There are many reasons why people join the military. Some people do it to find a purpose in their lives, while others discover a new sense of purpose after joining. The military has clearly defined objectives that make it easy to stay committed and motivated, especially when surrounded by others dedicated to the same goal.

However, once you transition out of the military, it can be easy to feel like you’re lost, especially if you’ve spent a good chunk of your life serving. The good news is that there are many ways you can put the skills you’ve developed to use. Discover methods veterans can use to find a purpose once they’ve transitioned out of the military.

Why Do Service Members Struggle With Finding Purpose After the Military?

The military is structured to provide a routine and allow others to build a camaraderie with their fellow service members. Military personnel develop habits and routines that are immediately disrupted once they enter the civilian world. This disruption can cause immense stress in a person’s life, making it difficult to adjust to the world around them.

When service members experience difficulties adjusting, it can make it even harder to find a new purpose outside of the military. Stress, mental health problems, entering the civilian workforce, and many other factors can create many different challenges and make it harder to find a true purpose.

Tips for Finding Your Purpose Post-Military

While it can be hard to find a purpose after the military, it’s not impossible. If you use the right methods and follow our tips, you can start on your journey to find your purpose and lead a fulfilling life after the military.

1. Learn How to Cope With Stress

One of the first things you should do is learn how to cope with stress. You can’t actively pursue a new purpose if you’re too overwhelmed to commit to following your passions. You’ll need to learn how to cope with your stress more efficiently so you can spend time pursuing a new purpose. Some different ways to cope with stress include:

●Using healthy coping mechanisms, like exercise, yoga, and journaling.

●Scheduling time for yourself and the things you enjoy.

●Finding a way to relax, whether you spend time in nature, play games, or spend time with loved ones.

●Seek professional help from a licensed therapist or counselor.

Once you’ve found an effective way to cope with your stress, you’ll have more time to focus on your new purpose after the military.

2. Consider What You Want to Do For a Career

When you leave the military, you’ll have a wide range of skills to help you find a career in the civilian world. Your occupation likely has a civilian counterpart you can get a headstart in. If you enjoyed what you did in the military, starting a similar civilian career could be fulfilling.

However, if you feel like you need a fresh start or don’t enjoy what you did in the military, you can always transition careers. You can go to college, attend a trade school, or learn a new skill to help you get started in a new career.

Whatever you decide to do, your military experience will help you. In the Armed Forces, you learn self-discipline, teamwork, adaptability, communication, problem-solving, and a wide range of other useful skills in practically every career.

3. Consider Volunteering

When you’re in the military, you’re serving the country and protecting our freedoms. You can continue serving in different ways after the military by volunteering your time. You can volunteer your time with veteran organizations if you want to directly help groups you feel close to. If you know of an organization close to your heart but unrelated to the military, you can always volunteer there.

Another way to volunteer your time while making a connection is to offer to mentor. You can mentor active duty service members or kids and teens interested in joining the military. If you have a Boy or Girl Scout troop near you, you can even become a scout leader or counselor if you want to give back to our country’s youth.

4. Find Support From Other Vets and Groups

If you’re having difficulties adjusting and finding your purpose after the military, there are plenty of ways to find support. You can talk with other veterans or join veteran support groups to connect with others who understand what you’re going through. Talking with others in similar situations can help you gain insight, and you may even find a new purpose after making these connections. You can meet in person or online, depending on what’s most convenient for you.

5. Master New Skills and Follow Your Interests

A great way to find your purpose is by mastering new skills and following your interests. Is there something you’ve always been interested in or a skill you’ve wanted to learn? Now is an excellent time to start! Think about what you love to do or what you’d love to start doing, and make the time to start developing these skills or following your interests. As you build a routine, you can quickly find a purpose.

6. Get Involved in a Group Involving Your Passions

If there’s something you love doing, there’s likely a group out there for it. There are teams, clubs, and organizations for a wide range of interests, and joining one can help you connect with others who enjoy the same things you do. You can find a purpose through these connections while doing something you love, which can make the transition out of the military lifestyle more seamless and less stressful.

Common Job Opportunities for Finding a Purpose After the Military

If you’re looking for examples of careers or work you can do to find purpose after the military, we’ve collected a list of some common occupations veterans choose. Some of this work includes:

●First responders: Many veterans choose to work in law enforcement or become firefighters or paramedics to continue serving the community and making a difference. When you’re used to the camaraderie of the military, finding something similar with your fellow first responders can help you feel like you have a purpose.

●Government: You can continue to work for the government once you leave the military. In fact, many government jobs give veterans preference when hiring. You can work in positions that make a difference in your community, or you can shoot even higher and seek positions that make an impact on the state or federal level.

●Security: Many service members transitioning out of the military seek security guard positions since their training gives them a competitive edge in the industry. You can work in security for specific buildings and facilities, individuals, or transportation.

●Cybersecurity: In the modern world, many jobs in the military focus on cybersecurity and the relevant skills. As a result, many veterans can transition into a career in the field. Some common jobs for veterans in cybersecurity include operations managers, security consultants, and penetration testers, who find flaws in existing security systems.

Of course, these aren’t the only occupations or work veterans do once they transition out of the military. You can find veterans in every industry, so you can choose whatever field interests you the most.

Trust MLC to Support You Well After Your Military Career

At Military Luggage Company, we continue to serve those who made a career of serving this country. We have plenty of useful gear for our veterans, whether you’re looking for something for your day-to-day, your career, or your travels.

We offer a wide variety of bags, packs, and cases, including computer and tablet bags, backpacks, garment bags, admin accessories, and more. When you’re busy finding your purpose, make sure you’re using high-quality gear to support your applications. Get started by shopping our selection of products, or contact us today with your questions.