Marnie Holder, Director of Veterans Programs for Hiring Our Hero’s, U.S. Chamber of Commerce foundation opens the Soldier for Life Summit discussing the importance of SFL and the Transition Assistance Program Nov. 6. Companies from around Hawaii and the mainland met with service members during the summit encouraging those transitioning to communicate, network and gain information to make the transition easier for them and their families.(Photo by Sgt. 1st Class Wynn A. Hoke, 8th Theater Sustainment Command Public Affairs)
Sgt. 1st Class Wynn A. Hoke
8th Theater Sustainment Command Public Affairs
SCHOFIELD BARRACKS, Hawaii – The Soldier for Life Summit hosted by U.S. Army Hawaii and the U.S. Chamber of Commerce kicked off Nov. 6 and 7 focused on the community members and the importance of the transition from service member to veteran.
The Soldier for Life-Transition Assistance Program helps connect transitioning service members and their family members with opportunities and resources within the civilian community.
“The Soldier for Life program helps prepare and connect service members,” said, Marnie Holder, Director of Veterans Programs for Hiring Our Hero’s, U.S. Chamber of Commerce foundation. “This event is designed to take all the knowledge they have learned [from the Transition Assistance Program] and get them in front of employers and practice their elevator pitch, their personal branding and plan for their next career.”
Service members face numerous challenges within the military and transitioning into civilian life can create a lot of added stress. To help alleviate some of that stress, the program helps empower service members so they can make good informed career decisions that will enrich their lives as well as that of their families and community.
“The benefits of this program helps open the aperture and peal back the curtain and say, hey, there is a lot more to businesses,” said Holder. “Companies like Amazon have IT, they have operations, they have HR, you name it, they are one company but have so many departments. There is such a depth and breadth of jobs available and career opportunities.”
Lt. Col. Robert Barney, 8th Theater Sustainment Command, and fellow Soldier discuss career possibilities with numerous vendors throughout the Soldier for Life Summit Nov. 6. The summit provided a small glimpse into how service members can better prepare and what to expect while transitioning and searching for their next career. (Photo by Sgt. 1st Class Wynn A. Hoke, 8th Theater Sustainment Command Public Affairs)
The Soldier for Life program offers classes and workshops on transitions, military occupation specialty (MOS) crosswalk into the civilian workforce, resume writing, interviewing techniques and dressing for success as well as many more.
“You have been in the military for so long, you know nothing about civilian life,” said, Staff Sgt. Xiomara Paulino, 311th Signal Command (Theater) Religious Affairs NCO. “I would tell anyone getting ready to leave the military to take advantage of the program. It helped me with my resume writing, networking and understanding my benefits.”
Companies from around Hawaii and the mainland met with service members during the summit encouraging those transitioning to communicate, network and gain information to make the transition easier for them and their families.
The summit provided a small glimpse into how service members can better prepare and what to expect while transitioning and searching for their next career.
The Soldier for Life-Transition Assistance Program should be started 12-18 months before separation. To learn more about SFL-TAP, visit the U.S. Army Garrison Hawaii webpage and search Soldier for Life.