When you get out, you think freedom is the reward. No formations. No chain of command. No uniform. No one breathing down your neck. But here’s what nobody warns you about… Freedom without structure becomes a slow death. In the military, your life had rails. Even if you hated it… it kept you moving. In civilian life, nobody checks on you. Nobody cares if you wake up late. Nobody cares if you’re slipping. Nobody cares if you stop training, stop learning, stop fighting. And that’s why so many vets feel “lost.” Not because they’re weak… But because they went from a system that forced discipline… to a world that rewards comfort. Civilian life doesn’t destroy you instantly. It destroys you quietly. One missed workout. One lazy week. One excuse. One month of drifting. Then suddenly you look up and realize: You’re not the man you used to be. That’s why Operation: Year One exists. To rebuild structure. To rebuild identity. To rebuild direction. Because freedom isn’t the goal… CONTROL is. WHAT’S ONE AREA OF YOUR LIFE WHERE FREEDOM MADE YOU LAZY INSTEAD OF STRONGER?

I wanted to share some critical insights about the military's Transition Assistance Program (TAPS). If you're separating or retiring soon, it's important to understand where this program falls short. While TAPS is mandated, it often fails to adequately prepare service members for civilian life, and here's why: • It's Mandated, Not Empathetic: TAPS often feels like a box-ticking exercise mandated by Congress, rather than a genuinely supportive program focused on individual transitions. This approach can lead to a rushed process that doesn't truly address the specific needs and goals of veterans. • Inexperienced Instructors: A significant issue is that the program is often taught by contractors who lack military experience. These instructors may not understand the unique challenges and experiences of service members, making their advice less relevant or impactful for veterans. • Generic Advice: TAPS tends to provide a generic, "one-size-fits-all" approach to crucial aspects like resume writing and job interview preparation. This broad advice isn't sufficient for the nuanced and specific requirements of the civilian job market, where tailored applications are key. For instance, resume writing advice might help create a basic document, but it won't provide the specific targeting needed for various organizations and positions. Similarly, interview practice can be highly scripted and unrealistic, failing to prepare individuals for unscripted, real-world scenarios. • Insufficient Coverage of Vital Areas: Critical topics like in-depth professional networking are barely addressed, receiving only a few hours of attention. This is a major gap, as networking is vital for identifying job opportunities and understanding industry expectations. Furthermore, coverage of VA benefits is often brief and relies on outdated materials, leaving service members with insufficient information on crucial services and entitlements available to them as veterans. Understanding these shortcomings is crucial for anyone relying on TAPS for their transition. Today I wanted to teach you how most veterans started on the wrong foot in the civilian race… but I also wanted to show you why “Operation: Year One” was created born out of serious oversight this community will grow and under one banner, one voice as “Operation:Year One” we will force change and revamp a outdated system so no future service member has to go through the pitfalls the struggles we had to endure… so please if you know a veteran tell them about this community it’s free to join, explain to them the mission we are on and how operation:year one will rectify this error as well as guide veterans and build them up for future SUCCESS in the civilian world. So take time and reflect on the message tonight and realize this community very soon will be a force for good on the federal level. 👇 this is the assignment for today be honest be real and let me hear your story!!