Tactical Transition

Hello everyone, and welcome to this special edition of the Tactical Transition Podcast! Join hosts Michele Lewis and Cyndi Po as they celebrate the 2 a.m. launch of their new book, "un-TAP'ed; A guide to faith, family, and life after the military.” This episode delves into the critical, often overlooked aspects of military transition that the book addresses, featuring powerful insights from guests Jason Schermerhorn, Trent Clark, and John Perez. Key Discussion Points and Insights from “un-Tap’ed” Addressing the Emotional Gap: The book was written because the hosts recognized that while programs like TAP (Transition Assistance Program) cover résumés, interviews, and networking, there is "so much more to this military transition than just getting another job. It's such a life change.” Michele noted that transition is an emotional process involving "hanging up a uniform that you have taken great pride in." The 2 A.M. Friend: The special 2 a.m. launch time is in honor of the "2 a.m. friend". The book was expedited after Cyndi and Michele experienced the loss of a close friend, a senior leader Marine, to suicide. This tragic event spurred the hosts to realize, "we’ve got to talk about... the impact of transition and we’ve got to say the word suicide.” The 2 a.m. phone call symbolizes when a person is in a dark place and needs someone to answer the phone. As John Perez remarked: "I've never gotten a good phone call at 2 a.m. So, all the more reason you got to be there and answer the phone.” Faith and Authenticity: The hosts thoughtfully decided to include faith because it felt "inauthentic" not to. Michele emphasized: "It's a book about transition that happens to be written by Christians. It's not a book about Christians written by folks who just want to talk about transitioning". This inclusion aims to remind service members of their value, which goes beyond the uniform, rank, or hat. Impact on the Military Family: Transition is a change for everyone—the service member, their spouse, children, and community. The hosts use exercises in their seminars to initiate necessary conversations between the service member and their "teammate" regarding priorities like CLAMS (Challenge, Location, Advancement, Money, Security) in a new job. Managing Expectations and Stress: Transition is often "heavy," but "heavy isn't always bad." The book addresses the stress and anxiety inherent in the process. Jason noted that setting expectations that "everything's going to be great" does "nobody a service" because setbacks are inevitable, and it may take a while to find the perfect job. Redefining Self and Community: Trent offered powerful advice, urging transitioning members to remember: "you were never just the rank you were, never just a tab, you were never just the MOS... transition isn't about proving that you still matter. It's about deciding where you want that impact to land next.” Building a New Team: The goal of the program and the book is to develop vested relationships, not just end after a class. Cyndi emphasized that "transition is a team sport." Trent advised building a team—including individuals who "don't even know they're your team"—to lower stress levels. Michele urged listeners: "don't be afraid to call at 2 a.m." The Deeper Mission: Michele shared that the 2 a.m. launch coincided with the 10th anniversary of the exact time her son was killed, underscoring that loss and longing can persist, but there is "more to do" as contributors to family and community. Funding Future Work: All proceeds from the book will go toward funding classes that Cyndi and Michele conduct for the SOF community. Order your copy of “un-TAP’ed”