Military veterans are a unique group of people who were trained to think and act a certain way. These exceptional men and women are indoctrinated in boot camp to the military way of life and way of thinking. Some only spend a few years serving their country, and others make it a career. But the one thing they have in common is the military mindset that makes them successful and able to conform to military life.
They spend about eight weeks learning how to be a Sailor, Soldier, Airmen and Marine, but there is very little time invested into helping them turn back into the civilians they once were.
Two career service members recognized a need for something that would help veterans successfully transition from military to civilian life and created the REBOOT Workshops.
REBOOT Workshops are a program of the National Veterans Transition Services Inc. (NVTSI), a non-profit that was started by retired Navy Rear Admiral Ronne Froman, and retired Navy Master Chief Maurice Wilson, who serves as President and Executive Director.
Started in 2010 NVTSI has “REBOOTed” more than 1,450 veterans and transitioning service members maintaining a success rate of over 97%. Since then, REBOOT Workshops has grown to support workshops on both the East and West Coasts. Over the years they worked hard to perfect a program that not only helps change the way veterans and transitioning service members think, but also helps them use valuable resources like networking and training that focuses on the necessary skills needed when seeking employment.
According to Wilson, “When someone joins the military, they are given eight weeks or more of training to help them assimilate into the way the military does business. But when they leave, there are not enough services in place to help them transition out of the military mind set.” Wilson continued, “A lot of veterans feel lost without the structure and discipline they’ve relied on during their time in service.”
REBOOT Workshops steps in where the military leaves off by providing three weeks of transition training, focused on helping veterans rely on themselves to develop a plan for their futures, and see all the possibilities available to them, all the while learning the tricks of the trade for employment success.
Wuraola Odunsi, a U.S. Army veteran and Michigan native, said the REBOOT program changed her life. “The Army offers programs for reintegration, but I still didn’t know where to start or how to start once I entered civilian life,” Odunsi said. “I had a plan, but it didn’t pan out. This program helped me learn that sometimes you can’t prepare enough, but I also learned that you don’t have to transition alone. REBOOT gave me confidence. I can think outside the box now.”
A member of the U.S. Army for more than four years, Odunsi used the REBOOT Workshop to develop new skills and change her perspective on life out of uniform. “There are always going to be obstacles in life, but REBOOT has shown me how to tackle them,” she said. “All veterans share a common bond, and it was rewarding to share this experience with veterans from other eras as well. I think we all learned from the workshop and from each other.”
Often referred to as a “reverse boot camp,” REBOOT Workshops are designed to help veterans prepare for life after the military. The three week program provide personalized training to address personal, social and professional aspects of the transition out of uniform, including seminars on resume building, financial management and selecting a college, as well as courses to better understand VA benefits and prepare for job interviews.
Graduates are also provided with job matching assistance, career coaching and ongoing support following completion of the program.
“This program helps veterans do so much more than transition out of the armed forces – it helps them transform their lives and puts them on a path to success,” Wilson said. “Many of the graduates had stories similar to Wuraola, but through their own hard work and dedication, they are bettering themselves. The skills learned throughout the REBOOT Workshop, combined with the work ethic and determination gained while in uniform, will ensure these veterans succeed.
NVTSI is supported solely by donations, sponsorships and business partnerships. With an ever-growing population of veterans, the need for more REBOOT Workshops is growing too.
If you’d like more information on NVTSI and REBOOT Workshops, or to sponsor a veteran through a donation, please visit www.nvtsi.org.
