A great mentor can help you take your career or business to the next level or they can help you overcome obstacles in your personal life. Moreover, as valuable as mentoring veterans is, many often overlook these priceless opportunities.
Why Military Veterans need Mentors
Many of us who have served in the military pride ourselves on self-reliance and the ability to assess and fix problems without involving leaders. Be the solution, own the solution is something we’re taught. At the same time, we are also indoctrinated with the mindset that we simply cannot operate without the assistance of our teammates. We need our buddy to cover our six!
These conflicting ideologies often cause confusion amongst our service members and veterans. It’s no wonder why transitioning from the military to civilian world causes so many hardships. This is why it’s critical that mentoring veterans becomes the norm, not the exception.
Veterans can benefit greatly if they seek out and find great mentors in order to find success after their military career is over.
Mentoring Veterans helps the Transition to Civilian Life
Despite all the TAPS type programs or resources available, there is still a huge Charlie Foxtrot in helping service members transition successfully to civilian life. A mentor can be an incredible asset in preparing you for transitioning and can provide you with accurate intel for what’s ahead.
Mentors can guide you in Career Decisions
There are endless options when it comes to careers or jobs. What you did in the military may not have a civilian counterpart or you simply might not want to do anything related to your MOS. Mentors can offer advice for building your career or insights for entering a completely new industry. There are really no boundaries when mentoring veterans.
Mentors can offer business advice
Research shows that 25% of military veterans want to launch businesses and that veterans are perfect candidates to be entrepreneurs. A mentor who is well versed in business or startups can assist you in getting started the right way. Business mentors have a wealth of knowledge you cannot get anywhere else.
Mentors can connect you with important resources
Sometimes finding success in life isn’t based on what you know, but who you know. Many generous people are involved in mentoring veterans. They want to see you achieve your goals and will often go the extra mile in connecting you with other people or resources that will benefit you.
Mentors can change your life
Right now, there are amazing people who would love to mentor a military veteran and there is no denying that the right relationship will transform your life. A mentor might only be available for a season or your entire lifetime, it depends on a variety of circumstances, but either way the relationship will be priceless. The question is whether you are willing to invest your time in finding a mentor and then committing yourself fully to make it work.
Original article by The National Veterans Foundation | Article Photo
