) 7) The skillbridge search can be just as cumbersome as job seeking...so go at them the exact same...that is essentially what you are doing 8) Have a good support structure to motivate you when things are looking bleak, if you don't, then reach out to your network, me included! 9) Know your worth, know your capabilities, and don't sell yourself short. 10) Pay is nice and the military compensation chart seems cool, but a lot of the time, we are switching fields, so you might not get the comparison, but don't take less than what you are worth...the military mindset sets us apart from a lot in society. Those are my 1.5 cents and I am loving the process and thrill of doing something different. Have a great July friends!

Transitioning from military to civilian life has opened my eyes: failure isn't a roadblock, but a valuable step towards success. Each mistake not only strengthens us but teaches critical financial lessons. It shows that success comes from learning by doing and making corrections along the way. I encourage you to think about your own career path. What key lessons have you learned? Let's share our experiences and the wisdom gained from them. Your stories are likely filled with overcoming challenges, learning from errors, and growing stronger. #LifeLessons #FinancialInsights #CareerJourney