The Three Traits That Lead to a Successful Military Transition

John, a 20-year Army veteran, sat across from a hiring manager for his first civilian job interview. His resume was solid, his LinkedIn profile polished, but as soon as the first question came—"Tell me about yourself"—he froze. He had spent decades leading teams, solving high-pressure problems, and making critical decisions, yet in this moment, he felt completely unprepared.

This scenario is more common than you might think. Transitioning from military to civilian life isn’t just about resumes and job fairs—it’s about identity, purpose, and clarity. What separates veterans who navigate this transition successfully from those who struggle? It often comes down to three key traits: humility, courage, and discipline.

1. Humility: Recognizing Something is Missing

One of the biggest barriers veterans face is the assumption that they already have all the tools they need to succeed. But as Joe Lara, a transition expert and former military leader, explains:

"Humility is just realizing that something's missing in my own plan to move forward. And in this case, it's career transition. So they might be thinking of the checklist—write a resume, go to the job fair, build a LinkedIn profile. But there's a sense that, ‘Dang, something's missing. I'm not quite there.’"

Recognizing that transition isn’t just about securing a job but about understanding your next mission in life is the first step.

2. Courage: Asking for Help

Many veterans pride themselves on self-sufficiency, but transition isn’t meant to be a solo mission. Asking for help—whether from a mentor, a peer, or a transition program—is a sign of strength, not weakness. Lara recalls an eye-opening moment from working with transitioning veterans:

"One of the questions on the intake for The Honor Foundation is, ‘How are you with asking for help?’ And I’d sit across from another veteran who would say, ‘I like to solve problems myself.’ Of course you do. We all do. But acknowledging that you need guidance is the second step toward success."

3. Discipline: Following Through Even When It’s Hard

Motivation can get you started, but discipline is what keeps you moving forward. Many veterans begin transition programs or networking efforts with enthusiasm, only to disengage when it becomes uncomfortable. Scott Schimmel, who has spent years coaching veterans through career transitions, explains:

"It actually requires courage to trust that when I ask, I won’t be perceived as weak. When I start talking about myself out loud, someone won’t rush to give me advice or tell me it’s going to be okay. It takes multiple conversations, multiple laps around the track, to get clarity."

Veterans who successfully transition don’t stop at one or two conversations; they aim for 50 cups of coffee—meeting and learning from others until they gain clarity on what’s next.

Your Next Step: Take the Transition Readiness Quiz

If you’re a veteran wondering where to start, ask yourself: Am I approaching this transition with humility, courage, and discipline? To gauge where you stand and what steps to take next, start with the Vector Accelerator Transition Quiz. This quick assessment will help you identify gaps and opportunities in your journey—because clarity is the foundation of a successful transition.

🔹 Take the quiz now at VectorAccelerator.org and take the first step toward your next mission.