Dan, a retired soldier, shares his experience transitioning to civilian life after 20 years of service, managing PTSD, ADHD, and new sobriety. The podcast explores a program using science fiction and conceptual art to help veterans plan for the future. Topics include enlisting in the military, the challenges of transitioning, creating visions for the future, and embracing the unknown.
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Quick takeaways
The Veterans Imagination Project at Arizona State University uses speculative storytelling and scenario planning to help veterans envision and plan their future careers.
Embracing curiosity, sharing visions with the community, and exploring different ways of thinking and living help veterans confidently navigate uncertainty and shape their own paths.
Deep dives
Transitioning from Military to Civilian Life
Transitioning from military to civilian life can be challenging, as veterans face the daunting task of adapting to an entirely new environment, rules, and challenges. This transition is made even more difficult for those who have experienced combat-related injuries or trauma. The Veterans Imagination Project at Arizona State University aims to help veterans imagine and plan for their future by using techniques such as speculative storytelling, scenario planning, and envisioning their desired career field. By exploring trends and potential opportunities in their chosen industries, veterans can create plausible and actionable visions of their future selves. Sharing these visions with mentors and the community helps make the vision more real and helps connect veterans with individuals who can help bring those visions to life.
The Importance of Imagining the Future
Taking the time to imagine the future is crucial when figuring out what to do after leaving military service. By envisioning themselves in different scenarios and careers, veterans can gain clarity and focus on their goals. Speculative storytelling, creating concept art, and sharing visions with the community help veterans turn their imagined future into a tangible reality. It also fosters vulnerability, resilience, and adaptability, essential qualities for making a successful transition. By embracing curiosity, exploring different ways of thinking and living, and understanding that the future holds many possibilities, veterans can confidently navigate uncertainty and shape their own paths.
Support and Resources for Transitioning Veterans
While the Transition Assistance Program (TAP) is a federally mandated program that provides guidance to service members transitioning to civilian life, it often falls short in addressing the diverse needs and aspirations of veterans. It can feel like a checkbox exercise rather than personalized support. That's where programs like the Veterans Imagination Project can make a difference. By connecting veterans with mentors, providing foresight activities, and encouraging exploration of different career fields, veterans gain access to resources and opportunities beyond the traditional options like becoming a police officer or security guard. Customized support and nurturing individual creativity and aspirations can lead to a more fulfilling and successful transition.
Embracing the Journey of Transition
The transition from military to civilian life is not a linear journey, but rather a continuous process of growth and adaptation. It is important for veterans to embrace the uncertainty and recognize that long-term planning may not be immediately feasible. Focusing on short-term goals, like staying sober, practicing gratitude, and investing in personal development, can provide a sense of direction and purpose. Finding a supportive community, both among fellow veterans and in different career fields, can provide guidance, inspiration, and opportunities for collaboration. By remaining open-minded, resilient, and true to their core values, veterans can shape a future that aligns with their aspirations and contributes to their overall well-being.
Dan enlisted in the Army in 2003 during the early phase of the U.S. wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. He just retired after 20 years of service—and is adjusting to myriad challenges of civilian life while also managing PTSD, ADHD and new sobriety. On this episode of How To!, Bob Beard of Arizona State University’s Center for Science and the Imagination joins us to talk about a new program that’s helping veterans like Dan plan for the distant future using science fiction, conceptual art, and strategies employed by Fortune 500 companies.
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