Paul Evans
Transitioning out of the US Armed Forces can be a daunting challenge regardless of age, career field, or pay grade. As a Senior Noncommissioned Officer, I’ve had the opportunity to assist many fellow service members face this new chapter in their life and many found success. The Department of Defense’s Transition Assistance Program (TAP) over the years has gone from a robust program to one that leaves many service members feeling even more unsure about their future. In four years, I attended that program three times and each time, the gap in knowledge didn’t close. However, there is hope for veterans.
My name is Paul Evans and I’m a retired USAF Security Forces Master Sergeant. I spent 24 years on active duty and like many other senior noncommissioned officers, I’ve had numerous positions in my tenure that have taught me a wealth of soft skills. Like you, leadership, project management, interpersonal skills, time management, and networking (to name a few) were interwoven in my annual performance reports. Despite all the fancy jargon in my reports, I still did not see the full value of them until I was connected to a mentor from the New Hampshire Military Coaching Alliance (NHMCA).
The year was 2020 and it was time for me to retire as my high-year tenure was up at the end of June. The pandemic exacerbated whatever anxiety I felt going into retirement. So many retirees filled my head with their warnings. The uncertainty of not knowing what I wanted to do only made it worse. In February, I reached out to Senator Shaheen’s office and inquired about assistance for veteran employment. Within a few weeks, I received a phone call from US Army (Retired) Colonel Hunt Kerrigan who introduced himself as a member of the NHMCA and he was very eager to help me get on the right path.
Over the next few months, Hunt worked tirelessly as my mentor connecting me to various influential people in New Hampshire, helping me line up jobs, and educating me on the finer points of networking. Being halfway across the country and working through a pandemic didn’t faze our battle plans. His wisdom and guidance helped me navigate to so many opportunities and honed my skills. In the end I landed a fantastic job where I get to continue to serve with great people as we deliver on a promise to federal and military employees.
However, the mentoring didn’t end there. Hunt helped me connect with a local real estate agent, checked on my progress as we migrated from my last station in Arkansas, and met with me even after arrival. After I got settled here in New Hampshire, Hunt asked me to be a part of the coaching alliance; to pay it forward, and I gladly accepted. Hunt and I have since become good friends.
This network of influential businessmen and women have such a great heart for veterans and want nothing more than to see them succeed. Some of them have never formally served in the Armed Forces but it doesn’t hinder their passion. I strongly recommend this organization to any service member who is looking to start their next chapter in the civilian sector of New Hampshire. I could not have asked for a better partnership as I bridged the gap.
