Even though transitioning to a civilian career might be challenging, if the job you’re interested in is similar to the role you had in the military, your future path could be pretty straightforward. But what if you don’t want to do the same type of job you did in the service?

When you leave the military and return to civilian living, it means changing just about every aspect of your life. And unless you’re retiring entirely, it also means finding a new career path to follow—a career that capitalizes on the skills, training, and expertise you’ve already developed.

Not sure what to say after your initial message? Michelle Winkley, a Heroes Linked Advisory Committee member and Chief HR Strategist with Talent Distinctions, has assembled this guide to help further your introduction and start a meaningful conversation on Heroes Linked.

Led by Board of Advisors member Lieutenant General Stephen G. Wood, USAF (ret.), a delegation from the Military and Veterans Appreciation Trust Foundation (MVAT) spent December 5-6, 2018 at the U.S. Air Force’s Nellis Air Force Base, located in North Las Vegas, Nevada and at Creech Air Force Base, located at Indian Springs, Nevada.