The Journey of Transformation: From Civilian to Warrior, From Warrior to Citizen

There is a profound transformation that happens when an individual steps forward to serve. A civilian makes the choice to become a warrior—not simply by putting on a uniform, but by embracing a life of discipline, sacrifice, and commitment to something greater than themselves. That transformation is deliberate. It is shaped by training, mentorship, investment, and culture. It takes time, resources, and effort to forge warriors who are not just skilled, but prepared to lead, adapt, and overcome.

But there’s another transformation that is just as critical—the one that happens when warriors leave service and step into their next chapter. And too often, we fail to invest in that transformation with the same level of intention.

The Current Transition System: Built for a Step, Not a Journey

The military spends years shaping civilians into warriors, investing heavily in training, mentorship, and development to prepare them for their missions. But when it comes time to take off the uniform, that level of investment is not the same.

The current transition system is largely transactional. It is focused on helping service members secure employment, navigate benefits, and meet immediate post-service needs. Programs like the Transition Assistance Program (TAP) provide important logistical support—resume writing, VA benefits briefings, job fairs—but they are built around process, not purpose.

These programs serve a critical function, but they are only part of the equation. They help warriors transition, but they don’t help them transform.

The reality is that leaving service isn’t just a change in employment—it’s a change in identity, purpose, and community. And that is where the real work begins.

Civilians vs. Citizens

A civilian is simply someone who is not in military or government service. But a citizen—a true citizen—is something more. A citizen understands their role in the fabric of their society. They don’t just consume – they contribute. They engage. They take responsibility not just for themselves but for the world around them. A citizen doesn’t just live in a place; they strengthen it.

The military and intelligence communities take civilians and turn them into warriors. But when that chapter ends, the goal should not be to turn them back into civilians—it should be to turn them into the next generation of great citizens.

Investing in Transformation

The investment in creating warriors is massive. We train them to lead in chaos. To build teams. To think critically, adapt rapidly, and endure hardship with resilience. That investment isn’t just about making them effective on the battlefield—it’s about making them effective in any high-stakes environment.

So why wouldn’t we invest just as much in the next step? Why wouldn’t we take the same level of care, structure, and resources to ensure that when warriors take off the uniform, they continue to lead, innovate, and serve—not because they have to, but because they want to?

The return on that investment is undeniable. Veterans and former intelligence professionals bring a unique combination of discipline, creativity, and problem-solving to the workforce, to entrepreneurship, to academia, and to their communities. When given the right tools, they don’t just transition; they transform—into leaders, mentors, innovators, and engaged citizens who continue to serve in new ways.

A Nation and a World That Benefits

This isn’t just good for those who serve. It’s good for all of us. Nations are only as strong as the people who shape them. And when warriors are empowered to step fully into their next chapter, they don’t just land jobs—they build businesses, lead teams, drive change, and strengthen the very fabric of our society.

A great nation isn’t made up of civilians who simply exist within it. It’s made up of citizens who actively shape its future.

That’s the opportunity in front of us. To invest in transformation—not just from civilian to warrior, but from warrior to citizen. To ensure that those who stepped forward to serve continue to have the tools, the support, and the community to lead long after the battlefield is behind them.

Because service doesn’t stop when the uniform comes off. And transformation is what makes that next chapter the best one yet.

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JC Glick serves as the Chief Executive Officer of The COMMIT Foundation. JC brings with him a wealth of experience as a leadership consultant and career Army officer and is driven by a deep commitment to supporting veterans in their transition journey. Since transitioning from 20 years of military service in 2015, JC has been a founder and partner of two leadership companies, where his clients included Fortune 500 companies, international non-profit organizations, government agencies, the NFL, numerous NFL and NBA teams, and multiple NCAA programs.

Over the course of his Army career, JC spent over seven years in the Ranger regiment, serving in two Ranger Battalions as well as Regimental Headquarters, participating in the Best Ranger Competition twice, and has over seven and a half years of command time with 11 operational and combat deployments to Haiti, Bangladesh, Iraq, and Afghanistan. JC is the author of two books, including A Light in the Darkness: Leadership Development for the Unknown. In 2017, he was selected as a TEDX Speaker and delivered Rethinking Leadership at TEDX Hammond. JC is also an adjunct professor at St. John’s University in Queens, New York. He holds a degree in Political Science from the University of Rhode Island and is a Liberty Fellow, part of the Aspen Institute.

As the Voice of the Veteran Community, The Havok Journal seeks to publish a variety of perspectives on a number of sensitive subjects. Unless specifically noted otherwise, nothing we publish is an official point of view of The Havok Journal or any part of the U.S. government.