How military training and experience prepared these veterans for corporate life

So how does one make the jump from active duty to corporate life?

For Connolly, now Director of Learning Consulting at Kyndryl, it was all about curiosity and lifelong learning. "My initial training in the Air Force was in communications and air traffic control," she said. "After that, I spent 14 years in military intelligence. Military service also requires frequent moves, both physically and into new roles. In each case, you're working with people from differing backgrounds, cultures and nationalities - with all of us focused on common goals. In addition to becoming disciplined, I learned a lot about critical thinking, problem-solving, emotional intelligence and personal accountability. Without those skills, I wouldn't have been able to earn my undergraduate and advanced degrees in Organizational Development while on active duty."

Thanks to his Veterans Affairs education benefits, Wilson also earned his college degree - one semester at a time while serving as a defense contractor. He received his B.A. from Georgetown University and is working toward his master's degree at Johns Hopkins University, School of Advanced International Studies.

After supporting U.S. government missions, Wilson transitioned into various roles, including veteran advocacy. His first corporate opportunity came after delivering a speech on supporting wounded warrior transition at a technology conference in Washington, D.C. "I've been incredibly fortunate in my corporate career," said Wilson, who serves in Kyndryl's Alliances organization as an AWS Business Development Executive. "However, two of my proudest achievements - other than becoming a father of two - involved securing the rescue of two interpreters I worked with in Afghanistan. As you can imagine, getting them and their families to safety was a lengthy and chaotic process. And I'm grateful they're both building successful new lives in the U.S."