How can you find yourself again after leaving the military? Giving back after service is the one key way I have found to help me transition. Nicole had a similar experience.
Nicole Terwey is a Lieutenant and an Intelligence Officer in the Navy Reserves in Nashville, TN. She completed eight and a half years of active duty service in the Electronic Warfare community and earned her master’s degree in Organizational Leadership before building the next chapter of her life as a certified Life Coach, Weight Coach, and Fitness Coach.
Giving Back After Service to Find Healing – Episode 56
She decided to join the military because her mom suggested she attend a military academy. So, she applied and got accepted to the prep school for the Army, Navy, and Air Force. She picked the Navy and was happy with her choice. We talked about what prep school was like and how it was different from the four years she spent at the Naval Academy as a cadet.
She was going to be a pilot. But when she was in the process of taking the introductory course to be a pilot. She realized it was not a good fit for her. She looked into cross-training into the Intelligence community and was able to switch. Her first two tours were at Whidbey Island and then she was sent to Pearl Harbor.
Finally being together
She and her husband met at the Naval Academy and dated long distance for years before getting married and then being stationed together at Pearl Harbor. They enjoyed being together and when it was time for the next assignment, they knew they would end up being separated. Even if one person stayed in there would still be deployments and training causing separation. They decided to leave the Navy behind together so they could start the next phase of their life.
The transition out of military life was hard.
They missed the community they had while serving. They rediscovered that community and purpose through serving in various veteran organizations in their new hometown of Nashville. This was an important step in the healing process after leaving the military behind. We talked a lot about the importance of mindset and she shared her goal of creating a program that starts in Bootcamp to help to make good choices while in and preparing you when you transition out.
How does serving make you feel?
She ended the interview by asking women to think about how serving makes you feel. This can be directed to young women looking to join or those who have left the military behind. Use that feeling to drive you in your journey and help it to guide you with each step you take.
Listen to the whole episode here, I promise you don’t want to miss it.
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