Onward to Opportunity 5-Year Anniversary

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Branch: US Army
Rank: First Sergeant
Installation: Pacific Northwest (JBLM)
Certification: Project Management Professional (PMP) Graduate

“The best piece of advice I can provide to active and transitioning service members is to take full advantage of the many resources available to pursue advance certifications and training. While transitioning out of the military can be a daunting task, anything is possible with good time management, self-discipline and initiative. I was once told by my former Special Forces Team Sergeant to “never let it rest until your good is better and your better is best.”

“I was born in the Philippines and emigrated to the U.S. when I was 16 where I had to learn a new language, make new friends and adapt to a new culture. I learned at an early age the words resiliency and determination. I also learned early on to set goals for myself and managed to accomplish many of my goals to include a successful military career as an Army Special Forces.

As Special Forces Soldier, I spent a large amount of time training and advising foreign partner nations overseas. That means constantly learning so you can “talk the talk and walk the walk.” To be good at this line of work, you have to be a lifelong learner, always striving to get better, and a true subject matter expert.

With that mindset, I knew that I need to take ownership of my future goals and ambitions. So, when I began my transition last November 2019, my first stop was the Hawk Career Transition Center at Joint Base Lewis-McChord to identify the resources and programs available for transitioning service members. With their assistance, I was introduced to the IVMF’s Onward to Opportunity career training program. I attended Angela Condon’s O2O informational presentation and was extremely impressed with the O2O program, which allows service members, veterans, and military spouses to receive, at no-cost, professional certifications and career training to support a successful transition.

While COVID-19 definitely imposed some challenges during my transition, I was able to adapt to the changing environments and used the “virtual environment” to balance work, transition, and career training. I passed my Project Management Professional (PMP), Six Sigma Yellow Belt, Google IT Support Professional, Scaled Agile Scrum Master and CompTIA A+ O2O coursework while also participating in a remote Hiring our Heroes Corporate Fellowship with Nike. The O2O online learning platform was a valuable resource to study for these certifications. The platform allowed me to access additional coursework, TestPrep, and additional resources to help with my exam preparation. Additionally, the O2O program helped with expanding my virtual network and with my career transition by inviting industry experts to engage with and provide career advising to the cohort members.

Lastly, I owe most of my success to the resourcefulness, support, and dedication of the O2O team; program managers, coordinators, advisors, and mentors that guided me and made it possible to make this transitioning process less challenging. I am beyond honored to have successfully served our country for 24 years. Thank you so much.”

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Military Spouse (US NAVY)
Military Installation: Tri-Base Jacksonville
Six Sigma Green Belt (SSGB) Graduate
Current Occupation: Materials Process and Physics Engineer

“For military spouses like me, having the certifications that Onward to Opportunity helps you earn will give you a leg up on your competition in each new city you move to.”

When Dakota Haines’s husband received his orders to serve on a submarine based at Kings Bay, Georgia, she left her job working for Intel Corp. in Portland, Ore. and moved to Jacksonville, Fla. to join him. The initial transition was a challenge. They did not know people in Jacksonville. Soon after they moved, Hurricane Irma hit the area and then the holidays arrived, both of which slowed hiring. So Dakota found herself unemployed for six months.

During her job search she contacted a career advisor at Tri-Base Jacksonville who directed her to a series of networking events for veterans and military spouses. At one of them she learned about Onward to Opportunity. She decided to take the program to earn a Six Sigma Green Belt, which she believes helped her land her current job as an industrial engineer with Boeing.

“The program really gave my resume the boost it needed by adding an additional certification, allowing me to be seen over the other candidates,” she said. She also found the O2O program’s emphasis on using LinkedIn for career networking was extremely valuable, as it encouraged her to establish relationships and make contacts with many new people in the area.

Dakota was one of only four military spouses in her O2O cohort of more than 60 people, but she said she never felt out of place. Indeed, she was pleased to be able to help many of the others in her cohort by sharing lessons she’d learned from her own experience in the civilian sector.

“All of the transitioning veterans who were in the course were welcoming,“ she said. “They were interested in someone who had already been out in the civilian workforce as I had some job searching and networking tips I could provide to them.”

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Branch: U.S. Navy (Spouse)
Rank: N/A
Military Occupation: N/A
Installation: Pacific Northwest/Joint Base Lewis-McChord (Whidbey Island NAS)
Certification: Project Management Professional (PMP) Graduate

“The information I gained was invaluable because it was real people you’re connecting with and hearing their stories of struggle and triumph really eases how uncertain it can all feel.”

“My personal goal is to do what I love and prepare for what is to come. Being that my husband is in the military, there are a lot of moves in my future and locations that may be less than ideal. I want to do what I’m passionate in doing, without compromising on what I want to do because of circumstance. Project Management has opened up my professional skillset to allow me to continue to work as a professional and not have to feel “stuck” because of our family situation due to a move.

O2O gave me the opportunity to get my PMP certification and I’m so grateful to have been part of the program. It created a setting where we can talk about the struggles and tribulations on military life versus civilian life. We also had dialogue on what we’ve all learned and gained so we could apply it accordingly in our own situations. The mock interviews that were provided and speakers that spoke about their time of transition from the military really helped put it all into perspective. The information I gained was invaluable because it was real people you’re connecting with and hearing their stories of struggle and triumph really eases how uncertain it can all feel.

The program is really excellent in helping anyone find what they want to do; or a way guide them into a professional certification relating to what they want to do after the military. I would say the program itself needs more exposure especially to spouses. Many spouses I spoke to have no idea this sort of program existed. It might be advisable to see how the program can connect with the different branches of military and their spouses to trickle down information about what they can achieve with this program. I really do think if people are more aware that this program exists, there would be so many other people who would be interested in gaining more skills to add to their long list of achievements.”

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Branch: US Coast Guard
Rank: Captain
Installation: Hampton Roads, VA
Certification: Project Management Professional (PMP) Graduate
Current Occupation: Chief of Staff, Operation Blessing

“The O2O/IVMF program was the catalyst to transfer my military experience and expertise to industry recognized standards while expanding my network, and managing my desires and expectations, in a way that ultimately enabled me to apply the broad spectrum of skills acquired over 30 years in uniform for continued service to people in need in the US and around the globe.

While O2O/IVMF’s commitment to fund the PMP certification exam upon successful completion of the course of study was a great lure to participate in the program, the insight gained as the O2O/IVMF staff, presenters and transition coaches provide to cohort members is equally valuable in the transition process.  The staff, presenters, and coaches actively reviewed versions of resumes, discussed goals, and provided critical guidance as they managed expectations on realistic job search outcomes.

After about five months following military retirement, I had several coaches and mentors from O2O/IVMF and other networks suggest that I consider applying my experience and expertise in the not-for-profit / non-government organization sector rather than limiting my search for my next career path to government contractors and city public works, both of which aligned with my military career path.  I acted on the recommendation of several mentors to apply for the Chief of Staff at Operation Blessing International, a non-government organization committed to demonstrating God’s love domestically and around the world by alleviating human need and suffering.  Domestically, Operation Blessing receives millions of pounds of food from manufacturers, wholesalers, suppliers and retailers for distribution through the faith-based network of organizations and churches around the US to enhance their ability to meet the hunger-related needs of people in their communities.  Our Hunger Strike Force has seen, and been able to supply, a significantly increased quantity of food through our network as the current COVID-19 crisis has caused more people to become unemployed or underemployed.  Additionally, our US Disaster Relief team is constantly preparing for, or deploying to, disasters around the country.  During my first year with Operation Blessing, we have deployed our teams to the wildfires of California, tornados in Ohio and Alabama, flooding in Nebraska and Texas, and hurricanes in North Carolina.  During deployments we supply the tools, equipment and supplies necessary to support the survivors of disaster and the volunteers who serve them by tarping roofs, mucking and gutting homes, salvaging belongings, and removing debris.  At the end of the workday, we typically coordinate shelter for volunteers near the worksites, provide meals from one of our mobile kitchens, and hot showers from our shower trailers.

Internationally, we focus on four key pillars (hunger relief, clean water, medical aid, and disaster relief) from our 21 national offices with several offices on each continent except Antarctica.  Hunger relief internationally often focuses on helping communities and families develop microenterprises to increase their incomes to meet their needs. Clean water is provided through a variety of means from wells with pumps to full community-based distribution systems sourced from wells, surface water or rain-water collection systems depending on the environment and water availability in the region or community.  Medical aid is provided through shipments of medications to our doctors and clinics or hospitals we support, especially in Central and South America.  Our doctors travel to remote villages, often more than a day’s walk, to provide medical care and prescription medication to community members who would otherwise not have easy access to medical care.  While working around the world, our staff in the national offices identify opportunities to provide life-changing surgeries for people suffering from cleft lip, cleft palate, club foot, blindness or limited eyesight, heart related issues, burn strictures, or benign tumor removal.  Our international disaster relief team typically combines the clean water and medical aid missions and deploys with a team of doctors, engineers or clean water specialists to areas stricken by natural disasters or refugee migrations.  Since joining the Operation Blessing team, I have supported our response efforts for the Venezuelan refugee crisis on the Colombia border; the Syrian Kurd refugee crisis in Iraq; cyclones in Zimbabwe, Mozambique, Malawi, and India; volcano eruptions in the Philippines; earthquakes in Albania and Puerto Rico; and Hurricane Dorian in the Bahamas.

The insight gained through the O2O/IVMF experience, coupled with the guidance and assistance received from their staff and coaches, and the network build over my military career were instrumental in preparing me for this transition to the civilian workforce.” 

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Branch: U.S. Army Veteran
Rank: E4
Military Occupation: 92A – Logistics Specialist
Installation: Fort Carson, CO
Certification: Security + Graduate
Current Occupation: Systems Administrator, Northrop Grumman

“In order to succeed, your desire for success should be greater than your fear of failure.”

LeShelle’s spouse is an Active Duty soldier and moving from Alabama to Colorado was “stressful.” She was undecided on what to do, and she didn’t have any certifications. She went on multiple interviews and got rejected due to not having qualifications or enough experience.

She was determined to get the qualifications she needed. A coordinator with MYSECO referred her to Onward to Opportunity (O2O), it relieved an abundant amount of stress from her to learn there was chance to gain more skills and a certification.

Onward to Opportunity provided Networking Events such as Colorado Springs Chamber Connect Luncheon, Blackstone Technology IT Industry Panel, Pikes Peak Workforce Center (PPWFC) workshops to help her meet a diverse group of people and seek out employment with various employers.

Additionally, an interview and resume class were provided to help boost her confidence and polish her interview skills.

LeShelle earned a Security + certification through O2O and she is certain it helped her land the position as a System Administrator at Northrop Grumman Corporation of Colorado Springs, Colorado.

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Branch: U.S. Navy Veteran
Rank: Commander (O5)
Military Occupation: Field Artillery
Installation: Hampton Roads, VA
Certification: Project Management Professional (PMP) Graduate
Current Occupation: Deputy Director of East Coast Operations, Huntington Ingalls Industries, Inc. 

“I’d certainly recommend (O2O) for the networking opportunities. It really opens up a lot of doors.”

Hank Allen rose to the rank of commander before he decided it was time to leave the Navy after a 24-year career. But even with all of his experience and seniority, he was “a little bit nervous” about his transition. “It’s a big step when you’re trying to move from one career to another,” he said.

Hank had a bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering and earned a master’s degree in engineering management while he was in the Navy, so he suspected he’d do something related to engineering, but he wasn’t sure what it might be. He first heard about Onward to Opportunity when he was attending the Navy’s mandatory transition program, and reached out to the program coordinator at Hampton Roads after he learned he could earn a Project Management Professional (PMP) certificate.

“I figured I was going to be working in project management, and I knew this was a path to get a certification,” Hank said. “And knowing it was free and would possibly open the door to networking opportunities, I figured I’d get something out of it.”

Once he got into the course, Hank said the information he received on setting up a LinkedIn account and building out a resume targeted at civilian employers helped him a great deal. O2O’s emphasis on networking encouraged him to join a variety of Navy networking groups, which is where he met a hiring manager at Huntington Ingalls, where he now works as an engineer.

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Branch: US Army – E4
Mil. occupation: Information Technology Specialist
O2O Installation: Fort Drum, NY
Certification: CCNA (Cisco Certified Network Associate) Graduate
Current job: Systems Support Analyst, G&C Foods

“I love what this program has done for me. I love it so much, my wife is taking the course right now!”

Steven Murray had several advantages when he decided to transition out of the military. First, he had spent 10 years working in finance in the civilian sector before he joined the Army in 2011, so he knew what to expect from the civilian workplace culture. Also, he’d developed strong information technology skills in the Army that would transition well into a variety of civilian jobs, and he knew he wanted to work towards becoming a director of IT.

Still, Steven (or, ‘Stephan’ to everyone who knows him) found the Onward to Opportunity invaluable for his job search. He was especially blown away by the quantity and quality of the networking opportunities that the O2O program coordinators at Fort Drum provided, from phone conferences with mentors and advisors to in-person Q&As with local recruiters.

“We got to pick these people’s brains,” he said, “it eased a lot of that initial fear you have when you transition by being able to ask these people questions” about applying and interviewing for jobs.

Steven also gives the O2O program big props for encouraging him to think beyond simply getting a job when he left the military, and instead think about finding a long-term career that you love. “They say, ‘don’t just apply for anything, think about the job you want to do for 10, 15 or 20 years.” Heeding that advice, Steven prioritized searching for IT jobs at companies rated as the top employers in upstate New York and found what so far has been a dream job as a system support analyst for G&C. Foods. “I isolated where I wanted to work, and I wouldn’t have gotten that advice without the Onward to Opportunity program.”