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© 2025 Lessons Learned for Vets
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Supporting veterans to achieve career success as they navigate the challenges of transitioning out of the military. Each week we will bring you a new mentor who will teach you the lessons they have learned as they traveled the military transition path before you.
192 Episodes
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Send us a text What if military transition isn’t about the next job, but about laying down the "rucksack" you’ve carried for years? Lori speaks with Marine Corps and Army veteran Eric Brew, now Georgia Director for Warriors Set Free, to unpack this organization's candid blueprint for healing from the past, building honest relationships and choosing a purpose that fits. Eric’s story cuts through the noise. He isn't known for using buzzwords, there is no posturing, just his authenticity sharing...
Send us a text Your federal resume just shrank and if you are looking to work for the federal government you have 2 pages to convey your qualifications for these roles. In this solo episode, resume writer and federal employment specialist Lori Norris walks you through the new two-page limit, the shift to merit-based hiring processes, skills-first hiring and the rise of assessments that can land in your inbox with a 24-hour clock. If you’re a transitioning service member or a veteran already n...
Send us a text For the first military transition Q&A of the season, Lori speaks with Ryan Griffiths, an Air Force leader 9 months from retirement, to translate a First Sergeant’s responsibilities that include pay issues, emergency leave, recognition and crisis calls, into relevant HR and employee relations skills that land interviews. We dig into how to rename military titles for the market, how to build keyword-rich resumes that pass ATS filters and how to lead with outcomes instead of m...
Send us a text Transitioning from military to civilian life is a complex journey that requires strategic planning well before your final out date. Starting 18-24 months ahead isn't excessive. It's necessary to build the infrastructure for a successful transition while still fulfilling your military obligations. We start by discussing what do and plan for in the 12-24 months before your military transition. The foundation of any successful transition begins with determining your career focus....
Send us a text What happens when the military career you've devoted your life to suddenly comes to an end? For Thomas McKenzie, a Marine who reached E9 before his 20-year mark, this question became painfully real when faced with undesirable relocation options. His powerful story reveals that military transition goes far beyond the job hunt. It's a profound journey of rediscovering who you are without the uniform. McKenzie candidly shares how a chance encounter with the SkillBridge program be...
Send us a text What happens when your VA disability claim gets denied? For many veterans, this rejection feels deeply personal. But as Chris McGhee explains, denial is often just the beginning of a journey toward proper recognition of service-connected conditions. In this informative conversation, Chris McGhee, a retired Air Force veteran who transformed from aircraft maintainer to VA disability attorney, shares insights from both sides of the claims process. Having navigated his own disabil...
Send us a text When Master Sergeant Aaris Whitman received her Type 1 diabetes diagnosis after 23 years in the Air Force, her carefully laid military career plans crumbled. Instead of serving 26-28 years as intended, she faced sudden medical retirement and an unexpected civilian transition that left her feeling lost and adrift. "Change is the only thing you can really count on to be consistent," Aaris explains, sharing how she allowed herself to feel her emotions before getting to work on he...
Send us a text Mark Ardecki's military transition story will resonate with anyone who's faced the uncertainty of post-service life. After nine years as a Marine with a special forces background, Mark found himself asking the same question most veterans do: "What's next?" Following brief stints as a lineman and arborist, Mark discovered an unexpected career path with Seek Now as a field inspector. What makes his story remarkable isn't just the career change itself, but the dramatic improvemen...
Send us a text What happens when the skills that kept you alive in combat become the very things holding you back in civilian life? Former Marine Ryan Woodruff's powerful journey reveals how purpose can emerge from our darkest struggles. After two deployments to Iraq and losing 14 fellow Marines, Ryan's transition to civilian life spiraled into PTS, alcoholism, and isolation. The brotherhood, mission, and structure that defined his military service vanished overnight. "I wasn't ready to ackn...
Send us a text Struggling to translate your military experience into civilian success? Dan Goldenberg's journey from Naval officer to leading the Call of Duty Endowment offers a masterclass in veteran career transition done right. When Dan took over the Call of Duty Endowment in 2013, he transformed it from a traditional "big check and handshake" foundation into a powerhouse of veteran employment support. By implementing accountability measures and focusing on quality outcomes, the Call of D...
Send us a text Michael Pett defied conventional military career wisdom when he chose to leave active duty at the 15-year mark. His calculated decision, backed by a thorough cost-benefit analysis comparing potential civilian earnings against military retirement, launched him into remarkable opportunities at Accenture and Uber before his current leadership role at Vets in Tech. What sets Michael's transition story apart is his foresight and preparation. While still in uniform, he co-founded a ...
Send us a text What happens when a highly-decorated Green Beret with an MFA in Creative Writing decides to forge a completely different path after retirement? Randy Surles takes us on his remarkable journey from 32 years in Army Special Forces to becoming a sought-after editor and ghostwriter for military authors. Randy's story begins with unexpected change when policy shifts forced an earlier retirement than planned. Facing this transition while going through a divorce, he embarked on a sou...
Send us a text What happens when your dream job becomes uncertain during a government reduction in force? Keith Cassant, a retired Army veteran and sought-after transition expert, returns to the podcast with powerful insights about navigating unexpected career changes. Keith opens up about his journey since military retirement in 2019, sharing how he found his "dream job" as Veterans Program Manager at the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency. Despite rating his role at an impres...
Send us a text Gennaro "Pirate" Mazzeo turned his military transition into an adventure – and it changed everything. After retiring from the Marine Corps during COVID after 22 years of service, he embarked on an unexpected journey that led him from ROTC instructor to bartender to federal employee with Naval Criminal Investigative Services. What makes Gennaro's story so compelling is his refreshingly positive mindset about military transition. Rather than viewing this major life change as an ...
Send us a text Former Marine Corps officer Mindy Beyer takes us on a remarkable journey through her diverse career path that has spanned military service, government work, tech startups, and now leadership at gaming giant Roblox as Director of Cybercrime and Strategic Intelligence. With refreshing candor and practical wisdom, Mindy reveals the strategies she's developed while navigating frequent career transitions as both a veteran and military spouse. The conversation tackles one of the mos...
Send us a text When Air Force Lieutenant Colonel Jason Anderson retired after 20 years of service, his transition looked perfect on paper. He landed a defense industry job with just one resume and two interviews, quickly rising to an executive position managing operations across Japan, Korea, and Taiwan. But behind this apparent success lurked a troubling reality: "I was not ready to perform in these roles at all," Anderson reveals. This startling admission forms the foundation of our eye-op...
Send us a text What happens when your therapist asks you to practice rejection by applying for jobs you think are out of reach? For Air Force Tech Sergeant Christopher Coffey, it led to three six-figure job offers and a complete rethinking of his value in the civilian workforce. This eye-opening conversation challenges the most persistent myths about military transition, especially for non-senior enlisted personnel. Chris shares how he landed a management position with a six-figure salary wi...
Send us a text Maintaining meticulous records might not seem like the most exciting aspect of career management, but as veterans know, proper documentation can make all the difference between mission success and failure. In this tactical solo episode, Lori Norris shares a comprehensive system for organizing your job search and ongoing career documentation that leverages military precision while adapting to civilian workplace realities. Drawing from years of experience helping thousands of tr...
Send us a text Ever felt like your carefully crafted resume disappeared into the void of an applicant tracking system? You're not alone. In this myth-busting conversation, Navy veteran, defense industry recruiter and resume writer Marisol Maloney pulls back the curtain on what really happens when you hit "submit" on that job application. "The ATS bot that's rejecting you is me and the other human bots doing it," Marisol reveals, immediately dispelling the common misconception that faceless a...
Send us a text For many veterans, like Nick Perez, transitioning from the military can feel like stepping into a new world filled with unfamiliar rules and social cues. In the latest episode of our podcast, Nick shares his experiences since retiring from the United States Air Force. Having spent decades in military service, the shift to corporate culture has brought both challenges and unexpected joys. In this episode, he gets honest while sharing stories of his job search and his experience ...
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