Push and Progress
Serving in the military, one can find themselves moving to different areas worldwide. US Army Veteran Ricardo Cruz and his family were located in Hawaii as he was beginning his transition after serving for 26 years. Living on an Island in the middle of the Pacific can feel like you are thousands of miles away, both physically and professionally. Unbeknownst to him, his Mentor was closer than he could have imagined.
Ryan Gutzwiller just so happened to also live in Hawaii. An alumnus of the ACP Program, who served in the US Marine Corps for 35 years and is currently the Senior Director at Peraton, went through the same transition just 2 years prior. It was a perfect fit.
Two servicemen: one recently transitioned, and the other preparing to take that leap. They had both made a career of the military, and the daunting reality of an entirely new path outside of it was an immediate connection point.
When reflecting on the mentorship, Cruz fondly thought back to how Gutzwiller was “extremely open about all of his own experiences as he was transitioning and going through certain things.” He added that Gutzwiller made it a point to emphasize, “Don’t make this mistake, or try this, and it took me way too long to get to this specific point,” ensuring that Cruz was able to avoid some of the pitfalls that he went through. Gutzwiller echoed this sentiment when discussing how to best prepare for the transition:
“Recognize you have knowledge and experience gaps, and that you can utilize programs like ACP to close those gaps,”
“It is a part of the human experience to go down uncertain paths, but working towards those ‘aha’ moments makes them all worth it.”
Gutzwiller mentioned that one of the most rewarding aspects of his experience as an ACP Mentor was, “seeing Richie land well.” Continuing, “Creating connections for continual growth, seeing his confidence flourish, and finally landing the job he was working towards was amazing to witness.”
While they no longer live on the same Island in the Pacific, Gutzwiller and Cruz were able to meet in person over lunch before Cruz moved back to the mainland. During this lunch, the two of them were able to discuss their shared times throughout the year and celebrate Cruz’s success in achieving a role as a Senior Strategic Integrator at Boeing. Gutzwiller’s mentorship did not stop there. Cruz mentioned how the connections Gutzwiller had introduced him to helped him get insight into the area he and his family were moving to. Moving to an entirely different area can be nerve-wracking, but through those connections provided by Gutzwiller, Cruz found both comfort and confidence.
Now a 6 hour-time zone apart, and the 12-month mentorship formally completed, Gutzwiller and Cruz continue to connect as their mentee-mentor relationship effortlessly became a friendship. Cruz adds, “Know that your mentorship and relationship doesn’t have to end at the year mark,” and extended a genuine thank you to both ACP and Gutzwiller as he imparted, “I would not be in the position that I am without the investment that he put into me; it really helped me set myself up for success.” Gutzwiller added, “What do you want to get out of it?” and reiterated, “This is your path; take the opportunity to own it.”
Are you ready to take the reins of your transition and work with a Mentor who can support you through your next chapter? Join ACP’s thriving community of 44,000+ Veteran and Military Spouse Alumni and apply to be a part of a free year- long one-on-one mentorship today.
