Mission Transition: Navigating the Opportunities and Obstacles to Your Post-Military Career

Mission Transition is a practical career-change guide to help transitioning veterans avoid false starts and make optimal career choices following active duty.

Every year, about a quarter of a million veterans leave the military. One might think that these men and women, some of whom have spent their entire lives serving their country, would be well prepared for that transition. However, that's rarely the case.

While well intentioned, Transition Assistance Programs and other support structures within the armed forces often leave veterans fending for themselves. On top of this, veterans themselves are typically so focused on their roles in active duty that they're unprepared to join the civilian world.

Mission Transition guides military personnel through the entire process of making a successful move into civilian professional life. It starts with foundational ideas, like understanding who you are and who you want to be, then explores strategies to make your r sum stand out and to ace the interview, and discusses ways to acclimate to the new culture and pay it forward to other veterans. Each chapter includes advice from other veterans, illustrations of key concepts, summaries, and suggested resources.

Matthew J. Louis, a graduate of the US Army Command and General Staff College at West Point, has written Mission Transition to serve as a comprehensive new resource for veterans seeking purpose in their new civilian careers.