Success relies in part on understanding the culture. And veterans who have thrived in the military culture they have come to understand must adapt to a whole new way of doing things once they enter the civilian realm.
Essentially, they swap their military uniform – and all that goes with it – for a new uniform, that of a civilian professional.
Helping to make that a smooth transition is Operation New Uniform, which conducts classes several times a year throughout the state and features recent graduates on its website. According to the organization, 97% of the veterans who complete the program obtain employment within four months.
“We are so proud of the work that Operation New Uniform does to advance, empower and equip our veterans with the skills to succeed in business,” said ONU board chair Dr. Kim Bynum during the most recent graduation ceremony on Friday, Sept. 18. “Our board, our staff, our volunteers share one big characteristic – we all have this in common: We are committed to providing impactful and positive change to the men and women that enroll in Operation New Uniform.”
The graduates took turns speaking at the podium, most reflecting on what ONU had done for them.
“When you separate from the military, a lot of us are lost,” said Robert Davis, who served 11 years in the U.S. Army. “We don’t know how to shed that uniform and step back into the corporate world. … The quality of training here has allowed me to take leaps and bounds as far as interview skills and definitely with resume-writing.”
Tracey Chastine, who served 20 years with the U.S. Navy, called her time in the three-and-a-half-week program “a life-changer.”
“Operation New Uniform isn’t just a military transition program like many that are out there,” she said. “ONU takes the military veteran by the hand literally and just polishes the diamond that we already are.”
“Truly, ONU is one of the best things that’s ever happened to me,” said Cheryl Marlowe, who served four years with the U.S. Navy. “I’m a better person, a better woman and a better professional because of ONU.”
The keynote speaker was U.S. Navy veteran Lisa Gillespie, a consultant for Simplified Smart Solutions and a licensed Realtor.
She said it would be a shame if no one provided veterans what they needed to have successful careers after completing their service.
The program is free to veterans. ONU receives no government funding, so fundraisers are held to generate the necessary money. Its fourth annual Veterans Cup, a competitive day of clay shooting, will be held Friday, Sept. 25. On Dec. 5, it will conduct its Heroes Gala with keynote speaker Johnny “Joey” Jones, retired U.S. Marine and Fox News contributor.
