After eight years in the Air Force, Luther Davis wanted to live closer to his family — especially his aging parents. Thomas Mitchell decided it was time to leave the Army to gain more experience as a surgeon. For Erica Pechek, the decision to exit the Navy opened the opportunity to work in health care, an aspiration of hers since high school.
Although all three veterans had their reasons for choosing civilian life, the transition phase was still bumpy at times. USC Online spoke to Davis, Mitchell and Pechek — all former or current online graduate students at the USC Price School of Public Policy — about their journeys leaving the military.
Transitioning to Civilian Life
While some people seamlessly switch from the military back to civilian life, everyone deals with the transition differently, Pechek observed. Some people miss the predictability of life in the military and not having to worry about food, shelter and clothing. Others struggle to cope with mental and physical health problems.
“It’s a weird transition …. You have your whole life, it’s all scheduled, and the paychecks are coming, and then all of a sudden, wait a second, I don’t have health insurance anymore,” Mitchell said.
For Davis, the civilian world initially seemed chaotic in contrast to the military’s structure.
“[In the military], when you walk into a room, you can kind of size up the situation by who’s there, by their rank and things like that,” Davis said. “So, it makes the environment pretty predictable … whereas there’s not those similar dynamics in the [civilian] world.”
The military also boasts a “camaraderie and shared purpose” that the average civilian might lack, Davis said.
“I think a lot of organizations and companies strive to create that as best they can,” he said. “But I think, compared to the military, it’s not nearly as strong.”
Continuing to Serve
This sense of solidarity inspired both Pechek and Davis to continue working with veterans in their current jobs. Davis, a clinical psychologist who completed his residency in the Air Force, is now Deputy Associate Chief of Staff for Mental Health at Loma Linda VA Medical Center. Pechek diverged from her training as an electrician in the Navy to become a physical therapist assistant and now provides outpatient therapy for Marines and sailors at Camp Pendleton.
“I decided most people were broken in some way, shape or form: shoulder problems, ankle problems, back problems,” Pechek said of her decision to get an associate degree in physical therapy once she left the Navy.
She quickly realized that active-duty service members and veterans were her favorite population to work with.
“When I go into … a patient’s room, or sit with these guys here, and gals, I relate to them better than some other therapists …. It’s a brother and sisterhood that just doesn’t end,” Pechek said.
Davis likewise developed a passion for tending to service members’ mental health, influencing his decision to work in the VA network after leaving the service. His time in the military “opened the doors for leadership opportunities” in his civilian career, giving him the confidence to take on executive positions culminating in his current role.
For Mitchell, who was deployed as a trauma surgeon to Syria and West Africa, serving in the military made him comfortable with even the most nerve-wracking operations.
“The best analogy is, going to Syria was like being in the Super Bowl. That is the highest level of trauma, in terms of severity. There’s very little that’s like that,” Mitchell said.
The experience Mitchell gained in burn surgery also inspired him to build his own multidisciplinary team for his hospital in Pierce County, which serves a large rural population with almost no nearby access to burn care.
Using the GI Bill
Despite their diverse experiences, all three veterans noted that the military made them realize their potential to be leaders. But leaving the military meant that leadership trajectories were suddenly not as clear-cut. The desire to continue leveling up — and to leverage the GI Bill — spurred Davis, Mitchell and Pechek to apply for the Executive Master of Health Administration (EMHA) online program at USC Price.
The program, which empowers health care professionals to advance their careers and transform the delivery of health care, is a natural extension of the leadership skills the military instilled in Pechek, she said.
“Since I’ve been out for so long … it’s nice to be in this program and … making changes, relearning some stuff, learning some new things, so that when I get to the end of this program, I am prepared to move forward,” Pechek said.
Mitchell said the EMHA program was an “easy decision,” allowing him to see the bigger picture outside of his clinical role and learn how to improve systems as a whole.
“That’s what that GI Bill … represents [to me], is potential,” Mitchell said.
Davis said some of the first leadership courses he took in the program continue to inform his thought process today.
“My goal [was] to further develop my knowledge in health care administration and overall leadership skills just to open up additional opportunities,” Davis said. “And so that’s exactly why I did it. I loved it. I thought it was fantastic.”
Embracing Change
Leaving the military looks different for everyone. Pechek advises the service members she works with to begin thinking about what kind of careers they want before leaving the service. She also stresses the importance of prioritizing education and making the most of VA benefits to ensure a smooth transition.
“I think that a lot of military personnel … are not in jobs that necessarily correlate to something in the civilian world,” Pechek said. “If they start looking at career fields now, then they’re going to have a better idea where to go afterward.”
Davis encourages people to find a community and stay connected once leaving the military. He advises that while life is “going to be different,” it’s important to remember — and use — all the benefits available.
Mitchell’s decision to transition to civilian life unlocked options for him that wouldn’t have been available in the military. He advises people to see the uncharted territory as exciting potential, instead of fearing it.
“That’s really the biggest piece, is trying to offer a new direction,” Mitchell said. “You’re cultivating [your] past because you don’t want to forget about where you came from, but the future can be anything you want.”
Learn more about the Executive Master of Health Administration (EMHA) online program today.