The transition from military to civilian life can be one of the toughest challenges veterans face. In this blog, Air Force veteran and our Director of Wellbeing Lacy Gunnoe shares how Warrior Week helps veterans find clarity, direction, and renewed purpose.
Transition from military to civilian life is more than a change in job title or uniform – it’s a profound change that can disrupt many core areas of wellbeing, leaving transitioning service members asking: Who am I now? Where do I go from here?
Military transition impacts every part of life – from career and education to family, finances, physical health, and overall wellbeing. It’s a deeply connected ecosystem, where changes in one area can ripple into the others. That’s exactly where Warrior Week makes a difference.
Built on Gallup’s science of CliftonStrengths® and Wellbeing, Warrior Week offers a holistic, veteran-tailored transition experience that addresses each of the areas our transitioning veterans face with a focus on leveraging their strengths toward meaningful work – all at no-cost to the service member.
Warrior Week provides an immersive framework to explore:
- Strengths-Based Growth: Participants discover how to leverage their CliftonStrengths® in both personal and professional settings.
- Career Direction: Participants learn to translate their military experience into meaningful career goals—powered by a Business Leadership Panel to build networking skills.
- Clarity of Purpose: Through CliftonStrengths®, guided reflection, goal setting, and experiential learning, participants renew their sense of who they are and where they’re going.
- Wellbeing Focus: Each area of Gallup’s data-driven wellbeing model is woven into every aspect of the week. Veterans walk away with practical strategies to sustain growth in each area.
A Veteran’s Story: From Uncertainty to Purpose
Carson is a U.S. Army transitioning service member who arrived at Warrior Week unsure of his next steps. At 22, approaching his active-duty transition on terminal leave, he had a resume and a few job leads, but was filled with uncertainty. “I didn’t know what I wanted to do,” he shared. “I was staying at home all day and didn’t know where to go with my life.”
By the end of Warrior Week, Carson wasn’t just feeling more confident, he had a clear goal: to become a dog handler or trainer. The connections he made and the support he received during the week led him to a real opportunity. “Warrior Week gave me the direction I needed,” he said. “I’m finishing my training this Friday and starting my new job on Monday, all because of Warrior Week.” Now, Carson is stepping into a new role as a Canine Trainer, using his strengths to help train dogs to detect drugs and explosives, and continue serving in a powerful, purpose-driven way.
The transition from military to civilian life can feel overwhelming. Warrior Week cuts through that noise – at no cost, just an investment in yourself. Hosted by and set on the beautiful grounds of Camp Southern Ground, Warrior Week provides the professional space to step back, reset, and focus on what matters most. While service members are trained to serve others first, Warrior Week creates a rare opportunity to realign, recharge, and curate the path to thrive in life after service.
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