Transitioning Military / MilSpouse / Veteran Resources
Certification programs and Entrepreneurship support:
IVMF’s Onward to Opportunity (O2O) Certifications
IVMF’s Entrepreneurship course offerings from Getting Started through Growth
American College of Financial Services Scholarships
Workshops For Warriors (CNC Machining & Welding)
Career Transition Programs:
VetCTAP – Veteran Career Transition Assistance Program (5x/year, 4 weeks long, 2 modules per week)
FourBlock (10 weeks long – 2x/year, 1 in spring/fall)-more to follow here as they are merging with Candorful as they understand the need for help outside their bi-annual cohorts.
Wounded Warrior Project - Warriors to Work
Ruehlin Executive Career Transition Seminar (5-day in-person – says E7-E9 and O5 and above, but know O3s, etc. that have joined)
Honor Foundation (Special Forces and Support Services – not open to all)
Greater San Diego Specific Transition Programs:
Military Transition Assistance Seminar (MTAS) (3-day transition course run by the Marine Executive Association 3x/year – March, July and October)
Operation Connect (Shifting to monthly Jan 2026: in-person at North San Diego Business Chamber – includes year long free Chamber Membership)
Women Specific & Military Spouses:
Hiring Our Heroes Fellowship for MilSpouses
It’s My Turn (12-week comprehensive specifically for military spouse career transition program
V-WISE (Veteran Women Igniting the Spirit of Entrepreneurship
More 1v1 Career Transition programs:
Unlimited Mock Interviews: Candorful (choose from >130 coaches)
Free Professional Headshots: Portraits for Patriots
Other Great Programs
Hire Heroes USA (career coaching, resume writing, mock interviews, mentoring, etc.)
Companies with great programs for military and military spouses:
Viasat (Next annual, full day Viasat Veteran & Military Spouse Transition Workshop will be Thursday, 3/5/2026. I will post about it on LinkedIn about a month out when we have all the logistics and signup forms ready)
Deloitte CORE Leadership Program
Johnson & Johnson Military Veteran Leadership Development Program
Networking:
Veterans Beer Club (VBC) (not a drinking club!) – over 25 chapters across the country
Greater San Diego: Monthly Meetup Networking
VBC San Diego (Inaugural group that meets monthly across Greater San Diego. VBC San Diego has expanded and adding a monthly VBC “E” meetup for current and aspiring Entrepreneurs – info and meetups on the VBC San Diego events page.)
Marine Executive Association (MEA)
SDMAC Monthly Breakfast Meeting
NAVNET Breakfast and Resources
Organizations supporting Hiring and Assisting Military and MilSpouses
Disabled American Veterans (DAV) (reach out for assistance with VA disability claim)
Military MOJO (Career Fair)
SkillBridge Opportunities
My Favorite Book Recommendations in Order of Reading during Career Transition
- Designing Your Life, by Bill Burnett & Dave Evans
- What Color is Your Parachute, by Richard Bolles
- The 2-Hour Job Search, by Steve Dalton
- Never Split the Difference, by Chris Voss
- From Strength to Strength, by Arthur Brooks
Next books aren’t about transitioning, but should be read by everyone (My order – Outlive, Die With Zero, then Good Energy)
- Outlive, by Dr. Peter Attia, Good Energy, by Casey Means (Healthspan/Longevity)
- Die with Zero, by Bill Perkins