♪ >> Hello and welcome to NC strive 2021, I'm Jeff Smith and this is the second webinar series for this year and is hosted by wake Tech and North Carolina State University.

We'll also have a panel discussion later in the program followed by a career fair brought to you by hole that thank you again for joining us today.

>> Good morning, everyone and welcome to this year's Insee states tried career fair.

My name is Randy Woodson and on the chancellor at North Carolina State University, I'm very proud to be with you all today.

You know I want to thank all of the higher education institutions, all of the community partners.

All all of the companies and employers that are with us today for their support of our men and women in the military and our veterans, you know, most importantly I want to thank all of our veterans and their families for their service to our country we we are honored to be with you today we're ♪ to this country.

You know it in see state and wake Tech.

In many other universities and colleges across the state.

We know how difficult it can be to transition from military life into either corporate life or into the University of your choice.

That's why we have dedicated staff.

In military affairs and working groups across our state.

That community.

Cal, a collaboration is that are set up to make sure that we're doing all that we can to help you with this transition.

You know, I didn't see say University several years ago we set up a military and veterans service center here on campus to make sure that as you transition into NC State University that you have all the support that you need because we recognize when you come out of the military you're coming into a setting like into the state is well frankly, a more mature individual that has different needs then many of our students straight out of high school.

And we want to do everything that we can to support you in your syringe or transfer to to university setting and we're very proud it into the state to have been named one of the top 10 universities in the country for the military friendly and in fact we receive the gold standard for our service to veterans and to members of the military that are continuing their education at NC state.

And we look forward to our continuing our long legacy under a long history of working both with the military and so many veterans are returning to private civilian life.

And we want to be the best part or we can be with employers and others as they seek to give opportunities to those men and women coming on the view uniform and back into the to the service to their community.

So participating in North Carolina strive career fair is one way that we can put our plan into action and we want to be here for you so thank you all for being part of this today.

>> I'm Scott roles and I'm president of wake Tech Community College wake Tech is North Carolina's largest Community College with 6 campuses and for training centers and greater Raleigh wake County region and wake Tech we are privileged today to be host for the NC straw alright career fair joining our great friends, colleagues and neighbors at North Carolina State University.

Wake Tech we have a saying it's it's more than a modern for us as a way of being we like to talk about reaching in Raleigh.

Brawl that we important role we play to reach into our all aspects of our community and rally around all of our students today we're here to Raleigh around our veterans and our veterans are important for us because they have rallied for us.

They have served our country.

Their sacrifice to each of us in this a community college we feel it's a particular role for us to help as they transition back into the community and as they can rally around us as members of our community after their great service in the military at wake Tech because we're so large we have many veterans we have over 900 have approx for 900 students who exercised their VA benefits.

Wake Tech and we know there are many more beyond that to have been veterans who have served our country of those veterans about 75%, el 25% are female almost 54 members of of families of veterans and we're so proud of each and every one and we take a special pride and as we say rallying around our veterans.

We do that is through our unique veterans programs are veterans office which every day works hard and diligently to make sure that our veterans can transition into higher Ed in transition on to their goals.

But for us it's not just about one department it's about the whole college rally around this important group of students have given such service to our country.

That's why today in today's Insee strive event we've had over 10 approximately 10 areas of the College of work together to provide the services to for this particular yeah that's what we do it wake Tech that's what many community colleges do and particularly with our veterans students because we have such great.

Our veterans bring to our community something this year.

They bring great skill great great Talon son accomplished through the military into our communities, they bring great motivation, bring great discipline and in that regard when they transition into our colleges we also know that they are a great future for our community, it has a workforce that is going to propel us forward and so Fort many of our employers as we see in places like today.

There's so much opportunity for veterans because our employers recognize the great talents and skills and motivation.

They bring we have seen that at wake Tech and just as other community colleges, another University say through their veteran students that snow has our turn 3 programs like NC strive to join together as to your for your programs helping to make sure our CE great veterans as they've transitioned into higher can transition into our communities and serve our communities just as a service before as members of our military.

Thank you to all of our veterans who have contributed to us all ready for your service who are going to contribute to our communities as you transition into our communities and thank you to all of that to a four-year consortium colleges that make up in see strive the play these important roles again wake Tech is honored and privileged to be a sponsor for Insee strive.

>> Chris, thanks so much for joining us here in cease try to talk about your transition going from the brink or going to wake Tech first.

>> So I came up for active duty orders and not 2012 after a bomb in Afghanistan and started school away took did my social to Greta years there.

And it was awesome experience way took was a great school to go to a loved those small classrooms.

Gave a the ability to have a personal connection with the professors and that's what really set it off from the foi Tech this well liked it so much that.

>> Some people say there's transition issues going to school and getting all the information over the G I bill things that you have any of those issues going to attack first.

>> So the biggest thing was getting in touch with the V a rep at wake Tech.

The sooner you get in touch with that guy or girl.

The better.

Transition will be having so I got in with the VA rep away Tech and he made it a smooth transition to get the G I below set up and all of a school and paid for with using post 9.11.

>> Now most people don't have the opportunity to transition into the military out of the out of the college and university level after going coming out of it originally so you went back into the Army next and then from there you also went to NC state talk about that transition coming out a way Tech going into the Army and then going in did she say to finish your degree there.

So after getting my associate's degree away Tech.

>> Was ready for active duty again so the Marine Corps wanted me to do an office job they want to become a recruiter was not much of an office going to guy so a look at the other branches and so what other options, well options are out there and it shows the Army and went to introduce cool airborne school there where when and then.

I went through special forces that's what this election and that's where I got hurt.

And they were like.

FDA says civilian again.

So came back out to the civilian world and started school at NC state low still on terminal leave and that transition was a lot of different.

But the VA Stafford in the military veterans is service center at NC state is phenomenal.

Those guys help me a lot.

Good everything straight straightaway make sure my classes restraint there are always their lending a helping hand and they have a a very good location on campus where veterans are all welcome to come to and during my time, a state of became the treasure of the student veterans Association, and really got to use my leadership experience from the military outside of military with other veterans which was incredible.

I think some veterans.

>> Our concern when they go back to school that they're going to be with a bunch of young kids and that's all it is NC state, I know for a fact you have Nick there's actively in the guard still he still going overseas and serving during that point what is it like having those represent is on campus that are still part of the military and also working with you.

As as a student.

>> So having.

Representatives that are veterans as well and have that experience is crucial, they know exactly what you're going through they've done it themselves believe next still in class right now.

So he knows is good.

That's exactly what each veteran student is going through when they come through the their office and that makes it for even smoother transition and then being part of the student veterans Association and being in that really servers.

Veterans sort of service center that often made it even easier the more you get in touch with those representatives and other veterans on campus, the better.

So from all the you know the kids on campus.

>> Now a lot of people are seeing these wonderful I objects behind your shoulder there.

You have got into the drone industry and talk about that transition into that industry that career that you've been able to do and how your military service combined with your college experience is allowed you to be where you're at with that.

Now.

Yes, Sir, of course.

>> Well as the Marine Corps and deployed in Afghanistan, I did calm voice in converse security and I had the privilege of using some of the early drones back then the rq 11 raven the rq 16 T hawk, which we'll talk about that one.

But we use them for route reconnaissance during our convoys just to do.

Some security surveying before we went from at night and then NC state I studied a bit about drone technology actually had to a projected one of my courses or I we I with a team of engineers rewrote the entire user manual for the matter to pro over my right shoulder and that experience with my military experience led to me entering the drone industry after graduating.

Do you find that has lots of opportunities for people to use that military experience and find something even create something as you really done once they get out the civilian world.

Absolutely I believe your military experience is your back vote.

You know we all come from very particular experience from the military we all have our own jobs.

But once you get out here in the civilian world.

You either you have to find your own way and that's exactly what I've done with the drone industry and that's why I believe this industry is made for for veterans to get into it it's a perfect opportunity to get in there and find fulfillment out in civilian world, while doing something exciting with with tangible equipment that is is very important take care of and it's just that is a perfect industry for veterans to get into.

>> Today our guest speaker is retired colonel doctor Robert Adams junior.

Doc Adams began his military career at the U.S.

Naval Academy before serving as a division officer and Navigator on the USS hander.

Adams continued his Navy career becoming a commander of the U.S. Navy seals he changed military branches of the Army in 1987 and graduated from medical school at Wake Forest University leading him to become command surgeon for the Army, Delta forces.

Doc Adams also was commander of the Robinson health clinic with the 82nd airborne division at Fort Bragg after retirement from the military.

Da continued his medical practice and now is on the board of directors for the veteran's life Center in Butner that facility provides housing in training for men and women in life transition from the military in order to secure their future in civilian life.

Now it's my honor to introduce colonel doctor Robert M junior.

>> Thank you very much for that kind introduction, you know my job today is to try to buy the whole that folks is to inspire.

Entertain and I'm going to do that.

But tell you leave that about my life and its successes and failures, one of the things that I discovered very early on in my life and I love uniforms, Cub scouts Boy Scouts bangles and beads merit badge sashes a beagle scout 14 and still need to do more things made in order the air and at that session.

You know that I wanted to explore sky.

I think there got another uniform and you know it was fun and I found myself at 16 years old just living the dream life the 16 year-old all lived in a room off and graduate from the main house all by myself paper out this money.

A BB gun that I could shoot squirrels with them a motorcycle life was good and I was the one thing I knew is 16 years old was that I wanted nothing to do with the military.

You know, even though I come from a long line of military.

My dad was Naval Academy.

Again that was a vice admiral superintendent of the Naval Academy but great granddad to a more West pointers both.

But colonel brigadier general and their fathers.

One of whom and waiting my 3rd book about fought in the Civil War on the union side and their commission's certificate signed a family funeral all upstairs, but I want to nothing to do with it.

So it's 16 years all sit in my bed, the background we didn't Reader's Digest and up pops an article that said super commandos of the wetlands and it was Reader's Digest announcing the existence of the super secret Navy seals they have been formed 5 years before President Kennedy and I read that heavy right in the heart, that's a lie, that's what I'm going to do with my life and so all of a sudden I things change that put the book down and walked into the House and my dad.

I said that I want to be a Navy seal, you know what that was my mom.

But when I said and so I want to go to the Naval Academy because if I'm going to be a seal might be an officer, I'm going to be an officer might as well go to the Naval Academy.

And so almost district cigarette right there on the porch that.

One year later it's 17 I entered the Naval Academy show that they're saying I want to be an ABC listen, I don't Navy seals can't make admiral, it's you know a special forces is not what we do to train animals here.

So for years I kind of kept that to myself and it ended up being a role that because of my senior year the Naval Academy service election night it happened.

And you're always 3 see-saw watching my class of 889.

And they're given a pass from me and I was down there in the middle, so it didn't happen for me, I chose a destroyer at a San Francisco, the USS him their way to try to graduate.

But I didn't think to myself still want to do this and the opportunity might present again.

So I use my 30 days of free vacation at all graduates get.

I went down to Key West Florida to underwater summer school and learn to be diverted a little silver 3rd class tires pen, halfway through that training Class A Navy seal instructor and just happened to be there came up and said, and Mister Adams, you know we're trying to hurt you and your smile and way too much have you ever thought about being a Navy seal.

Well funny, you should mention, yes, I have that.

I should have seen waiting for me goes I think again this is pretty exciting that the opportunity might show itself up again.

I ended up spending a year and a half on that ship at sea.

The year and it's maybe seal Peters came to San Francisco looking for looking for bodies and I ran off that ship is fast I could to the screening, Destin, found myself in Coronado California with but training class 81 and was one of 11 out of 17 and the Triad finished that training.

And that's why isn't my first book is about 6 days of impossible I talk about a week 6 days and no sleep soaking wet, freezing cold shivering uncontrollably one of 3 officers to make it but I graduated that training to the best job in my platoon commander in the seal teams.

And I love that I literally would resent having to go to sleep for 8 hours before I could get up and do it again.

You know 50 life let me work I wanted to be tried in that way tonight got there but 5 years into my service, which is my Naval Academy require time of service.

We're in the post-vietnam draw.

I've been trained by Medal of Honor winner and Vietnam veterans, but now the military was going down and it wasn't just much.

You know fun for young man is that.

These as you know do I will seek my fortune elsewhere and I made another mistake in my life I transferred to the Navy seal reserves and went to seek my fortune in the money world went to Virginia to all start working on developing patents and solar energy and the methane gas production with a friend of mine had been there 6 months and I said oh I have made a mistake turns out they don't have 30 days of free vacation of the civilian role in health care isn't free.

I think the phone call the Navy seals that went back and made a terrible mistake and they went well lieutenant, thank you very much.

But stay in the reserves were stunned when the drawdown we don't need more Navy seals so I was in Virginia now trying to figure out what to do next the patents that we started got doesn't but one of my senior partner said I don't want a government grant money.

We never were able to develop those patents may said on the shelf and expired so the next adventure began when I said well what am I going to do.

So I want to go back and bought a quarter of a million dollars reddit JC Penney store was empty and converted it into a restaurant and many shopping mall and that works for a while and I didn't know much about the restaurant business and that selling that willing to say down the road in Lexington Virginia college town opened a small restaurant which has been really successful.

My brother came and joined me and we did really well until I control board came in and said you're doing too many alcohol sales here and the stage we're taking a look at this and so and see that kind of so that's where I think number other he saw the parties and I went back to school and I finished my NBA.

Why the woman of my dreams and she's going to factor into this story a little bit there and drag off to Washington DC is a brand new Washington but ran the NBA, working there.

The naval sea systems command doing special forces kinds of you know contract work.

And interestingly my son was born there and I had been working maybe 6 months when I came home since we know that a job.

Let so you know you're 30 years old he got us on what he wanted.

As it was going to sound funny, but I want to be a Navy seal platoon commander again, and that's not an option so I think I'd like to go to med school.

She goes well.

That means we've got 7 years of poverty ahead, but you know, we were poor and happy when we got married, we can be poured happy again so give it a shot you probably too old anyway, but 3 and a half years later after going but working full time during the day and going back to school at night, I found myself at Wake Forest University on an army, no scholarship and I took up a Navy commanders have became in every second lieutenant start over again by the way that would happen even if I stay then maybe, but the Navy only author we have 3 year scholarship in reset foresight changed uniforms by now.

I had 2 children and 36 shows tea party medical school and we started our 7 years of poverty now in the 4th year.

School we get to go visit residency programs on active duty and I went and my 3rd year and 4th year to Madigan Army Medical Center in Washington state said this is what I see and then she got there said you know about we mentioned the 3rd you're going to vote come back same place 4th.

For us as well so when I fill up my 5 choices for residency is going to say matic and and kill me kill me kill me kill me and he he he's small so I get the message but what I what I did just to make sure was I mean it's a scuba tanks and went to the canal I knew that the end of the scraps ligature great big delicious cross for the cooler take a phone call the Red Sea director and said Carol.

He says that the students could call you if we had a problem because I kid you not your problem ball.

That's why you're full of dents and scratches and place to come.

I could hear small on and then these positive guys and what time to expect above so he bought the beer cans and I got my residency program to use the experiences.

You've got some time comes in handy.

Residents, which is a delightful experience I found myself at Fort Bragg North Carolina.

At my request that's the only places that you can jump out of airplanes.

There's no case of anybody can jump out of airplanes and heavy.

And soon as I got there.

Delta force Mark I said yeah and the uniform, the seal patch on it.

You want to come play with us and I said no not right now.

Babies to deliver I got a teaching spot.

I need to get a little better just after the business but check back with me in 2 years and 2 years later about now and we'll actually knows pretty good and so I ended up being the command serving communities, Delta force in the next 3 and a half years given that they do and deployment or quick reaction forces and may I actually got psyche for Carlyle was there so was a full-bore I stepped out back into the regular every world side of the 82nd airborne next thing I know they invited me to go to war with them.

So care act of 2003 4 with them found myself in the middle of the desert and hold bombed out in the field.

I bring that up because they have you been to Afghanistan and I know what I'm going to war or is not fun.

So 100 soldiers, not 100 actors and one night I was there.

In my clinic, 02:00AM the phone rings as you know that stand by we're sending an amateur way with an enemy combatant in that gunshot wound to needs to be passed on to the surgeons but we're going to do an ambulance transfer.

Why and well it's raining outside helicopters were flying.

Rare that happened that night.

So I called for another document the journey, my entire staff showed up because this is a big deal.

And that's you know we've got and you can bet with gunshot wounds in the chest and abdomen and arm just barely hanging on the kind of get in place and we couldn't get an idea called a pediatrician I said hey you can put an idea of the baby scalp and 90's and this guy and I couldn't get one either thought what am I going to do I had advanced trauma life support training and I pull the book out later on his legs and make it made a cut on his ankle found a vein threat in my view that so what we've got I mean we got morphine and we got in the ambulance and is ready to go.

Well I 5 in each other causes a pretty big safe.

My pediatricians in the end of the trying to tell medic had you know deal with this patient during the 3 and a half hour ahead and that means that he goes that could God let me go, I said can't we can't go year after his next, you know, everyone's get shot at and I need you here.

He says that you got to let me go against the rules he and I agree that he could go and I wasn't sure why when I wrote my second book about 33 years of doctoring it border peace as a chapter in their lives said to him, I said I wrote the story of what you did that night because we don't know all that because he went to the convoy commander and most of the middle shootings on both ends and goes this guys and this year is this soldiers not going to make it 3 nothing wrong but it's raining it's 3 o'clock in the morning.

If we're a really fast right dad got country we can be the surgeon's office and 45 minutes.

And you know to this commanders credit he let him do it and they drove quickly to the bad guy country that enemy combatant lived and I had a combat, you know that I'm always proud looking back at United States military a war zone.

We treat our enemies with the same care and compassion that we treat our soldiers when they're injured because they're out of the fight and we have a job and that saving lives so Craig cap and trade Dobson who now colonel Greg gadson pediatrician and army is making it to this day.

The the retirement came soon after that I found myself wanting to get out of the civilian world really really different than the military world and I was waiting to decide where it's going to go a letter eyes and said we got a clinic just outside of Raleigh that need to adapt and if you want to get to you.

It was a massmail sure my wife and I said, hey we think as well.

Our son was in Rye let's do it I stay there.

So the House and on what started the new clinic is a civilian doctor.

4 days into that could be expected to call my wife and said I made another terrible mistake.

This place is a disaster, it's drug addicts drug, seekers and unhappy staff in the middle of Milan, she says to me hold on how many continue run of the Navy.

I should just 5.

I said yeah 5 and then whenever disasters must when you took them over us all.

Yeah and now they want to work for excellence and if you took them over okc we're going to hear a shot and fix it because you just signed a three-year contract down or someone else.

And 11 months later that clinic, one guest clinic Eastern wake County and everybody was happy again.

And it was it was really tell that story it was making an unhappy staff happy wasn't that hard.

It was just can I give you permission to do it you need to do to be happy can I be the best boss you've ever had and we focus on taking care of patients and we did and we won awards.

And we grew so fast and going to the bank a year later 3 years later and saying if you let me a few million dollars I can build a bigger climbing across the street.

And they did and my wife late wife said you know, I believe in the go ahead risk everything we own and have ever done all our future children's and got him on this next adventure and for 13 years of practice medicine, a 40,000 square foot facility that I designed and built myself retired last year and look back I can't believe you let me do it, she said I believed to be a. I'll say it.

My story and they tell me that there's a few lessons in this story that I want you to remember what it is find a life partner if you can believes in you and support you in the way that my wife did find a husband that will you know love you and support you during the good times bad times and then if you do that the probability of happiness, you know those way up and also if you haven't picked up on this one.

Then there's not a bad thing failure eventually leads to success in life.

And if you find that success, it's because you found jobs make you happy and that's the probably the 3rd the final lesson life will give you clues, listen to those clues and picked the direction that will make you happy when the interview if your next job, ladies and gentleman, ask your boss if he or she is happy that she's not look for another job, you know, I love to be in a sea of love being a doctor not a day went by it was it was a genius for me there was lots of trouble in between.

So those are the troubles out there know that it's come in know that those channels challenges will lead to success in the future.

So thank you all for let me tell you this story know that the future is bright and the military is a great life if you're not sure whether to get out stay in.

But thank you all hold that for what you do and thanks for let me tell my story and thank you all for your service, God bless.

>> Thank you all for your service, it's great to be here today and I want to play with friends or Adams.

This is bill Robinson, the founder and president of covid at the pleasure of meeting doctor Adams about 3 years ago through friends all socialists dot and my friends are in our recent talks a great guy he said any chocolate because you know, I never served to so like every night and still are met.

He's a little bit crazy and Stockton came home and told my wife, these are kind of crazy of a friendship was formed at that time with covid value the relationships that we have and we believe that life is all about connections to become trusted relationships.

We found a hole that in North Carolina, small profit in 2017.

Achieve our problem one C 3 status.

2019 and really it's a vision that's fueled by passion or passion that is wrapped up in fish, and however you want to put it programs quite simply it to reach people the military and veteran communities that have served us and continue to service.

It's a foundational love and trust and integrity and all these things that we can state that enable us to build trusted relationships.

They are go you've already heard from some great people you've heard from some veterans are going to hear from some more in just a few minutes as a state ID like it's all about connections and become trust and relationships.

Our community has come together today like many other days better bridge home in the NC 4 million dress for success of coming to be a part of this and other veterans service organizations and the spaces we say at hole that we started in 2017 with transition offense.

At the first one being a fire Jim and rtp in a moment or 2 vacant area.

Caterpillar in Clayton ppb in Cape fear Community College down in Wilmington.

NC state him in center and all to the American Legion building earlier last year I'll ask side of that serving the greater eastern North Carolina and beyond communities are all relationships that have been formed over the years our transition about it just simply do this and we don't just say we know that it happens we have complete confidence in what we're doing.

And if that's where your to inspire in courage and connect the inspiration and the encouragement come out is for rationing cars would come from the words that are shared not only in those settings but we as individuals.

We're we're really simply building a life together that is overall it you're a very short amount of time our vision to hold it.

Is we're here to build a life together and that's what we're doing.

Doctor Anderson I have to call them are pretty good friends.

I am honored to call in front of honor that rain shave your hair love from a few minutes, Callie brother even though I didn't serve and to make also a friend.

This is real folks this life that we're living today just pure and real and I want to tell you this before I hand this over to take me into our panel here in just a minute.

Whether you're transitioning out of military service and whether you are a service member of a spouse or even the children whether you have been out of service for 20 or 30 years and you're facing a transition all of us have faced transactions and all of us will face transitions in the future.

I felt like personalize afternoon working in this space now for 11 years.

I have found that people can get paralyzed by fear and stress and anxiety.

I'm here to tell you that it is inside of you there's greatness inside of you to overcome every challenge that you face.

And the greatest hits inside you know what it's going to help somebody else around you when you've got all the answers inside of you.

But if you don't have that work for us or to resolve an issue there somebody next week.

We're going to get a hand up.

And we're here to empower a bill like together is within our communities and that's what we're here to do so.

Thank you to NC strive governors working group to Jeff Smith for your years of service in that space.

Thank you to make trades and Merrill Taro its you stayed away taken there are many others that I can name that we're partnered with to working with.

I want to thank our panel today and my good friend Tiffany Henry has agreed to.

We are panel discussions leader tempting year the team win today.

So thank you, a good friend we're in good hands for this panel discussion and only courage you to take the West and you just heard from dot take your notes, it said by relax but pay close attention to what you're about to hear from this panel, thank you have a great day.

>> Dale thank you so much for that warm introduction.

I appreciate it.

Good morning, everyone, I'm your host Tiffany Henry and I am a Navy veteran and the sales go to market director at Palo Alto network.

This morning, I'm joined with my friends chain Murray and rain.

So far us.

I am thrilled that will be able to have the opportunity to share our experiences with you this morning regarding our transitions from the military into the civilian sector.

We'll share the good will share some of the challenges that we endured.

And we'll also I think more importantly be able to share some of the best practices that we've gathered throughout our transition.

So with that I'd love to turn it over for a brief introduction.

Ray D my starting.

>> Yes Sir, thank you racial far as I spent 7 years in the Marine Corps and I currently work at the new Hanover County Sheriff's office.

>> Change how about yourself sure my name is a shame or 22 year veteran of the Marine Corps and I currently run the the program is already off to nutty that that falls under the Ivy method, Syracuse University.

Thank you so much for that.

>> So as we know throughout you know each journey that we have as we're transitioning out of the military there's a lot of commonalities that happen of that.

There's certainly some unique aspects right to take each transition that occurs for 4 service members in regards to you know transitioning into a job.

Right off the bat, be exploring some educational options and everything in between.

I would love to hear from you all around your transition from the point that you realize you're going to make the transition out of the military into I would say you're for stable role.

Ray would you like to kick us off with that discussions.

>> Definitely so like you said for stable role.

My point.

During the Marine Corps get to spend 7 years in and after my second tour in Afghanistan as start having back issues and a lot of us can attest this back issues being this country artillery.

It was honestly, it was difficult because I plan to make the Marine Corps, my life and service and had a great time has spent years in DC and 5 years down in June.

At that point in time the Marine Corps said pretty much you can operating more and you're going to find a different lifestyle Weatherby lateral movement to different job for just an MLS or getting out and going to college was my thought process.

I think men will like in operating more than Anderson go ahead and get out and go to college and he will serve a life was about and again those struggles during that time frame.

It was fast.

You're trying to find a new identity you're trying to find who who you are not just a Marine or soldier, airman Navy personnel.

So you're trying to figure out who you are and that was the biggest issue struggle getting out so I decide to go to college, I went to Cape fear Community College and then on to uncw to get my a psychology degree which kind of catapulted me into my first stable job really why work that the Pender County or excuse me get up in the county, a veterans office right help veterans like myself get out and help them transition, and to their new adventures whether it be education or or during via claims and say that was my first stable job during that time frame and then I was able to move on to become the director of veterans at a local Community College in Cape fear Community College or spend close to about 3 years there had amazing time.

But again you are doing this introspection and finding out who you are really you're trying to find out.

How you can use your military skills to transition into your new career.

I found it difficult sitting behind a desk and that was the better part of me of the country life that was a struggle because I can sit behind that desk.

Any longer says a comb and there's this position that opened up for concerned veterans for America basically going up on the political level and being able to move out into working with community and trying to build community kind of what we're doing now.

But more so on the policy side national policies over time promote this policies initiatives or come from the top down into our communities and it was fun this one for a while, but still again something nag and inside of me like Doc Adams said, you know you you you have these well I don't come regrets by calling you know.

They say for city points where you're trying to really figure out what you want to do.

So again the just more of the stories doesn't matter how many setbacks will fall back so you think you might have but I'm really kapolei into your next position.

So after spending about 6 months and in the political arena.

Again my heart was tell me man you want to be back in uniform.

And you want to serve the community said that's why I joined the Napa County Sheriff's office and be able to serve a community and that and that asset so that's a little bit about how I found my first stable position.

>> Thank you.

Ray that thank you for sharing your story or I think it's just so important that we all keep perspective of truly understand what makes us fulfilled.

Right that gut feeling that we have and being able to follow through with it is just so important as you're making that transition.

So shame how about to join to speak a little bit about your journey.

>> Absolutely I had my experience was much like race.

With with some compounding issues as well.

I was injured in 2006 and carried some some injuries and some issues and all the way through my retirement and after 22 years.

I want to go back to that to that stable as far as that first stable job for that that stable career for me, I found it my first stable career or job was and commercial tire sales here in Wilmington and it was a great job, I was the store manager doing well.

The pay was exceptional it was doing very well.

The problem was that.

I was not ready for for that job.

I had not yet come to to admit that I needed some help and some issues and some injuries that were holding over and get treatment for those injuries before I could even think about being stable in a job.

I stated I I dug through as we record and and pushed through while I was getting treatment as well.

But on top of that I had lost my purpose has as many of the veterans are going to find you know when when you whether you're in for 4 years or 40 years.

When you get out of the military.

You may have a tendency to lose that purpose.

My purpose was found again.

Once I was blessed with the opportunity to come into the job that I mean in India to training and employment program for veterans and military spouses and again my purpose which I knew all along but had lost 4 for a brief time was in serving and serving or our population are military veteran population.

I didn't know that's what I wanted to do until I did it and and you know I want would never go back I took a tremendous cut in pay from from that first job ahead to the job that I'm in now, but I would do it again tomorrow because for my family's stability for mine and overall happiness and fulfillment as you put it.

Tiffany fulfillment in the career.

I do it again tomorrow money does not make you happy find that balance between time and money.

You know you had a temper that with keeping lights on and food on the table.

Find a job that you're naturally inclined to do and that will make you happy if you can find a job that you're going to work 4 days a week with a smile on your face you made it.

Yeah, absolutely made if you can't find it right off the bat.

Keep the lights on find a job that you need to do, but don't stop looking.

For that next career that that's going to make you fulfilled in and find your purpose in your passion and your work.

>> Has such power forward stated there.

You know, thank you for sharing that talk about our as we talk about stability or a in in finding a stable job is not just that the role that were taken on its stability within our home its stability, you know with our partners and life its stability with our children, it's that mental and physical stability that we need as well as are making this transition that so important and I think veterans in in those family members who help those who serve.

I'm just so used to to serving others before themselves at times that that part gets put on the backburner so I just think it's so important to one have that discussion and to to make sure that it's being addressed and really being on the forefront of your mind as well as you're making these transitions is just so important so thank you gentleman for sharing that with us.

So as we're looking great as he started to look that first able role I would say there's a lot that goes into that search.

Just to begin with and you're looking at different opportunities are looking at different.

You know, prospective employers and looking at how do I translate what I did into the military in 2.

The work that I'm going to do outside of the service and I know personally I went through at least 50 or several different versions of my resume depending on what job I was applying for at the time.

But won't actually landed that that job or even that first discussion with the potential employer.

One of the things that stood out to me was always around you know not only the hard skills, but the soft skills that we have as veterans that stand out to employers.

So when you think about resourceful messing think about grit you think about leadership.

Those are I would say some important aspects that I saw employer seeking.

And then on the other side there would sometimes be a question around education.

And in that part of development that they would look at as well.

So I would like to ask rain from your aspect did education play a part or influence the way that you.

Manager transition.

>> Definitely in corporate America, you kind of it's kind of the standard to have an education for yourself all good now.

And education is really not that difficult when you're getting out of the Marine Corps, the Army, we're always constantly going through courses were always costly going through schools.

I change and attest to so really you're just they can transition from military education to civilian education and be able to use those hard skills and soft skills to catapult your prosper you into that career you want.

So for me personally.

I choose the degree of psychology I think subconscious to because during that process and and maybe she can attest to this, you know we those who are combat vets or been in country.

Come back from from that area you has residual traumas that you may have seen or been involved with.

So for me I think I was really trying to heal myself getting now during that time frame those little little bit of the adversity points there.

They take a period of like 3 years.

So while my degree and being able to heal myself unknowingly it was that degree that helped me get into that stable position alternate director of Veterans Affairs at the college.

But during the hiring process.

The talking that we're conducting right now it's a lot different in the beginning when ever I was training myself to talk like a civilian again being able to use hand gestures being able to smile be able to talk to other people without you know being Stephan like with their code on your tie on took me because that's what Rick we'll talk to you tire ties took yourself.

But in reality, it's just we're trying to relax or trying to user soft skills win the hearts and minds really of the panel in front of you.

But yes to go back to the main point having a degree not only is it substantial for your own benefit.

But you gain a lot of aspects lot of information that you may have not known because you're in the military for the many years.

Now you're you're learning about the world around you, there's a variety of of costs that you would take that might be interesting or might not be interesting.

But the main thing is you're learning a vareity in order for you to get out there in the civilian world.

And Craig or euro smee act plan and be able to that position that you want and again you might be multiple positions that you try and may decide for you and you fall back in and you reassess your plan to go forward and find that position you want.

>> Thank you for sharing that, yeah, I know that it's it's so it's so challenging, I think sometimes at the beginning to just right into being comfortable in this new rule well that we almost like a not a role that we're playing at that moment in a row that or even just trying to figure out.

How you become comfortable in these new environments and that just takes time to get adjusted, so it's important to know it.

It's a journey right is a part of the journey and finding sort of the new you as you're making this transition.

And as we're going through this hindsight is always 2020.

Think about some of the initial conversations with employers and I'm thinking oh my gosh why did I say that I most certainly shouldn't use a different word or a different story to explain that experience that may have been a little bit more really double.

So we've got to beat herself up in that regard and so is there anything that happened throughout to your transition where you look back.

He said guys I wish I would have done this differently.

>> Absolutely I will be the first to tell you you can absolutely put a square peg in a round hole if you have the right hand.

I don't recommend it.

It is definitely don't don't force things don't don't take a position because you think that you have to wear that you need to there's a lot out there if you if you just look in the soft skills that you talking about and education are key.

But absolutely do not undermine your experience.

In the military, we do things that are outside of our training outside of our our comfort zone, if you will on a daily basis when we do it so much that it's common to us so we don't.

We don't translate that well into our resumes for his experiences for myself.

I did that I had a hard time translating that agility and adaptability into something that would be an asset to the companies that I was applying for and over time, you know you you failed enough times you're going to figure it out and and do the right things I let me tell you I was the poster boy for everything wrong that you could do that I now teach because I did it all wrong and luckily, I landed in a good place.

Thank thanks to a great network that that was mutually beneficial that you know we look out for each other, if you have family close if you don't have family we make family in the military.

So use that network.

I could be used to better myself and it probably would have saved a little bit of stress and heartache >> now you that that's it that's an amazing point right there around have a good network and and having mentors along the way is so important to re as you're making your transition.

How would you describe some of your support system in the network that you had to help make that transition for for yourself.

>> Yes, I for support system was by then life sounds married at the time during my transition.

And it's you know be going to be transparent with you all.

I was going through a lot due to the effects of war and it's OK, it's OK to go through those things but it's all sue just be calm a sense of of let your spouse know what's going on I at that time she was my support system and she was a wonderful woman.

She was there for me was getting out of Marine Corps.

And you know during that process how still trying to find out who I was and that's okay.

And every one of us whether watching even chain Papa contests a lot of this it's it's difficult to can explain to your son, your significant other hey I'm going to hard time today is not good but over time I believe I pushed my wife away which resulted in divorce.

And it's good to learn from that again failure failures first 10 to learning.

We we adapt we overcome.

But again seeking that that that hope again from the V a that's you know that's a 40 to us.

That's a big resource really.

So again I got myself into counseling.

So we're working through all there's you know cracks and creams whatever you want to call them.

And now you know looking back.

Hindsight 2020, you know we should have known a little more about that and how the VA helps.

But again use your resources and your mentors like you mentioned had a great mentor, Phil pot, everyone there is some doubt on Wilmington such a wonderful guy.

Still today.

He is my mentor so finding using the resources that you do have REI for seeking those resources and then having a mentor is key, it's so key.

But again we all have our setbacks but it's about how you hold on to what you do have and the move forward into the future making yourself prosper.

>> Thank you thank you for sharing that Shane how about yourself.

>> Yeah, just feeding right off of what Ray was saying that as far as is getting using those those resources that are available with the V a one thing I did learn is would work great for me as I took my wife to every one of my appointments because the things that I ignore as and just assume as okay, that's the level that I'm at now as far as pain and discomfort.

She's she has to live with.

So she was the one that actually told the truth to the doctor said it was so can too because I would you know it was beating your head said you don't talk about your injuries, you just press forward and and of was still in that mindset.

She identified those things she talked to the doctor about what my ailments were what my my issues were and whether liked it or not but she was that network in that strength for me in transition that that kept me driving, especially with frustration in dealing with the VA and other organizations like that.

You know time to learn from my hands up and say forget it that it's not worth it to me but she would let me do that so that network for for me as my my wife, her family's in California minds in Texas.

So here in North Carolina, we've got each other in the military family that we've met in and made here in North Carolina to get us through as far as mentors go.

Some good good friends that that acted as reference for me to to get into positions that I'm in.

We're also mentors don't have to be somebody with with you know a gray Beard didn't have to be somebody a bit older than you just has to be somebody that's already walk the path that you want to want to walk.

They've identified the holes and they can help you along and it's always good to find somebody with that common drive and common purpose.

That you can just talk to in work things out and you know bounce ideas off of them in and know that you're going to get that on its response that that's a mentor.

So yeah, that's their key.

>> Agree agree.

So time flies when you're having fun so I'm going to ask each of you.

Under 30 seconds share with me your time piece of advice.

For those who are watching this today around transitioning into the civilian sector rail start with you.

>> Yes, big piece of ice.

We have learned in the military use the Packers plan figure out what your goal is that you want in life and you can create that backers plan leading to where you're at now and have that introspection to know where you're at and move forward to get that goal because anything you want in life you can achieve and there's more that many positions had been I wanted and I earned it and it's using that backwards plan.

>> So chain absolutely and you know identify those goals identify where you want to be and there's no single path to get to those goals whatever path works best for you and your situation is the path to you you should take.

Also as far as planning research, I mean in the military at one point or another we become detail planners because we plan operations we rehearse in its detail.

This should be planned even more so because it's your life, it's your transition, it's not an operation in the field, it's your transition, so put that effort into it.

If you have the time you're out setting aside an hour a day in research and find out where you're going to land before you jump.

>> Thank you, thank you.

Ray, thank you Shay for your transparency and in the wealth of knowledge that you shared with us this morning.

Thank you to NC stride the governor's working group.

Way Tech University and for having us we appreciate it.

>> Thank you to each of our guests today now it's your turn to build your transition path.

In the chat of our facebook feed is the link to our zoom segment, where companies are ready to welcome you and discuss openings they have where they're looking for veterans to fill.

Please go ahead and click over to the zoom now, thanks for watching the segment of in C strive 2021, I'm Jeff Smith.