Page 6 - The MIL Connection: Winter 2016

Paying it Forward . . .
Transition Assistance for
Senior Military Leaders

By Steve Witt

When I retired from active duty in “Jump Start – Transition Assistance for Senior Military Leaders”
August 1991 at Ft. Bragg, NC, the program.
“Transition Assistance Program,” or In 2012, The Airman and Family Readiness Center at MacDill
TAP as it is referred to, amounted to Air Force Base in Tampa asked us to provide our “Jump Start”
a two hour class. The first hour was program to a group of 35 senior military leaders predominately
a presentation on how to prepare from USCENTCOM and USSOCOM. As our “Jump Start”
a resume, and the second hour, a program is facilitated through a not-for-profit organization, there
presentation on how to dress for is no cost to the government or to the individuals attending the
success. Neither was very helpful. program.
Many senior military leaders simply don’t know what they don’t
MIL C4IS Program Manager Steve Upon retirement, I opened and ran know about the transition process. While the Department of
Witt has been “Paying it Forward” the Booz Allen Hamilton office in Defense sponsored transition programs and workshops are well
by providing Transition Assistance Fayetteville, NC for eight years. intended, they often do not provide you with the operational,
for Senior Military Leaders since During that time I acquired a street smart, just-in-time information you need for a successful
he retired from active duty in 1991. comprehensive knowledge of what transition. The Jump Start program walks participants through a
it takes to be successful in business, successful transition; telling them what they need to know, what
specifically with regard to defense contracting. they need to do, and when and how to do it. We include two
comprehensive assessments which will provide each participant
I began providing mentoring and coaching sessions to friends with the tangible information needed to begin adopting new
who were making the transition from active duty to the private behaviors and new habits for lifelong positive changes.
sector providing them with the knowledge I had acquired through We have provided “Jump Start” programs to senior military
my own successful transition. leaders in several locations
including; USEUCOM in Stuttgart,
The fact is that veterans possess valuable, transferrable skills Germany, US Army Europe
that have been tested “under fire.” They have received the finest (USAREUR) in Wiesbaden,
training and education our nation offers in a variety of fields and Germany, USSOUTHCOM and
disciplines. As warriors, they have been trained, developed, and SOCSOUTH in Miami, Florida,
shaped to assume successful leadership roles. They are proven USNORTHCOM in Colorado
problem-solvers and thought-leaders with uncanny abilities to Springs, Colorado, US Army
perform under pressure regardless of the challenges faced. Special Operations Command
(USASOC) and XVIII Airborne
I have made it a personal priority to make corporate leaders and Corps at Ft. Bragg, North
decision makers aware of the valuable services veterans have to Carolina, and to various units
offer; and to assist veterans in translating their military skills and organizations within the
and experience into language corporate leaders understand and Military District of Washington DC. We also conduct one-on-one
identify with. transition assistance to senior military leaders as our schedules
allow. When corporate sponsorship is available, we are able to
“I have made it a personal My wife Ann, a offset a portion of the cost of the program.
psychologist with over We are proud of the work we do with transitioning senior military
25 year of experience in leaders and are gratified to see how many have successfully
priority to make assisting individuals with made the transition to productive, rewarding positions in the
change and transition private sector.
corporate leaders and management, joined
forces with me in 2009 Mr. Witt has 30 years of professional and military experience
decision makers aware in providing transition including developing, coordinating, and staffing requirements;
of the valuable services assistance to senior military acquiring personnel, equipment, software and services; planning,
veterans have to offer.” leaders. budgeting, and managing expenditure of funds; preparing facility
Five years ago while requirements; developing and tracking program milestones; and
on a business trip to managing the operation and maintenance of installed systems both
Germany, my wife Ann and I were asked by the Ramstein Air in peacetime and combat. He has been a program manager for MIL’s
Base Airman and Family Assistance office to audit one of their C4IS sector since 2012, providing client relationship management and
Executive Transition Assistance Programs (ETAP) intended for business development.
transitioning Colonels and General Officers. Their intent was to
have us develop a one-day enhancement program to their ETAP
program. After auditing that five-day ETAP, we created our

6 | The mil connection | Winter 2015