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What happens when a highly-decorated Green Beret with an MFA in Creative Writing decides to forge a completely different path after retirement? Randy Searles takes us on his remarkable journey from 32 years in Army Special Forces to becoming a sought-after editor and ghostwriter for military authors.

Randy's story begins with unexpected change when policy shifts forced an earlier retirement than planned. Facing this transition while going through a divorce, he embarked on a soul-searching 500-mile hike across northern Spain on the famous Camino de Santiago. The trek, intended to help process his military exit and prove his physical capabilities despite injuries, delivered far more than expected, including meeting his future wife on just the second day.

While hiking, Randy received an email about a specialized editing certification program. What began as a simple interest in improving his own writing transformed into the foundation of a thriving business. Within two years of focused effort, Randy built a six-figure editing and ghostwriting practice that now allows him to work just 20 hours weekly from his home in Spain.

The episode dives deep into the realities of military memoir writing, with Randy explaining the different approaches authors take, from legacy memoirs documenting entire careers to focused accounts of specific deployments. His experience collaborating on the New York Times bestseller "Operation Pineapple Express" and over 40 other books provides listeners with candid insights about publishing economics and what it really takes to succeed in the industry.

Most valuably, Randy shares how he's paying it forward through his SkillBridge program called "Story Ninjas," teaching transitioning service members the editing craft and business fundamentals they need to follow a similar path. You can learn more about this program at https://militaryeditor.com/ghostwriting/ and https://thestoryninjas.com/.

His newly-launched Military Writers Academy aims to connect veteran authors with editors who understand military culture and experiences.

If you want to explore how your military background might translate into a creative career, connect with Randy on LinkedIn at https://www.linkedin.com/in/randall-surles-military-editor/

This conversation offers both inspiration and practical wisdom for charting an unconventional but rewarding post-service path. Subscribe to Lessons Learned for Vets for more stories of successful military transitions.

The Lessons Learned for Vets Podcast is sponsored by Seek Now and their Drive Academy. Seek Now is the property inspection industry's leading business and they created Drive Academy DoD SkillBridge and CSP internships to teach transitioning military service members and veterans skills that prepare them for lucrative and rewarding careers in the property inspection and insurance industries. You can learn more and apply today at www.internwithdrive.com.

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What happens when your dream job becomes uncertain during a government reduction in force? Keith Cassant, a retired Army veteran and sought-after transition expert, returns to the podcast with powerful insights about navigating unexpected career changes.

Keith opens up about his journey since military retirement in 2019, sharing how he found his "dream job" as Veterans Program Manager at the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency. Despite rating his role at an impressive 4.2 out of 5 on his famous "five factors" scale, Keith now faces uncertainty due to federal workforce reductions. His candid discussion reveals critical information about veterans preference protections that many federal employees misunderstand – particularly that veterans who retired based on years of service (rather than medical retirement) may not have the job security they believe. For more details, you can visit: https://webapps.dol.gov/elaws/vets/vetpref/elig_rif.htm

The conversation shifts to practical networking strategies as Keith demonstrates what host Lori Norris calls "the poster child for announcing you're open to work." Rather than simply stating he's looking, Keith clearly articulates his expertise, provides specific examples of his accomplishments, and identifies exactly what roles he's seeking. His methodical approach to tagging connections demonstrates the importance of targeted networking rather than casting a wide net without direction.

One of the most valuable insights comes from Keith's "find 10 mentors" philosophy, encouraging transitioning service members to build a personal "board of advisors" rather than relying on a single mentor. This approach acknowledges that different mentors offer varied perspectives and expertise, creating a more robust support system during transition challenges. Keith also shares his "one rule" for resumes – that every action must have a measurable result tied to it – explaining that "your experiences don't get you the job; the results of those experiences do."

Keith closes with what might be his most honest truth bomb: expect to fail during transition. Like knowing you'll get cut in a knife fight, anticipating setbacks prevents them from derailing your progress. Even with his experience and expertise, Keith still feels the sting of rejection – but he refuses to let it stop him from moving forward with resilience and purpose.

Whether you're facing unexpected career changes or preparing for military transition, this episode delivers actionable strategies from someone who's living through the challenges right alongside you. Connect with Keith on LinkedIn to follow his journey and access his wealth of transition wisdom at: https://www.linkedin.com/in/keithcassant/

You can hear Keith as the cohost of the Vet S.O.S. Podcast here: https://vetsospodcast.com

The Lessons Learned for Vets Podcast is sponsored by Seek Now and their Drive Academy. Seek Now is the property inspection industry's leading business and they created Drive Academy DoD SkillBridge and CSP internships to teach transitioning military service members and veterans skills that prepare them for lucrative and rewarding careers in the property inspection and insurance industries. You can learn more and apply today at www.internwithdrive.com.

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Gennaro "Pirate" Mazzeo turned his military transition into an adventure – and it changed everything. After retiring from the Marine Corps during COVID after 22 years of service, he embarked on an unexpected journey that led him from ROTC instructor to bartender to federal employee with Naval Criminal Investigative Services.

What makes Gennaro's story so compelling is his refreshingly positive mindset about military transition. Rather than viewing this major life change as an inherently difficult struggle (as many do), he approached it with the same openness and sense of discovery that characterized his military deployments. "Every time I got on a plane to go on a training expedition, I didn't know where it was going to take me," he explains. "I wanted to approach the next part of my life with that same kind of openness."

His perspective challenges conventional wisdom about veteran career paths in several important ways. First, he deliberately chose not to pursue leadership roles despite retiring as a First Sergeant. "Leadership comes with a cost," he shares, whether human, physical, or monetary. Instead, he prioritized being present for his family – something he missed during years of deployments and field training.

Perhaps most thought-provoking is his view that jobs don't need to fulfill a higher purpose or passion. "Having a job is just okay," Gennaro insists. "It's okay just to go to work and come home. It's okay just to provide for your family." This perspective freed him from the pressure many veterans feel to find work that matches their previous status.

A recent heart attack at age 44 further crystallized these priorities. In those critical moments, he wasn't thinking about career advancement or financial obligations – only his faith, family, and relationships mattered. This powerful wake-up call reinforced that our professional identities should not define our entire existence.

Are you approaching your military transition with dread or anticipation? Listen to this episode to discover how changing your mindset might be the most important preparation you can make. Subscribe, share, and join the conversation about creating a post-military life aligned with your true priorities.

You can connect with Gennaro Mazzeo on LinkedIn at: https://www.linkedin.com/in/gennaromazzeo8999/

Subscribe to our YouTube channel at https://tinyurl.com/llforvets22

Subscribe to the podcast and leave us a 5-star review. Please share this with other veterans who might need help as they transition from the military!
If you learned something valuable today, share it. Leave us a review and write a post on social media about the lessons that helped you today from this episode.

The Lessons Learned for Vets Podcast is sponsored by Seek Now and their Drive Academy. Seek Now is the property inspection industry's leading business and they created Drive Academy DoD SkillBridge and CSP internships to teach transitioning military service members and veterans skills that prepare them for lucrative and rewarding careers in the property inspection and insurance industries. You can learn more and apply today at www.internwithdrive.com.

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Former Marine Corps officer Mindy Beyer takes us on a remarkable journey through her diverse career path that has spanned military service, government work, tech startups, and now leadership at gaming giant Roblox as Director of Cybercrime and Strategic Intelligence. With refreshing candor and practical wisdom, Mindy reveals the strategies she's developed while navigating frequent career transitions as both a veteran and military spouse.

The conversation tackles one of the most challenging aspects of military transition—salary negotiation—with Mindy sharing an eye-opening moment when she "asked for the moon" and was shocked when a tech startup immediately agreed to her highest number. Her advice on researching compensation, leveraging networks, and confidently articulating value provides veterans with practical tools to maximize their earning potential.

Beyond compensation, Mindy explores the profound cultural differences between government and tech environments. She contrasts the mission-focused, hierarchical structure of government work with the profit-driven, fluid nature of tech companies—noting how veterans can leverage their systematic thinking and experience with large organizations to provide unique value, especially to growing companies. Her counterintuitive advice about certifications (they might actually hurt your chances in some tech roles) and practical guidance on overcoming imposter syndrome offers veterans a roadmap for successful transitions.

What makes this episode particularly valuable is Mindy's authenticity about balancing career ambitions with military family life. As she prepares for yet another move supporting her husband's upcoming overseas command, she demonstrates the resilience and adaptability that defines successful military-connected professionals. Whether you're contemplating a career in technology, preparing for your military transition, or simply seeking inspiration from someone who's masterfully navigated multiple professional reinventions, Mindy's journey offers powerful lessons for veterans at any stage.

You can connect with Mindy via LinkedIn at: www.linkedin.com/in/melinda-beyer-28208646/

The Lessons Learned for Vets Podcast is sponsored by Seek Now and their Drive Academy. Seek Now is the property inspection industry's leading business and they created Drive Academy DoD SkillBridge and CSP internships to teach transitioning military service members and veterans skills that prepare them for lucrative and rewarding careers in the property inspection and insurance industries. You can learn more and apply today at www.internwithdrive.com.

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When Air Force Lieutenant Colonel Jason Anderson retired after 20 years of service, his transition looked perfect on paper. He landed a defense industry job with just one resume and two interviews, quickly rising to an executive position managing operations across Japan, Korea, and Taiwan. But behind this apparent success lurked a troubling reality: "I was not ready to perform in these roles at all," Anderson reveals.

This startling admission forms the foundation of our eye-opening conversation about the fundamental disconnect in military transition preparation. Anderson, now founder and CEO of PreVeteran, argues persuasively that the military and private sector are vastly different environments requiring entirely different mindsets and approaches – a reality the current transition system fails to acknowledge.

"We don't have a resume problem," Anderson explains, challenging conventional wisdom. "We have an 'I don't know what I want to do' problem." This insight cuts to the heart of why so many veterans struggle despite possessing extraordinary skills and experience. Through his pioneering work applying cognitive neuroscience to transition preparation, Anderson has developed a framework that helps service members understand how their military-shaped thinking patterns influence their decision-making, and provides tools to create new anchors in the private sector.

The conversation delves into controversial but important topics, including the debate over free versus paid transition services and why starting transition preparation 18 months to 3 years before separation creates optimal results. Whether you're years from separation or already navigating civilian life, this episode offers a transformative perspective on military transition that could fundamentally change how you approach your post-military career journey.

The Lessons Learned for Vets Podcast is sponsored by Seek Now and their Drive Academy. Seek Now is the property inspection industry's leading business and they created Drive Academy DoD SkillBridge and CSP internships to teach transitioning military service members and veterans skills that prepare them for lucrative and rewarding careers in the property inspection and insurance industries. You can learn more and apply today at www.internwithdrive.com.

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What happens when your therapist asks you to practice rejection by applying for jobs you think are out of reach? For Air Force Tech Sergeant Christopher Coffey, it led to three six-figure job offers and a complete rethinking of his value in the civilian workforce.

This eye-opening conversation challenges the most persistent myths about military transition, especially for non-senior enlisted personnel. Chris shares how he landed a management position with a six-figure salary without using LinkedIn or networking – simply by having a professional resume and thorough interview preparation. His story directly contradicts what many hear in Transition Assistance Programs about "starting at the bottom" after military service.

The journey wasn't without challenges. Chris candidly describes his process of "demilitarizing" himself – adjusting to civilian workplace culture where not everyone follows regulations to the letter, learning to call his boss by first name instead of "sir," and adapting to a workplace that values gradual improvement over immediate action. These adjustments, while sometimes frustrating, were key to his successful integration into his new role.

Perhaps the most valuable takeaway from Chris's experience is his mantra: "Don't tell yourself no." By refusing to disqualify himself from opportunities and letting employers make the decision instead, he opened doors that many veterans assume are closed to them. His advice to fellow transitioning service members is refreshingly straightforward – get help with your resume, prepare thoroughly for interviews, and most importantly, recognize the true value of your military experience in the civilian marketplace.

Whether you're years away from transition or actively job hunting, this conversation offers practical insights that could dramatically change your approach to finding meaningful civilian employment. What opportunities might be waiting if you stop telling yourself no?

Connect with Chris Coffey on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/christopher-m-coffey/

The Lessons Learned for Vets Podcast is sponsored by Seek Now and their Drive Academy. Seek Now is the property inspection industry's leading business and they created Drive Academy DoD SkillBridge and CSP internships to teach transitioning military service members and veterans skills that prepare them for lucrative and rewarding careers in the property inspection and insurance industries. You can learn more and apply today at www.internwithdrive.com.

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Maintaining meticulous records might not seem like the most exciting aspect of career management, but as veterans know, proper documentation can make all the difference between mission success and failure. In this tactical solo episode, Lori Norris shares a comprehensive system for organizing your job search and ongoing career documentation that leverages military precision while adapting to civilian workplace realities.

Drawing from years of experience helping thousands of transitioning service members, Lori explains why getting caught unprepared when employers call about positions you applied for weeks earlier can derail opportunities before they begin. She outlines a practical digital folder system organized by company and position that ensures you'll never be scrambling for information during that critical employer callback. From saving job descriptions that disappear from websites to conducting and documenting SWOT analyses of potential employers, this approach transforms reactive job searching into strategic career advancement.

The most valuable insight extends beyond the transition phase into long-term career management. Unlike the military's structured evaluation systems, civilian workplaces often lack comparable documentation processes. Veterans who implement their own accomplishment tracking systems—recording metrics, project outcomes, and quantifiable wins—gain a significant advantage when seeking promotions, requesting raises, or facing unexpected career disruptions. This documentation also serves as powerful evidence against imposter syndrome, providing concrete proof of your contributions when self-doubt creeps in.

Connect with Lori Norris and provide feedback on if you like solo episodes and what subjects you'd like her to cover at: www.linkedin.com/in/lorinorris

Your military experience has already equipped you with exceptional attention to detail and documentation skills. By applying these strengths to civilian career management, you create a strategic advantage that will serve you throughout your professional journey. Whether you're actively transitioning now or building your civilian career, this episode provides the blueprint for career documentation mastery that puts you in control of your professional narrative.

The Lessons Learned for Vets Podcast is sponsored by Seek Now and their Drive Academy. Seek Now is the property inspection industry's leading business and they created Drive Academy DoD SkillBridge and CSP internships to teach transitioning military service members and veterans skills that prepare them for lucrative and rewarding careers in the property inspection and insurance industries. You can learn more and apply today at www.internwithdrive.com.

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Ever felt like your carefully crafted resume disappeared into the void of an applicant tracking system? You're not alone. In this myth-busting conversation, Navy veteran, defense industry recruiter and resume writer Marisol Maloney pulls back the curtain on what really happens when you hit "submit" on that job application.

"The ATS bot that's rejecting you is me and the other human bots doing it," Marisol reveals, immediately dispelling the common misconception that faceless algorithms are solely responsible for application rejections. Throughout our conversation, she provides a refreshingly transparent look at how recruiters actually use these systems. They use them not to eliminate candidates, but to organize and track them through the hiring process.

For transitioning military members, timing is everything. Applying too early (6-8 months before separation) almost guarantees rejection, as most employers need to fill positions within 30 days. Marisol shares the perfect application timeline: use your first year to determine what you want to do next, the following six months to network heavily, and only start actively applying 2-3 months before your availability date.

We dive deep into resume strategy, debunking the concept of "keyword stuffing" and exploring what effective tailoring actually means. "If you're spending over an hour tailoring your resume," Marisol explains, "you're either not understanding the assignment or you're not qualified for that role." Her practical advice includes limiting yourself to five targeted applications weekly rather than "papering the world" with hundreds of generic resumes.

Perhaps most valuable is Marisol's perspective on translating military experience for civilian employers. The imposter syndrome that plagues many veterans often stems from difficulty articulating their value, not from any lack of skills. "Just because you can't translate your skills doesn't mean you don't have them," she emphasizes, encouraging veterans to think beyond their military responsibilities and focus on transferable capabilities.

Listen now to transform your job search strategy with insider knowledge from someone who reviews military resumes daily, and discover why the most important person to write your resume for isn't an ATS system—it's the human on the other side.

You can connect with Marisol Maloney at https://https://www.linkedin.com/in/marisol-maloney//

Subscribe to our YouTube channel at https://tinyurl.com/llforvets22

Subscribe to the podcast and leave us a 5-star review. Please share this with other veterans who might need help as they transition from the military!
If you learned something valuable today, share it. Leave us a review and write a post on social media about the lessons that helped you today from this episode.

The Lessons Learned for Vets Podcast is sponsored by Seek Now and their Drive Academy. Seek Now is the property inspection industry's leading business and they created Drive Academy DoD SkillBridge and CSP internships to teach transitioning military service members and veterans skills that prepare them for lucrative and rewarding careers in the property inspection and insurance industries. You can learn more and apply today at www.internwithdrive.com.