By 1st Lt. Colin Simsarian
52nd Brigade Engineer Battalion, 2nd Infantry Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division
Senior noncommissioned officers network with Retired Command Sgt. Maj. Tamara Olson and Retired Col. Hal Alguire during a breakout session March 8, 2017, as part of a warrior transition panel. (Photo by Sgt. Kirk Welborn)
Transitioning from military to civilian life can be overwhelming. Learning from those who have succeeded at translating the skills they accumulated while serving in the Army into a successful civilian career can help ease some of the tension of what lies ahead.
Former Army, Marine and Air Force engineers shared their transition knowledge and experience during the March 8, 2017, warrior transition panel sponsored by the Pikes Peak Chapter of the Society of American Military Engineers (SAME). Soldiers with the 52nd Brigade Engineer Battalion, 2nd Infantry Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division, hosted the event at the Colorado Army National Guard Centennial Training Site on Fort Carson.
“The importance of this transition panel, and any transition panel, is the discussion of networking and what to expect when you transition,” said Michele Magrini, Fort Carson transition services manager with the Soldier for Life Transition Assistance Program (SFL-TAP). “These veterans have gone through the transition process and want to help.”
Retired Col. Hal Alguire, formerly assigned to 52nd BEB and now Fort Carson director of Public Works (DPW) at Fort Carson, was among the panel members who noted his desire to help fellow veterans make a smooth switch from the military to a civilian career.
“As a veteran, a panel with interaction between veterans and those getting out is an invaluable opportunity to communicate and network,” said Alguire.
Company commanders from the 52nd Brigade Engineer Battalion, 2nd Infantry Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division, network with Retired Col. Tony Hoffman during a breakout session March 8, 2017, as part of a warrior transition panel. (Photo by Sgt. Kirk Welborn)
He said ultimately those on the panel consider themselves Soldiers and believe that there is no better way to help active-duty Soldiers than to provide them with the tools necessary to succeed in the transition to civilian life.
The transition panels have had great results dating back to 2014, said Retired Col. Tony Hoffman of the greater Kansas City SAME. He said it is satisfying for its members to know that their assistance has helped enhance Soldiers’ knowledge about the many different facets and changes that occur in such a transition.
“We have already seen greater networking and use of the post-9/11 GI benefits from transitioning military members,” he said. “We hope to continue to build on these successes and provide military members the best opportunities to succeed outside of the military.”
Col. Brian Truesdell, Pikes Peak SAME lead emphasized the “built-in” network that assists transitioning military members by showing them how to best advertise their unique talents to prospective employers. He said they provide the tools to succeed, however, those transitioning still need to do their part and network.
The event concluded as attendees were divided into small groups led by the panel members to discuss three essential aspects of transition — confrontation, disengagement and re-socialization. The conversation centered on the confrontation of taking off the uniform, disengagement with the military and re-socialization to get fully acquainted with civilian life.
Lt. Col. Brian D. Brobeck, commander, 52nd BEB, stressed the value of having a distinguished group of mentors share their experiences.
“The engagement and advice from former service members who have successfully made the transition to civilian life was very informative,” he said. “Whenever we can connect Soldiers with new transition resources, it is a success for the Army, our Soldiers and their Families.”
The Fort Carson SFL-TAP will hold a Military Veterans Employment Expo in May and a Transition Summit in September. Visit “Fort Carson Soldier For Life Transition Assistance Program” on Facebook for more information on upcoming events.