Photo By Michael Bottoms | U.S. Army Gen. Bryan Fenton, front right, commander of U.S. Special Operations...... read more read more
Subscribe
MACDILL AIR FORCE BASE, Fla. – U.S. Army Gen. Bryan P. Fenton, commander of U.S. Special Operations Command, and U.S. Army Sgt. Maj. Shane Shorter, command senior enlisted leader for U.S. SOCOM, hosted the sixth 1st Special Operations Forces Truth Day, July 30, a series of virtual forums focused on people.
Every quarter, the command’s leaders focus on resources for U.S. SOCOM personnel and their families. This quarter focused on ways to assist SOF members when they transition out of the military.
To open the discussion, Fenton stressed the forum is for O-6 and above command teams, from across the entire SOF enterprise, to attain the necessary tools to take care of their teams at the lowest levels.
Discussions centered around understanding the transition process, being aware of programs available and knowing how to access transition services. Fenton and Shorter emphasized leadership commitment to the welfare of the force.
“The command teams we have in the SOCOM organization are the most incredible in the entire world,” said Fenton. “So, it’s not just a conversation in the team room, but the resources come directly to them.”
The Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for Special Operations Policy and Programs Erin Logan also gave opening remarks and emphasized transitioning is another mission and commanders need to give time to their people for that process.
“No one does it alone,” said Logan. “Our concept is ‘you are SOF for life,’ so embrace that. Transition is simply the next mission. Service members need time to train and prepare for that mission.”
The seminar hosted representatives with the Department of Defense Human Resources Programs, 14 benevolent organizations, and transitioning program leads from the headquarters and components who shared information from their respective areas.
“The best recruiter is a successful veteran,” said Walter Herd, director of the Army Transition Division, Human Resources Command Center of Excellence, Fort Knox, Kentucky. “If you help a Soldier transition well, give them the time to transition and become successful, then they will become an excellent recruiter.”
Matt Stevens, chief operating officer with The Honor Foundation, shared how veterans transitioning from SOF can become successful.
“It is important to find identity and purpose as service members transition,” said Stevens. “Be introspective and figure out what you want to do in the next phase of your life.”
The Honor Foundation is a career transition program, specifically for SOF members, that provides a clear process and helps them translate their military service experience to the private sector.
During the seminar, leaders highlighted that the transitioning process doesn’t just affect the service member.
“It is not only important to help the service member transition, but also their spouse,” said Jessica Long, program manager for Hiring Our Heroes, a non-profit organization. “It is important to recognize that the whole family is transitioning.”
The quarterly events are a component of the U.S. SOCOM Preservation of the Force and Family’s Integrated Performance Campaign to develop a mutual understanding across senior leadership and explore a variety of approaches to address ways to help people.
Note: All the presentations given that day are available through U.S. SOCOM’s CAC-enabled internal portal and available for individual or unit training purposes.
| Date Taken: | 08.05.2024 |
| Date Posted: | 08.05.2024 11:40 |
| Story ID: | 477803 |
| Location: | MACDILL AFB, FLORIDA, US |
| Web Views: | 147 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
This work, USSOCOM hosts quarterly 1st SOF Truth day on transitioning from the military, by Michael Bottoms, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.
No keywords found.
