The Making of a Marine: Challenges, Triumphs, and Lifelong Friendships Part II

The First Responder Playbook: Insights on Leadership and Training

1. Travis’s Military Background and Transition Out of the Marine Corps

• Duration in the Marine Corps (13 years)

• Reasons for leaving: changes in times, God’s plan, instructor role, need to move on

• Positive outlook on his service and reasons for not criticizing the Marine Corps

2. Transitioning to Civilian Life: Initial Experiences

• Early transition jobs: working at Don Corp and Lockheed Martin

  • Surrounded by other prior military members

  • Similar structure and culture to military life

  • Work on military bases in similar environments

• The shift to a true civilian job with the Oklahoma Department of Veterans Affairs (ODVA)

  • Differences in civilian work culture and structure

  • Feeling of disconnection upon returning to Oklahoma and Wagner

3. Challenges Faced By Veterans (and First Responders) in Transition

• Lack of effective support programs for transitioning

  • Existing programs seen as insufficient, unwelcoming, or too basic

• The unique struggle of losing structure and camaraderie

• The gap in support for both veterans and their spouses/families

• The role of pride and stigma in accessing available resources

• Problems specific to those with longer service versus shorter-term veterans

4. Recommendations and Ideas for Improved Transition Programs

• Need for state-funded, all-encompassing programs, including for law enforcement and ex-offenders

• Centralized places for job interviews and resources, consideration for pride and ease of access

• Critique of profit-focused veteran "nonprofits"

• Suggested improvements:

  • Multi-week, hands-on outboarding training (rather than insufficient week-long classes)

  • Resume writing, interview coaching, translation of military to civilian skills

  • Connecting military technical training directly to civilian jobs (e.g., CDLs, aviation maintenance)

  • Focus on practical education and trade skills over formal degrees

5. The Value of Military and Law Enforcement Skills in Civilian Life

• Emphasis on skills learned in military/service that are valuable (leadership, discipline, technical expertise)

• Discussion about trade school vs. college versus on-the-job learning

• Importance of belief in oneself and overcoming imposter syndrome

• Advantages and success stories of veteran-owned businesses

6. The Importance of Camaraderie, Structure, and Support Networks

• Personal experience of missing camaraderie when working non-law enforcement jobs (insurance agent example)

• Need for continued support, routines, structure, and belonging

• Difficulty of functioning in unstructured “civilian” roles after military/first responder service

7. Mental Health, Compassion, and Crisis Intervention

• Lack of tailored, scenario-based mental health support and training (especially for law enforcement)

• Veterans’ and first responders’ unique needs and struggles regarding mental health

• The importance of compassion, understanding, and de-escalation in law enforcement

• Shortcomings in current mental health training (minimal continuing education requirements, lack of practical value)

• The impact of mental health struggles for those in service and their transition to civilian life

• Peer support, debriefing, and coaching: proposed improvements for agencies

8. Leadership, Supervision, and Organizational Culture

• Problems with “old school” authoritarian leadership styles

• The significance of genuinely caring for and connecting with people under your supervision

• Importance of evaluations and feedback (frequency, depth, handling corrective criticism)

• Value of supervisors/coaches who help with goal-setting, debriefs, and personal growth

• Examples of good and bad supervisory relationships and their lasting impacts

9. Lessons Learned and Moving Forward

• The importance of humility and forgiveness in leadership

• Recognizing individual differences and adapting leadership approaches accordingly

• Encouraging a culture of positive reinforcement, support, and continuous improvement

10. Practical Resources and Offers for Help

• Travis’s expertise and willingness to help with navigating the VA system

• Offer to collaborate on mental health and crisis intervention training for law enforcement

• Encouragement to reach out for guidance, drawing on Travis’s network and experience