Cameron-Brooks Cameron-Brooks

Welcome back! As Transition Coaches, a topic that we often help officers think through as they are making decisions about getting out of the military is short-term thinking versus long-term career thinking. It is completely natural for officers leaving the military to focus and think in the short term. They have a future date in which they are going to exit the military, usually with in the next 12 months or less, and they need a plan. Because of this, there are typically two main issues that tend to drive decision-making in the transition. First, officers now have full autonomy to make a decision about their future and second, officers, at least while in the military, have never had to fully manage their careers or have had full power to make important career decisions.







In this episode, our three Transition Coaches, Joel Junker, Pete Van Epps and Brock Dudley meet to has a discussion about a topic that we discuss often with military officers - short vs. long-term career thinking and decision making.



 



In the first part of our discussion, Joel sets up the discussion by referencing The Fifth Discipline by Peter Senge. In the book, there is an illustration where Senge describes a person envisioning their future self vs. their current reality. In the gap between where you are and your current reality, there is tension. Tension is good, but working through that tension also takes time, discipline, and resolve. Through the years, we've seen countless military officers take this approach to their transition. They take a realistic inventory of where they are today and where they want to be 5-10 years from the transition; then, they build a plan. That plan sets up the tension because it often means you will sacrifice some elements of short-term gain for ultimately achieving your professional goal and achieving your vision.



In the discussion, we were each able to weigh in on critical components of long-term decision-making and created a short, actionable list for military officers who want to align their transition strategy with a focus on their future career vision.



Set a vision for yourself. Look out to the next 5-10 years. Define where you want to take your career and start doing things today that will support that vision.

Write your vision out. Get it out of your head and onto a piece of paper or somewhere you will see it regularly. It will keep you focused and motivated and help you to do the type of activities that support moving toward your vision.

Tell somebody. Find people in your life who you trust and who speak the truth to you. There is great power in having accountability in your life to help you achieve your goals, challenge you to be the best version of yourself, and help you reach your goals.



If this is something you are interested in exploring, give us a call. Our company is completely dedicated to helping military officers through a decision making process and career search strategy that is designed to you you reach your goals and dreams.



Pete Van Epps || (210) 874-1519 || pete@cameron-brooks.com



If you want to learn more about Cameron-Brooks, you can find more information on your website and our YouTube Channel.



 

Welcome back! This is the second installment in our Career Field series podcasts. In our first episode (Episode 192), we featured three Cameron-Brooks alumni who explained their careers within the Engineering Management Career field. In this episode, we invited two of our alumni who launched their careers within Manufacturing. After listening to them, you'll have a better understanding where a post-military career in manufacturing can take your career.



Michael Warwick is a former Army Infantry/AG officer. He attended the August 2017 Career Conference and started his career at Oldcastle Building Envelope, which creates glass products for commercial and residential buildings. He spent 5 years at that company, becoming the Plant Manager of his facility before being promoted to General Manager, covering Texas, Oklahoma, and Louisiana. In that role, he managed all aspects of the business, from production to sales and business development functions. This allowed him to pull different levers to positively affect the profit and loss (P&L) of the overall business. In 2023, he moved to American Bath Group (ABG), a company that produces a myriad of different products that are installed in bathrooms. As a Division Manager, he manages and oversees two different companies within ABG, Swan and Florestone. In this role, he oversees both lines of business, from production, distribution, branding and marketing to new product development.



Brandon Slocum is a former Army Armor officer. He attended the January 2018 Career Conference. He launched his career at Pactiv Evergreen. In the first few years of his career, he watched Pactiv move from a privately held to a publicly traded company. He started as an Operations Unit Manager, managing different teams and lines of product production. From there, he spent some time as an Operations Talent Manager on the Training and Development team, where he traveled to different Pactiv facilities throughout the country to standardize practices across the companies. For the last 4+ years, he's served as a Plant Manager in two different locations. He started as the Plant Manager in their Chicago facility, leading 275 team members in making packaging material for different high-volume restaurants. Currently, he is leading the Temple, TX facility, leading 550 team members, managing the entire South/Southwest of consumer products for Hefty and Reynolds, as well as products for Costco, Walmart, and Sam's Clubs.



In this episode, Michael and Brandon answer three key questions: what exactly is manufacturing? What are the common misconceptions people have about starting a career in manufacturing? What are the key competencies that someone must possess to lead a successful post-military career in manufacturing?



I think you'll find Michael and Brandon's experiences encouraging and exciting. The interesting thing is when both of these leaders attended the Cameron-Brooks Career Conference, they interviewed with around 10-12 different companies within different industries and across different career fields, including manufacturing. In doing so, they were able to assess different opportunities to find the best opportunity among many. When Michael chose Oldcastle and Brandon chose Pactiv, they made a decision that launched their career with the best fit, and they've never looked back. If you are interested in doing that type of career search, reach out to me directly.



Best,

Pete Van Epps || pvanepps@cameron-brooks.com || (210) 874-1519



Cameron-Brooks has a 50-year track record of guiding military officers to create a step-by-step plan to learn about their options, connect their military experiences directly to opportunities in corporate America, craft a resume that will stand out to hiring managers, and ultimately launch a successful business career.

Welcome back! This episode continues our Post-Conference Review series. As many of you know, Cameron-Brooks holds five Career Conferences per year. After every Career Conference, we lead a webcast with a few of our most recent alumni to let them share their experience with the Conference and the follow-up interview process. Hear some real JMO transition stories.



We continue to conduct these webcasts because officers continue to provide feedback on these episodes and how helpful they are.  Though everyone's experience through the Cameron-Brooks process differs, our alumni continue to provide valuable insight that will demystify the entire process. In this episode, you will meet:



Mikayla Blaska is an Army Infantry Captain, Ranger qualified, who graduated from Princeton University with a BA in Psychology in 2019. She accepted a position with Motorola Solutions as a Territory Sales Finance Manager.



Kevin Hanigan is an Air Force F-15E Strike Eagle pilot who graduated from Ohio State University with a BS in Electrical and Computer Engineering in 2012. He accepted a position with Liberty Advisory Group as a Principal Consultant.



Gage Wampler is an Army Chemical Captain who graduated from the Virginia Military Academy with a BS in Computer Science in 2019. He accepted a position with Amcor as a Liquid Business Development Account Manager.



We tackled a wide array of topics during these real JMO transition stories and most of the questions came from the group who attended the live webcast.



What was the best part of the Conference?

How do you professionally handle a business interview in a virtual environment when there is more than one person in the room?

How do you prepare for back-to-back interviews when meeting different industries, companies, and functional career opportunities?

What was the follow-up interview process like?

Were there any professional certifications you pursued before the Career Conference that set you apart?

Was your college degree a factor in your interviews?

What type of training will you receive at your new company?

How do you manage the vast amount of information at the Career Conference?



We finished with a Lighting Round of questions to ensure that all questions were answered. Overall, it was an informative session, and their experience certainly provided a lot of insight into the process.



If you like hearing these real JMO transition stories and are considering what is next for you after the military, give me a call to discuss your options. Often, a short conversation with someone who has seen thousands of officers transition can be helpful in your process. Whether you decide to stay in or get out and regardless of whether you commit to a career in Corporate America, just having a conversation about your future plans and goals can help. If that is you, call me or email me directly to get started.



Best,

Pete Van Epps || pvanepps@cameron-brooks.com || (210) 874-1519



 



 

Let's talk about the value of the Cameron-Brooks Preparation Program. The number one feedback comment I hear from Cameron-Brooks Alumni is, “I wish I had started preparing earlier.” Regardless of whether the officer started 12 months or 2 months before interviewing, they all wish they had more time.



Another common feedback comment I hear is, “The transition from the military to a business leadership career and civilian life is more of an adjustment than anticipated.” They are changing career fields, industries, and organizations. They have to adapt and adjust to new cultures, processes, and personality styles.

Start Preparation Early

In this podcast, I make the argument that JMOs need to start gathering information and preparing for the transition as soon as they even consider leaving the military. Just before I wrote this post and recorded the podcast, I spoke to a naval officer who made the decision two years ago to leave the Navy, and he starts terminal leave in a month. I asked him what he had been doing to prepare for a transition. He talked about earning a project management certificate. When I quizzed him further, he had not read any books on business and did not have knowledge of common business concepts like Lean and Six Sigma.



Finally, I asked him how confident he was in his interviewing skills, and he rated himself an 8 on a 10 scale. I asked him about his most significant accomplishment in the Navy, and he struggled to explain it in a way that demonstrated his specific leadership actions. I also asked him about his leadership style; once again, he lacked depth. This is really common; learning how to interview takes time, practice, and feedback.

Apply Business Concepts While in the Military

Too many officers rely on a Skillbridge program to prepare for the transition. When they do this, they miss out on learning about business concepts and applying them in their military jobs. Companies love to hear how officers applied Lean, Six Sigma, coaching, mentoring, and sales models while in the military. It helps them relate what the military officer has done to their environment. The only way to do this is to start preparing well before the transition.

Cameron-Brooks Walks Besides Officers Just Considering the Transition

Another major point in the podcast is that the Cameron-Brooks preparation program also has huge benefits for those just considering the transition. There is a misperception that we only work with those who have made the firm decision to get out. We walk beside many officers who are just considering the transition. We enroll them in the preparation program so they can learn about their marketability and options in business. We help them get clarity on their career goals and whether or not a transition makes sense. To take advantage of this, one should contact Cameron-Brooks as soon as they start thinking about the transition.



I close the podcast with an explanation of the Cameron-Brooks preparation program and its benefits. Our program helps officers make good decisions in the transition, interview well in the transition, and hit the ground running in their new careers. It's hard to argue about the value of the Cameron-Brooks Preparation Program once you understand more about it.



Thank you for listening to the Cameron-Brooks podcast! As you consider your potential transition from the military to the business world, if you'd like to talk about your marketability or how Cameron-Brooks can guide you to launching your career, please contact us directly. Schedule a call here. 



Cameron-Brooks has a 50-year track record of guiding military officers to create a step-by-step plan to learn about their options, connect their military experiences directly to opportunities in corporate America, craft a resume that will stand out to hiring managers, and ultimately launch a successful business career.

Harry Truman, the 33rd President of the United States, said, “Not all readers are leaders, but all leaders are readers.”



Therefore, JMOs should read.



Leaders read because they continuously pursue learning and development. They know they never “arrive” and know everything. Additionally, whether they are politicians, business people, military leaders, teachers, or wherever they lead, they know their environment is dynamic.  They read to stay sharp, adapt to new challenges, explore new ideas, and understand ideas and views that conflict with their own.



Often when I speak with Junior Military Officers (JMOs) considering the transition, they tell me they have not read much since they left college. I have to admit that I did not read much during my first two years in the military. Fortunately, a new commander implemented a reading program in my third year, and I also started preparing with Cameron-Brooks for my transition. I developed a habit of reading well before the transition that I continue today.



In this podcast, I explain four reasons why JMOs should make a habit of reading before the transition. They are:



Developing a habit of reading that will carry forward to being a business leader post-transition.

Learning business concepts and applying them in the military before transitioning, providing excellent experiences to share in an interview.

When interviewing, the JMO will need to understand the language of business. One would not travel to a foreign country without learning some of the language and customs—the same with transitioning to business.

The need to incorporate business concepts into interview answers. I provide an example where one individual had not developed an understanding or root cause of problem-solving and project management, and as a result, his interview answers lacked depth and specifics.



My colleague, Brock Dudley, wrote a blog post in February 2024 about the correlation between reading and successful interviewing.



JMOs should read — especially if you are making the transition. I highly recommend developing a reading habit today. If you have not already done so, start with PCS to Corporate America, 4th Ed. The book has a recommended reading list at the back. I wrote a blog post on 5 Books Every JMO Should Read ASAP a few years ago.



In the podcast, I mention Jeff Bezos and Bill Gates’ reading lists. You can find them hyperlinked in their names.



Thank you for listening to the Cameron-Brooks podcast! As you consider your potential transition from the military to the business world, if you'd like to talk about your marketability or how Cameron-Brooks can guide you to launching your career, please contact us directly. Schedule a call here. 



Cameron-Brooks has a 50-year track record of guiding military officers to create a step-by-step plan to learn about their options, connect their military experiences directly to opportunities in corporate America, craft a resume that will stand out to hiring managers, and ultimately launch a successful business career.



 



 

Welcome back! Today you're going to get three tips to manage your career after you transition to business. I am glad to introduce you to Kingsley Spiller. He's a former Army Infantry officer who moved to corporate America in 2016. He spent his time in the Army as a Platoon Leader, Executive Officer, and Battalion Logistics officer and finished up his career with a deployment to Afghanistan. He launched his business career as a District Manager at Aldi. In this episode, you will get a chance to hear Kingsley's story. Specifically, Kingsley gets into some of the decisions he's made in his career thus far as it relates to career development and where he sees his career going. If you are still in the military and wondering what it's like to navigate your career successfully as you get started, this episode is for you!



In this conversation, Kingsley walks through three actions he's taken to ensure success and growth as a leader at Aldi.

Start Strong

It all starts with getting into the right company. Kingsley interviewed for over 10 companies at his Cameron-Brooks Career Conference. He was able to evaluate different industries, companies and career options to find the best option for him. Not only that but within each of the options, he could evaluate many of the intrinsic values of each of the opportunities in order to select the best among many. This allowed him to get into the right role and use the leadership skills he gained in the military to start strong and make an immediate impact in the organization.

Be a Giver

Kingsley said one of the first things he did when he got to Aldi was looking for challenging assignments. He volunteered for hard jobs and took on the work that no one else wanted. This is exactly what corporate America is looking for in the JMOs. We want people who will go the extra mile without being asked and do it with a great attitude. Unbeknownst to Kingsley, this is one of the reasons he was able to rise quickly in his organization, which allowed him to build his brand and be seen as a leader in his organization.

See the Big Picture

Like most transitions or major changes in life, after the "honeymoon" phase, there is typically a dip. It's typically not an insurmountable issue or problem. It's more like the excitement of being recruited has subsided. The newness and novelty of the new thing have passed. This is often where people quit and start over. Kingsley does a great job talking about seeing the picture of his career. He knew that the next chapter of his professional book after the military wasn't the last chapter! Often, JMOs tend to see the world in the very next step, not realizing that pivot transition phases of life and decisions made in the process will affect future chapters.



Kingsley has done a great job making an immediate impact when he started at Aldi, seeking out the toughest assignments and seeing the big picture regarding managing his career.



If you are wondering about your options as you consider the future, let's have a quick chat on the phone. We have built a reputation for helping military officers make the move from the military to the business world, and we are standing on over a half-century of experience. If you are interested in launching your career in a leadership role in the world of business, I want to meet with you. Feel free to call or email directly to get started.



If you want to learn more about how we help military officers or your career options, visit www.cameron-brooks.com. You can also hear about other officers' experiences with Cameron-Brooks.



Best of success,



Pete Van Epps // (210) 874-1519 // pvanepps@cameron-brooks.com