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Transitioning back to civilian life is often one of the more difficult challenges veterans face at the end of their time in the military. Yet many of the skills they learn throughout their service are transferrable to business and other fields.
Veterans bring a lot to the table, Admiral Bill McRaven, a retired United States Navy four-star admiral, said on the Warrior Money podcast. He noted that vets develop great teamwork and leadership skills, in particular.
“You’re always going to get hard work,” McRaven said (see video above or listen below). “You’re going to get leadership, and you’re going to get somebody that knows how to follow and be a good teammate if they have to.”
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McRaven explained that veterans make impressive employees — as long as a workplace offers them a worthwhile mission or goal.
“Every veteran wants a job,” McRaven said. “I’ve had a chance to spend a lot of time talking to folks on Wall Street and … corporations across the country, and I always tell them, look, [if] you want to do something for vets, get them a job. Put them someplace where they feel of value — where they have some comrades that they can work through tough issues on.”
McRaven also had some advice for veterans transitioning to civilian life and looking for work. He emphasized the importance of doing background research before starting a new job.
“Whenever I have the chance to talk to vets, I say, ‘Look, it’s no different than transitioning from one job to another in the military,'” McRaven said. “You had better make sure you understand what’s expected of you. … Learn the business of your business so you can be better prepared to help your teammates.”
For the admiral, this meant doing extensive research on the hierarchy of academia before he began his yearlong tenure as the chancellor of the University of Texas System.
“Once you learn the [business], all the skills we learn in the military absolutely apply,” he continued.
For those uncertain of where to start, McRaven stressed using passion as a driving force. Veterans are more likely to feel “more satisfied and happier with [their] life” when pursuing a career they enjoy, he said.
“I really do feel they have to follow their passion if they jump into something,” the McRaven. “Because nothing’s wrong with a little money, but at the end of the day, if you’re chasing the almighty dollar, you may wake up one day and find you’re terribly dissatisfied.”
Each week, Warrior Money will dive into the financial topics that matter most to veterans and the broader public. You can find more episodes on our video hub or watch on your preferred streaming service.
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