The challenge of moving from public service to civilian life is one that weighs heavily on service members. The Department of Veterans Affairs has made strides toward easing the transition to veteran status with improvements to medical care and benefits administration, but the process of building a civilian career can be overwhelming. Finding ways to ease service members’ transition as they adapt to veteran status has become a priority for both retiring service personnel and the agencies that support them.

The attention being paid to this issue appears to be paying off: there is plenty of good news for those retiring from military service, according to Matt Keller, Vice President of Talent Acquisition at Chenega MIOS. We spoke to Keller about the challenges veterans face and strategies and opportunities for finding a new role and mission after a life of service.

Military veterans are an untapped source of highly competent workers at a time when the U.S. labor market is struggling to identify qualified candidates for many open positions,” Keller said. “Once an Army veteran gets to the interview process, they stand out with their ability to learn quickly, adapt to change, and be mission-focused; three skills that are invaluable in the civilian market.”