11. Mental Resiliency During Career Progression: A Conversation with LTC Aimee M. Bateman, USA (Retired)

When Aimee retired from the Army on December 1, 2021, it not only meant the end of a 21-year career as an officer, but also meant stepping away from the only life she had known since entering the United States Military Academy as a plebe. Long a mental health and resiliency advocate, Aimee talked candidly about the loss of identity that can come with leaving the military after decades of service, the importance of having a transition buddy, and above all, to ask for help if struggling. Leaving the service means leaving a very distinct way of life, and career progression is a process, not something that is necessarily tied to a specific date.   Aimee's LinkedIn profile can be accessed here. Please note that the audio lags in a few places due to glitches in the matrix (or lagging wifi).