Carrying the Load and Uplifting Others

Army veteran Daniel Benjamin steps up to the mic to share his military transition story, from 20 years in signals intelligence to a program manager in cybersecurity and healthcare, on this episode of Exit Buddy: Veteran Stories to Guide You. He recounts how the reserves offered a helpful safety net during his transition into contracting, and how his wife’s military transition deepened his understanding of the diverse challenges veterans face. Daniel also discusses his evolution from managing systems to leading people, and his passion for volunteering and uplifting others.Chapters01:07 From Music to Signals Intelligence02:37 Heavy Lifting in SIGINT Days04:17 Benefits of the Reserves06:24 Finding His Place in Civilian Contracting08:11 From Technical Roles to Program Management09:31 Mentoring Veterans and Uplifting Others14:06 Dollar Signs and Compensation Calculators16:49 Volunteering to Give Back18:07 Daniel’s Advice to His Younger SelfKey TakeawaysBuild a Safety Net: Daniel found some relief as a reservist because it gave him extra access to training and a backup plan should he lose a contract. Having a plan B in case things go awry can ease the transition to the civilian workforce.Do Some Compensation Research: Online calculators can help you understand how much your military pay is equivalent to on the civilian side—but location plays a big role in compensation too. Daniel saw that the same position in Virginia had a much higher salary than its Tampa counterpart.Get Your Resume Through Pre-Pub Early: Leverage your network to help you translate your resume into civilian terms. Start working on your resume and get it through pre-publication a year out to ease the process.Seek Ways to Uplift Others: Daniel finds joy in volunteering and helping others. Consider exploring opportunities to share your experience and support those around you.Follow us for more veteran stories to guide your transition journey, and text this episode to a fellow service member who’s navigating their exit. Until next time, keep lifting others up!Send us Fan MailVisit us at https://exitbuddy.buzzsprout.com to learn more about the show.Have feedback or questions for us? Email us at [email protected].