JOINT BASE SAN ANTONIO-RANDOLPH, Texas – Thousands of Airmen face the decision of whether or not to retire, separate or continue on in their Air Force journey each year. For some, this transition means leaving service to pursue higher education and develop a new skill-set; for others, the reintegration could be the beginning of enjoying a reprieve following years of selfless service to the nation. Regardless of the motivation for a career transition, this phase is often filled with emotional turmoil and stress.
The Air Force Wounded Warrior Program (AFW2) Empowerment in Transition (EIT) team strives to equip, encourage, and empower wounded warriors to develop and achieve long-term career and life goals, while providing personalized coaching and guidance to ensure warriors are can navigate changes, build effective ways ahead, and take charge of their post-military lives.
“Our program provides personalized support to arm our wounded, ill, and injured Airmen with the skills, resources, and network to succeed during the military-civilian transition process,” said Brad Britt, EIT program manager. “For many of our warriors, this is an unplanned and early departure from military careers due to the wounds, illnesses or injuries they sustained will serving in the Air Force.”
For warriors like Monica Johnson, the EIT program proved crucial as she transitioned after a 29-year military career.
“Words cannot describe what this team did for me during my transition from active duty to civilian life,” said Johnson. “They provided such important information and guidance that I didn’t even realize I would need, but has since become imperative to my post military success.
“I was first contacted by the program about four months before my estimated date of separation,” she continued. “The AFW2 staff provided me with resources, such as financial planning and medical coverage, which helped me during my medical retirement process. These are issues that we (retirees) don’t really think about while on active duty, but are extremely important to know as we plan for retirement or the next chapter of our lives.”
Johnson, who is one of 11 warriors who have recently transitioned with the help of our program and successfully been hired in the civilian sector, is now a federal employee who attributes her success to the personalized care she received from the EIT staff.
“I mentioned to the staff that I was seeking employment after retirement and was immediately provided with additional job finding resources,” Johnson said. “I sent the team with a list of jobs I was interested in, and was given help with tailoring my federal and civilian resumes, and was even coached on interview techniques. Because of this, I am now happily employed in a federal position I love.”
For warriors who are facing the decision to separate or continue serving, the EIT program is here to assist every step of the way.
“I can think of few things more important during this time of turbulence and uncertainty than a team of warrior support professionals who can provide individually tailored support to empower warriors and their families as they begin their search for a new career or seek to reach educational goals,” said Britt. “Our team is making a difference every single day in the lives of our warriors.”
For more information about AFW2 or EIT, visit their official website, like their Facebook page, and follow them on Twitter for program updates, upcoming events and the latest news.