Jeff Jager had just retired from the US Army after 22 years of service when I started mentoring him last spring. Jeff had two goals; the first was to complete his PhD and the second was to open his own personal training business. Jeff was motivated and had plenty of experience, having just completed several certifications needed to become a personal trainer. We had regularly scheduled meetings focusing on developing a business plan and new methods of marketing his personal training business.

As we worked through defining client needs, we established a great rapport. He would come to meetings well prepared with engaging questions, and together we were able to create a cohesive business plan. Jeff brought his own energy and motivation to the monthly meetings that helped us to determine what he truly needed to succeed. This hard work paid off and after a few short months, Jeff’s business is already generating revenue. Jeff and his business success are testament to how the ACP mentorship program can bring success.

Mentor: Eric Fletcher, Seminole, Florida, Schneider Electric

I have had the pleasure of serving as a mentor for Nick for the last few months as he transitioned from a 20+ year career in the US Navy. I would like to highlight Nick as “what right looks like” for a transitioning veteran. His very structured and systematic approach to his military to civilian career transition was textbook. He has basically done everything right in his prep for transition,  selection of the civilian career path he wanted to follow and his early on-boarding with his new employer. My role as mentor has actually been more of a support role around navigating the early months in the civilian employment world. I feel more like a cheerleader than a mentor. Nick should be recognized for a job well-done.

Mentor: Daniel Arkins, Boston, Massachusetts, Mass General

From the beginning of the program, Brian has shown his drive to make a good life for his family and himself. He is very humble and yet willing to put himself out there to get further ahead. Brian and I work on how to approach people and situations that he has not encountered in his military career. He has a great business and personnel awareness. Furthermore, he will bring me a situation and what his hurdles are to connect with the team and manage his expectations. Once we discuss potential options on how to overcome the situation, he is very willing to try those options. In each case, and there have been several, he has managed his way through the situation with success. On one or two occasions, it has taken him more than one run at it, but the important part is he kept going. And…he was successful in the end!

I feel that Brian should be used as an example of how the program can be successful because he is driving the process. I am here to assist and coach. He comes to me with the issues and draws on my experiences and background to better his. The process is simple: I am a tool for him to get where he wants and needs to be in his career. The mentor is not in the situation and unless the candidate is open and truthful with the mentor, and themselves, it is challenging to assist and coach. I would share with others the following, do not be afraid to ask for help and direction because the people supporting this program are here for just that.

Mentor: James Dehoff, Mechanicsburg, Pennsylvania, Select Medical

It has been my pleasure to be Alex McDaniel’s mentor. When we first met I was so impressed by his knowledge and focus. He already knew he wanted a career in the healthcare/pharmaceutical industry owing to his experience as a medic and that he was interested in project management. Alex’s first request was to learn about the practical day-to-day application of project management in the industry. We started by narrowing down what business and what area of project management would be of most interest by having him conduct informational interviews with people currently working in various roles in project management. He already had a well-written resume, but we tailored it to better highlight the aspects of his military career which translated to the jobs he was most interested in.

At the same time we conducted mock interviews to work on refining his interview skills and just getting him comfortable with the process. Alex’s preparation for all of our conversations and openness to feedback made it easy for me to support Alex in his goals. Through his informational interviews…even before applying for any jobs…he had three different companies offering him a Skill Bridge opportunity, putting him in the enviable position of deciding the one which was best for him. I am confident Alex will be offered a full-time permanent position at the end of his assignment. I look forward to hearing about his successes in his new career!

Mentor: Toni Falbo, Titusville, New Jersey, Johnson & Johnson

John is the very definition of grit and his unique background exemplifies that ups and downs don't matter when staying focused. John is a logistics officer in the Army Reserve. Before joining the military, he worked in sales and trading, the medical device industry, contract capture, and relationship management roles. So unlike any of my previous ACP mentees, John already has excellent private sector experience. Over the past 11 months, he has always stayed in touch, proactively reaching out for guidance when needed. He received multiple offers to start on a new career and was methodical in his decisions, he is waiting for the right role now, not just the first thing that comes up. That takes patience and determination, which is not easy because John is in the process of leaving the Army. I have absolute confidence that the organization lucky enough to attract John will only regret having waited till the day he started to begin. They’ll wish he had been with them much sooner.

Mentor: Michael Mell, New York, New York, S&P Global

When Montana and I were paired in the summer of 2021, she had just transitioned from an active duty US Navy Aviation Electrician to a full-time student. She was majoring in Geography, dreaming of a career in Geographic Information Systems, and setting her sights on graduate school, internships, and networking. We researched internships and job openings to find keywords and skills required to obtain roles that interested her and matched them to possible master’s degree programs. We discussed desired work and school locations and met virtually with leaders in the GIS field to learn more about what employers look for in applicants. Montana’s communicativeness is one of her many strengths: at every turn, she took the lead by initiating conversations with me, industry contacts, and graduate school program administrators in order to align opportunities with her goals and values. She was accepted by 10 graduate degree programs, both in the US and overseas. After graduating cum laude from George Mason University, Montana will begin her master’s in Urban and Regional Planning at the University of Central Florida in August 2022.

During this time, Montana applied for the Walt Disney World Internship program, which is a highly selective program that receives thousands of applicants every year. We were both in tears when she sent me a picture of fireworks over Cinderella’s Castle to let me know she got the job. Montana was a shoo-in for the program she considered a long shot; she was accepted without having to complete all phases of the standard interview process. During the first week of the program, she was one of thirteen interns who earned special access to Disney leaders. Montana selected lunch with a Disney Imagineer so she could learn more about the engineering, planning, and design departments. She also received an anonymous guest compliment thanking her for making their day more magical.

Montana has met every challenge with dogged determination and left me and many others in awe of her talent, resolve, and tenacity. Within one year of separating from the Navy, Montana graduated with honors from her undergraduate degree program, enrolled in graduate school, and landed her dream internship. I am honored to have been a part of her transition from active service, and I have learned as much or more from our mentoring relationship as she has. Montana can do anything she puts her mind to, and I look forward to seeing what she accomplishes in the next phase of her education and career journey!    

Mentor: Sarah Glendon, Arlington, Virginia, AECOM

When I started with Whitney last spring, he was very accomplished in his military duties and very motivated to make a strong transition to the business world. We started working on the concept of networking and came up with numerous organizations and websites that would help with this. We found classes that he could take to improve his networking abilities, resume, and interviewing skills. We went over his interests and mapped out a program to investigate the businesses that attracted him. We discussed desired locations and did an analysis to go over his financial needs, and how they dovetailed with what we thought would be available in the market. We went over possible job categories, and discussed the ones where we thought he would have the best chances for success.

The key to all this, was that after every monthly meeting, Whitney was faced with a large to-do list of research, networking, business contacting, resume work, and applications for programs, internships, and jobs. And in every case, Whitney took in all suggestions and then performed his research work as if it was the critical job that it was.

In the course of this project, huge opportunities appeared, and then disappeared, and new opportunities appeared in their place. One “expert” told him he could not obtain the job that he wanted. We listened to his critique and then we ignored his advice. In another case, Whitney became one of two finalists for what might have been a dream job, but lost out to someone who might have had more direct experience. We just picked up our chips and moved on. Right now, Whitney has one excellent job offer, with another one possibly coming in that might be even better, while he is starting an intern program at a third location. He is researching both opportunities in case the 2nd one comes through so that he can make the best decision. We have learned that nothing is certain until the deal is made. Throughout this process, Whitney has charged ahead, taking advantage of every opportunity, and doing a great job of networking to learn as much as he can, and have the opportunity to present himself where he sees a mutual fit. He has been using the work ethic and skills he learned in the military to prepare himself for a good transition to the private sector. I have every expectation that he will make a safe and strong landing in this sector and start on a successful career as he moves on to another stage in his work life."

Mentor: Robert Kaufmann, Glen Rock, New Jersey, Kaufmann Associates

Erich is a model protégé because he takes the information from each conversation and translates it into documentation (such as resume examples, accomplishment lists, strength/weakness assessment, etc.), which drives the next conversation. In addition to his work ethic, Erich is also extremely engaging on a personal level outside of the structured meetings. He provides updates on his hobbies and family life, in addition to his career, throughout the month – not just at scheduled video sessions.

Mentor: Roy Lemons, Memphis, Tennessee, International Paper