MARCH 28, 2024 – In today’s competitive landscape, businesses need resilient leaders who can steer teams through challenges and toward unprecedented growth. As the Global War on Terror (GWOT) winds down, an invaluable talent pool emerges for the private sector: combat veterans. These individuals, with global insights, are often at the prime of their professional lives (ages 35-50) and have many years of ingenuity ahead of them. They are transitioning into the civilian workforce, bringing a wealth of transferrable skills that can significantly benefit the private sector.
For a firsthand account of tapping into veterans, we spoke with Wes Anderson, Director of Operations at Reveille Advisors, an opposition research firm offering corporate intelligence services. Anderson is the lone civilian at the firm, with the remainder being former SEALs, Green Berets, and Intelligence Community veterans. Anderson wouldn’t have it any other way!
A Sense of Urgency Like No Other
One of the hallmark traits of combat veterans is their ingrained sense of urgency. In the military, decisions must be made swiftly and effectively to navigate critical situations. Unlike corporate culture, which often requires team meetings to make the most straightforward decisions, veterans from Special Operations are the exact opposite. They can make complex decisions immediately with the agency and confidence to own their choices.
“Working exclusively with veterans from SOCOM and JSOC, I’m constantly amazed by their critical thinking abilities – they don’t get bogged down like I’ve seen in civilian agencies. Action is better than inaction, and these guys accomplish that!” noted Anderson.
This attribute translates seamlessly into the private sector, where veterans’ ability to prioritize and act decisively can propel projects forward and streamline operations, ensuring that deadlines are met efficiently and with finesse. Thanks to their organizational leadership skills, veterans are an untapped resource!
Focusing on What Truly Matters
One of the most distinctive advantages of working with combat veterans is their ability to differentiate between major issues and minor inconveniences. Having faced life-and-death situations, these individuals have a refined perspective on what warrants attention and concern. This trait encourages a focused work ethic, where energy is spent on tasks that drive progress rather than getting bogged down by trivial matters.
Being able to rise above the insignificant usually translates into less office drama and gossip. While veterans have varied personalities like civilians, many who have been in Special Operations or combat can remain mission-focused, unlike ordinary office dwellers who are more prone to office chatter, dynamics, and social elements.
Global Perspectives That Drive Innovation
Combat veterans bring a unique global perspective, with experiences spanning various countries and cultures. Their firsthand understanding of diverse markets and geopolitical dynamics enriches team discussions, fostering innovative solutions to complex problems. This global awareness is invaluable in today’s interconnected business environment, where companies increasingly look to impact the international stage.
Many veterans have also attended the Defense Language Institute in Monterrey, CA, where they became proficient in at least one foreign language. Fluency in another language, from Mandarin and Korean to Russian and Tagalog, is a massive asset for any company entering new international markets. Veterans commonly learn about the local cultures and societal norms, further enhancing their scope of knowledge for foreign markets.
Source: Ugurhan @ Getty Images Signature
Unconventional Solutions to Everyday Problems
Thanks to Uncle Sam, veterans from Special Operation communities receive millions of dollars in specialized training worldwide. Many think they’re just door-kickers, but they’re also experts in cybersecurity, social engineering, various intelligence collection methods, communications, and more! As America’s most innovative and technologically advanced operators, it would be a shame if all their capabilities went to waste in retirement.
“You have to harness what they perfected in the military and find a way to channel that into private sector opportunities.” shares Anderson. He continues, “For example, business owners don’t realize how susceptible they are to malicious intent. A SpecOps guy will look at a situation, and their assessment is usually different than that of the civilian principal. Our red team physical penetration testing is a service straight from their military playbook that’s highly applicable to the private sector. How can we penetrate this organization’s systems? OK, now that we know how to do it, how can we prevent that from happening in the future? People don’t consider threat and risk mitigation organically because they’re too busy running the company. However, they quickly realize it was a blindspot in their operations once you make them aware.”
As organizations and leaders, give your veterans the confidence and autonomy to think outside the box. You never know what they may see in your blind spot.
The Call to Action for Companies
Transitioning combat veterans into the private sector opens up a realm of possibilities for businesses willing to embrace their exceptional talents. As we acknowledge the end of an era with the Global War on Terror, let us also welcome the beginning of another by integrating these experienced professionals into our workforce. In doing so, we honor their service and capitalize on their skills to drive our companies forward.