Mission Transition

Navigating the Opportunities and Obstacles to Your Post-Military Career

By: Matthew J. Louis

Narrated by: Levi Wiggins, John Behrens

Mission Transition is an essential career-change guide for any transitioning veteran that wants to avoid false starts and make optimal career choices following active duty.

Every year, about a quarter of a million veterans leave the military - most of whom are unprepared for the transition. These service members have developed incredible leadership, problem-solving, and practical skills that are underutilized once they reach the civilian world, a detriment to both themselves and society.

Well-intentioned Transition Assistance Programs and other support structures within the armed forces often leave veterans fending for themselves. The mission-first culture of the military results in service members focusing on their active duty roles in the year leading up to their separation, leaving them little time to adequately prepare to join the civilian world.

President of Purepost, a next-generation staffing solution and public benefits corporation, and author Matthew J. Louis guides military personnel through the entire process of making a successful move into civilian professional life.

In Mission Transition, this book will:

• Guide you through the process of discovering what path you want to take going forward
• Teach you the strategies that will make your résumé stand out
• Provide suggestions to help you prepare for and ace the interview
• Discuss ways to acclimate to your new organization’s culture and pay it forward to other veterans

Each chapter includes advice from other veterans, illustrations of key concepts, summaries, and suggested resources. Let this well-written and easy to follow guidebook help you transition out from the military and commit to being successful in the next chapter of your life.

Critic reviews

'Mission Transition is not just a book, it is a life guide you'll return to again and again throughout your transition from the military to civilian success. As a veteran services organization leader who's assisted thousands of service members to a successful transition, I've never had a guide that covers all the bases. Mission Transition is easy to follow and is as applicable for a transition to New York City or a rural Midwest community. Mission Transition is a must-have guide for every government or non-government transition or training program.' -Jim Lorraine, CEO/President, America's Warrior PartnershipFormer Special Assistant for Warrior and Family Support to the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Founder and Former Director of USSOCOM Care Coalition

'As someone that served for 25 years in the Marine Corps and now leads a military recruiting team, I can attest that the insights provided in Mission Transition are spot on. Transition is hard and having a plan is a critical element to making a successful transition. Matt has laid out an excellent framework of mostly commonsense but often overlooked steps for maximizing your success in transition. I would highly recommend this to any transitioning veteran as it is never too soon to begin your planning for the next phase of your career.' -Beau Higgins, Senior Manager, Amazon Military Recruiting

'I have read many transition guides and attended a host of transition seminars for military service members. All have value, but all fall short in some way. Matt Louis has captured the most important points of each of those experiences in one comprehensive guide. Mission Transition is thoughtful, well-researched, and extremely helpful not only to service men and women leaving the military, but for those veterans already in post-military careers who are seeking new opportunities.' -Guy C. Swan III, LTG (USA Retired), Vice President of the Association of the United States Army (AUSA), former Commanding General of United States Army North (Fifth Army), and West Point Class of 1976

'Matt Louis has created the Ranger Handbook of military transition guides. This book provides a concise pathway for service members to translate the skills and character they developed and forged in the military, so they can adapt to a new life mission and personal purpose after career service.' -Geoff Davis, Retired Member of US Congress,Former US Army Ranger and Aviator, USMA Class of 1981

Best Overview of Transition

Matthew Louis assembled the best comprehensive transition resource I have found during my transition from Active Duty Navy to the private sector. Highly recommend picking up if looking for an overall rock solid guide.

Spot On!

This is a “must have” for transitioning military members! Like me and many of us, Matt Louis went through his own transition. This is based on his experience and information learned since then. It reads like a checklist or SOP for transitioning service members. We can relate to that.
There is so much more than the book -links to additional resources and a video series.
If you are within 2 years of transition, grab this.

Great Employment Focused Transition Book

An outstanding employment focused transition book. A lot of great information, references, quotes from other service members that have completed the transition from service.

Later chapters start addressing the veteran identity having to shift from the “we” to the “I”, while utilizing the skills learned in the military, identifying veteran support groups such as charities such as Team RWB, and finding a mentor to assist in the transition process. While I wish the author focused a little more on these subjects, he stayed true to the nature of this book.

I would highly recommend this book to any service member that is beginning the transition process. Tons of wisdom and insight that can greatly assist veterans in the transition process.

Comprehensive military transition advice

This is the most complete book on military transition that I have come across. Very well done with true life stories from some who have transitioned before you. it is an excellent compilation that should be read by everybody 6 to 12 months away from their ETS.