KNOWING YOUR WHY

“In writing Warrior to Civilian—A Field Manual for the Hero’s Journey, SEAL Robert Sarver and Alex Gendzier have accomplished an extraordinary public service. Despite many efforts and much good will, particularly compared to the post-Vietnam era, our society and our government still have fallen short in helping many veterans adjust to life after their military service. Sarver and Gendzier, based on much research and the actual experiences of veterans, have written a comprehensive handbook that should be a “must-read” for all those in the military prior to transitioning out—and by all veterans. Beyond the practical advice and guide to available resources and benefits, the book makes clear to veterans that challenges of finding new purpose in life and dealing with personal and family emotional problems are shared by many if not most of their comrades who served. The authors go further in offering advice on how to navigate those challenges successfully. This handbook offers both solace and help, and in doing so renders great service to all those who have put on the uniform to serve our country.”

— Robert M. Gates, Secretary of Defense 2006-2011

“A terrific guide for those transitioning from military service to the private sector.  Warrior to Civilian provides excellent guidance and superb tips that will serve exceedingly well those who served our Nation in uniform so selflessly.” 

— General David H. Petraeus, US Army (Ret.), former Commander of the Surge in Iraq, US Central Command, NATO/US Forces in Afghanistan, and former Director of the CIA and current Partner, KKR, and Chairman, KKR Global Institute

“It is a well-known principle of military operations that we are at our most vulnerable during transitions.  Through personal experience and extensive research, Rob and Alex remind us that our transitions out of the military are a time of vulnerability too.  Importantly, in Warrior to Civilian: A Field Manual for the Hero’s Journey, they provide sound advice and encouragement. A timely and important book.”

— General Martin E. Dempsey, 18th Chairman of the Joint Chief of Staff of the US Military (Ret.)

“Few books are simultaneously instructive and inspiring, and challenging yet reassuring. But Rob and Alex, combining personal experience and thoughtful empathy have produced a guide that is a departure from platitudes to be eminently practical. Warrior to Civilian: A Field Manual for the Hero’s Journey is a key addition to every veteran’s packing list.”

— Stan McChrystal, General, US Army (Ret) and Co-Founder and CEO, McChrystal Group

“If you are preparing to transition from a lifetime of service to your nation and now back to the civilian sector, this is a must read for you. My own personal transition was riddled with surprises - from medical care to emotional challenges - that I would have given anything to have had my hands on this book. Warrior to Civilian—A Field Manual for the Hero’s Journey is full of practicum, shared experiences and perspectives. It is a must read for those preparing for this life changing experience.” We have received strong support from veterans of all branches, of all ranks, including retired senior officers.”

— Lieutenant General Robert Caslen. US Army (Ret.), Former Superintendent of the US Military Academy at West Point and currently serving as Senior Research Fellow of the Simon Center for Ethical Leadership and Interagency Cooperation

“In this companion guide to transitioning from the military, a way of life that is like no other, Alex and Rob leverage story-telling, an age-old technique of making an idea stick.  In doing so, they encourage, instruct, and inspire by sharing what they’ve learned.  Whether you or your loved ones are still in uniform, wearing it part-time or have it folded in a trunk, whether you’ve got big plans or none at all, you will find Warrior to Civilian - The Field Manual for the Hero’s Journey a most comprehensive and practical manual for your journey.  Safe Travels!”

— Admiral Katherine McCabe, US Navy (Ret.) and current HR Manager LitCon Group, LLC

“I loved this book. It includes what I would call an implied giant check-list for the transition from the military to civilian life. Long, yet all of it is essential and valuable as well as complete. I feel that an important part addressed is the separation from the environment of comradery learned while training for stressful, life threatening circumstances to the more casual civilian environment. Extreme life values of camaraderie, brotherhood, loyalty, and service are now subject to accommodating the less extreme life of the work-a-day world or even retirement. Emotions, and various mental struggles, including fear, PTSD, brain injury, drugs, alcohol, other injuries, and more, are very well addressed and are an important part of the book. Interesting related experiences add interest and stir emotions contributing to the instructional aspects of transitioning from military life.

I hope that this book is made a feature available in the military BX so that it reaches both veterans and family members. As the book indicates, planning is important.  Further it could be used in an out-processing course offered as one leaves military life. I know of nothing else that meets this threshold of valuable information support for the veteran leaving the military.”

— John Broman, Brigadier General, US Air Force and Minnesota Air National Guard (Ret.)

"Transition is hard as most of us will always search for a new purpose -- for the next mission.  Rob and Alex have provided an honest, realistic, and holistic view of this difficult journey. Use their advice and insights and best wishes as you move forward."

—Rear Admiral Michael Giorgione, CEC, US Navy (Ret.), Author of Inside Camp David:  The Private World of the Presidential Retreat

“The most beloved nickname I have ever come across is Team Guy - the unofficial call sign of a Navy SEAL.  I believe it calls out the most crucial aspect of life - relationships.  Relationships that can help us to heal, inspire us to go on and call us to be greater than ourselves.  In this Field Manual, Alex and Rob have captured the ultimate why and the practical what and how that is required for a successful transformation and a fulfilled life.

Transformation is challenging because it requires us to break patterns that have made us successful in the past - and learn about others we don’t yet know.  It is so difficult to see the frame when we are in the picture.  Alex and Rob have done an incredible job of transmuting what is often isolated as a transition from the military into the civilian world and made it much more principled and universal - the unending transformations that we must all undergo on the Hero’s Journey.  This is the journey of infinite courage - the courage to surrender to all.”

— Commander (SEAL) Curt Cronin, US Navy (Ret.) - Managing Partner, Broadway Strategic Return Fund and CEO of Ridgeline Partners

“This is the most comprehensive and well-written book I’ve ever read with respect to military-to-civilian career transition. Rob and Alex have created a true beacon when it comes to navigating the transition from the military, redefining purpose and preparing for the most common barriers. This book is a ‘must have’ if you’re interested on betting on yourself, setting you and your family up for greater success and thriving within the new chapters of your life. I only hope that every military member reads this before they transition.”

— Eric Potterat, PhD -Performance and Clinical Psychologist, Retired Commander, US Navy, Former Head Psychologist for the US Navy SEALs and the Los Angeles Dodgers

"Rob and Alex have compiled the single most comprehensive resource for transitioning military members leaving the service. This is a MUST READ for anyone to learn how to plan and execute a successful transition into a new company/culture/environment.

In addition to the highly detailed practical lessons, the lens from which Alex and Rob speak strikes the perfect tone. Both Rob and Alex open up and are vulnerable, sharing personal stories about the ups and downs they had while in and out of the military. This book is thoroughly enjoyable and is worthy of the selected title "Field Manual".

I will recommend this book to every service member I meet because it offers foundational knowledge and subject matter expertise that can help anyone in transition.

I am optimistic that by sharing this collection of knowledge more Veterans will succeed in transition and be happier, more fulfilled, and more impactful for their families, communities, and corporations."

— Derek Herrera - CAPT USMC (Ret.), Founder & CEO - Bright Uro

“This book is truly a product of immense self-reflection combined with a deep and genuine desire to help others. It represents an enormous investment of time and energy with invaluable guidance and resources that will benefit service members of all ages and experience, and importantly, their families and loved ones. The transition from military to civilian life is difficult for almost everyone who undergoes it. Even as a judge advocate (military lawyer), I experienced an adjustment period and steep learning curve when I started practicing in civilian courts. This book will help all service members tremendously – not only because of the resources, checklists, and other practical information it contains, but because it makes clear that those who are facing this life change are not alone. I especially appreciated the effort to include guidance for female service members and their spouses. Thank you, Rob and Alex, for giving so much of yourselves in order to give so much to others.”

— Colonel Terri R. Zimmermann, U.S. Marine Corps Reserve, and also currently Managing Partner of Zimmerman and Zimmerman, PLLC

“Warrior to Civilian—A Field Manual for the Hero’s Journey is a must read for any person transitioning out of the military into civilian life. SEAL Robert Sarver and Alex Gendzier truly capture the necessities of transition that all need to hear. Many of us have complained for years of not having the required information for a smooth transition and here it is. Dive in to this manual and give it a good read for a smoother future. They have done a spectacular job of gathering resources and advice, including their own, to help everyone in transition. Grab a copy for yourself and one for a friend.”

— Command Sgt. Major Thomas Satterly, US Army (Ret.), 1st Special Forces Operational Detachment - Delta (1st SFOD-D), - Author of All Secure: A Special Operations Soldier’s Fight to Survive on the Battlefield and the Homefront and currently Co-Founder and Co-CEO of All Secure Foundation

“Transitions can be disorienting and complicated to say the least, especially when your identity is deeply ingrained in an organization like it most often is in our military service members. Not only is the transition difficult for our warriors but it can also be confusing and frustrating for our military families as well. For a more successful transition to civilian life, the whole family has to be involved by arming themselves with information and resources outlined in Robert and Alex’s book, Warrior to Civilian—A Field Manual for the Hero’s Journey. There is help and there is hope, no one needs to transition alone. This should be required reading before anyone takes the step from war fighter to civilian. Just having information and resources can make the difference between a smooth or rough road.”

— Jen Satterly - Acclaimed Filmmaker, Photographer, Author of Arsenal of Hope: Tactics for Taking on PTS, Co-Founder and Co-CEO of All Secure Foundation, Army spouse

“The hardest part of my own transition was the nagging suspicion that I was screwing it up in ways no other veteran had before. I was convinced my struggles were unique and a product of my own ineptitude. Only years later did I learn that other veterans; indeed, most veterans; are challenged in some way to adapt. Rob and Alex do an excellent job of bringing together a diverse cast of former service members to speak of their own experiences that, in many ways, resembled my own. While I hate that any veteran would have to struggle the way I did, we should all take some comfort in knowing that none of us is alone. Well done, Rob and Alex!”

— Commander Dan Bozung, US Navy (Ret.) and currently US Navy Reserves and Senior Vice President, Corporate Development and Sustainability, WireCo World Group

“Many of the tenets of this book hit home to me, but one particularly stood out — “Good Attitude & Team Player: Approach everything as no task is beneath you; attitude is everything…” That particularly held true as I took off my jungle boots for the last time on a Friday and laced up my loafers and walked onto the trading floor on a Monday … my attitude and respect for others around me is what carried me through a twenty-seven-year career. From getting coffee & lunch for my seatmates to picking up the slack when someone is quietly struggling, you will rarely be remembered for closing a particular deal or figuring out the algorithm that solved the structuring conundrum. However, you will be valued for being the first to volunteer and jump feet first into the situations that most feel are beneath their pay grade. Rob’s and Alex’s book is a first-rate manual for the military folks thinking about making the transition. I wish I had had it when I was getting out.”

— Lieutenant, Hyonwoo Shin, 42nd Engineer Company, Combat Support Battalion, Berlin Brigade, US Army and currently Managing Director, FE International

“This book should be required reading for anyone contemplating getting out of the military or going through the process of entering the civilian world. Not only is it spot on with its advice, examples and useful strategies, but it’s funny and engaging as well. Rob and Alex have done a great service to an under-represented and often overlooked group of Americans going through what is a very difficult transition. Well done.”

— Commander Joshua Klein, US Navy (Ret.) and currently retired executive and Professor of Business at Savannah College of Arts and Design

“As a gay, pacifist pastor and also the father of a female officer in the US Marine Corps, I can’t say I was wildly excited to read this book. I did not think it was for me. However, it is astonishingly important and rich. I learned so much about a sector of our nation’s community and how we need to care for veterans and how they need to care for themselves. I did not understand how much about a life in the military should be brought into our civilian life. And how difficult it is when we do not. The authors write so beautifully and with such authenticity and generosity and love. This book, and the stories and advice in it is a real gift for veterans, their families and all who benefit from their sacrifice and service.”

— Reverend Peter Manning, Moonie Pastoral Resident, Preston Hollow Presbyterian Church, Dallas, Texas

“I love this book! The results of Rob' and Alex's work resonate with the work we do in the Resilient Warrior's Program of the David Lynch Foundation, helping veterans, active-duty personnel and their families heal from PTS through Transcendental Meditation, often when nothing else has worked and when veterans have been able to save themselves from suicide.  When we offer our brothers and sisters who have served a way to find peace within, we feel we are serving them in a way that fosters true and lasting healing. This is the unique power of Warrior to Civilian: A Field Manual for the Hero’s —  and why I am convinced this incredibly accessible, compelling, informative book will make a huge difference in the lives of veterans—and for the rest of us.”

— Bob Roth, CEO of the David Lynch Foundation

“This book is a must read for anyone before they are discharged. Hopefully someday the DOD and VA will use it as part of an in-depth program for soldiers before they are unleashed on the civilian population.

— Private Ron Zaleski, US Marine Corps and Author of The Long Walk Home and Founder of the Long Walk Home Organization

“Regardless of the branch, every officer, enlisted, and civil servant are members of the Profession of Arms. When our time comes to an end, we will inevitably return, in one capacity or another, to the civilian world. Warrior to Civilian—A Field Manual for the Hero’s Journey, is the most comprehensive book on the subject. It is full of practical advice, personal anecdotes and most importantly, real life veteran observations. It is not enough to make a plan. You must know what obstacles will be in the way and harness the strategies necessary to make you a Civilian Warrior. That all starts with this book.”

— Captain James M. Shinn. Former Attack Army Helicopter Pilot and Assistant District Director, Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs, US Department of Labor

“Gendzier and Sarver’s book will not only help those transition from the military into the civilian life but anyone making fundamental life transitions. They tap into the depth of the human experience which hinges upon purpose and the need to find meaning. It gives practical steps for finding your next calling in life while demonstrating the need to surround yourself with communities of love and care. The juxtaposition between the hero and community speaks to the reality that each of our journeys are both unique and interior while at the same time dependent on honest, loving and supportive relationships. Through tapping into the power of story as a critical piece in transitions it even has the potential to better help us understanding the very nature of what it means to be human.”

— Reverend Tom Evans, Senior Pastor, Brick Presbyterian Church of New York City

“Alex and Rob have compiled an excellent transition handbook, with the appropriate checklists, but also the needed mental framework we need, especially for veterans with special needs. Life after the military is simply executing a new mission, adapting to new terrain, and having the courage to take risks and be vulnerable…and avoiding the pitfalls experienced by so many veterans who try to attack these new challenges alone. And don’t forget your allies: we fought together, we need to heal together.”

— Lt. Col. Steve Williams, US Army (Ret.), former Regional President, Continental Europe-Lockheed Martin and currently President, Pentagon Strategies LLC and Chairman, Veteran Coalition International

“Double endorsement of this fine manuscript on the hardest transition in the USA.  Double endorsement for my disengagement after four years of active duty as a young sergeant and again as an older Command Sergeant Major returning from a call to active duty as an active reservist.  It’s a must read for all service members regardless of rank or component.  This book written in a service members voice, is very relatable, and is something all service members will talk about in the barracks, Officer’s and NCO clubs and the chow hall.”

— Albert Altro (Ret.), Command Sergeant Major, U.S. Army and currently Senior Managing Director at Traverse Advisors

“This book offers a complementary adjunct tool that I will utilize in my training, and experience, as registered nurse working in the areas of trauma informed care, grieving, acute and chronic mental health care settings. It’s clear, simple, and practical approach makes it easy to identify with and apply to many different sets of circumstances.  However, the most profound impression was made upon me on a personal level. From the perspective of hindsight, the book helped piece together for me the demons my husband faced as he transitioned out of the service. Both real and imagined. And both being equally detrimental since, for in his mind, they were the evils lurking in the unknown terrain of ‘civilization’ that lied before him in “refinding” himself, and his purpose, without the adequate tools to cope with the obstacles that arose in both his personal and professional life. Moreover, I was becoming aware that his struggles did not stem from character flaws but rather a true ‘identity crises’ that stemmed from a mindset that was so deeply indoctrinated into his psyche while was still in his mind’s formative years. Between his difficulty in opening up and to seek help with his struggles we, as a family, suffered from many of the pitfalls identified in the book. From that perspective alone, I cannot strongly encourage enough for veterans and their spouses and family to utilize the wisdom and tools provided in this book, as appropriate, to meet their individual needs. Know that there is light at the end of the tunnel.  But, to become the ‘ultimate warrior,’ the strongest and most decorated soldiers must make their selves vulnerable repeatedly without the security and comforts of their purpose, structure, protection, and camaraderie that their team once provided for them while in the service. He or she must now turn to his own skills and intuitive abilities and find, or create, the new skills needed to rise above these new circumstances and this book provides a valuable resource to help identify and plan for those needs.”

— Penelope, Registered Nurse, Healer and Army Spouse

“In Warrior to Civilian, Navy SEAL Lt. Rob Sarver and Alex Gendzier have created a wide-ranging and “user friendly” guidebook to all aspects of the homecoming and healing journey for veterans. Based on Rob’s experiences, extensive research, and countless interviews with veterans and experts in the field, Warrior to Civilian serves as a remarkably thorough, helpful, and accessible guidebook to all aspects of the difficult transition out of service. This comprehensive manual covers the early and inevitable issues of physical, psychological, and moral wounding and displacement at home, through the many steps and strategies of healing, and finally to restoring purpose and achieving transformation and reintegration into society and family. Warrior to Civilian is an essential resource supporting service people in making a successful transition from military to civilian cultures into a new and restored life of meaning and honor.”

— Dr. Edward Tick, renowned psychotherapist, healer, author and educator

“Having spent almost 25 years as a professional counselor/marriage and family therapist, working off and on, with military members and their families, my main question is, “where has this book been?”  This book is very well written and uniquely balances research-based information with practical wisdom from real world experience. 

The fact is most of us perform as we are trained.  Whether someone’s training comes from their parents, schools, military basic trainings, BUD/S or otherwise, most perform in life in alignment with how they were trained. Therein lies the problem.  Our military-serving heroes who have sacrificed so much for us often lack training to survive and thrive in their post military lives.  This book is a great start toward filling that gap.

What an incredible resource, Alex’s wisdom and experiences as a military parent and Rob’s lessons he has learned from his incredible service career and adjustments afterwards are truly outstanding.  This is a must read for military leaders, families of and service members.  This should be required reading for service members before they get their DD214.”

— Dr. Ryan Rana, LMFT, LPC, ICEEFT Certified Trainer

“Rob and Alex's Field Manual for the Hero's Journey is an exceptional resource for Veterans and those who care for them. As a service-connected combat Veteran I am certain having had this book when I departed service would have provided some clarity to the fog of transition out of the service. As a therapist, I will recommend this for Veterans in my care and fellow therapists. The Field Manual for the Hero’s Journey is an invaluable resource that will undoubtedly help ease the transition for active-duty personnel preparing to depart from service, as well as Veterans who are struggling to find their way. In my opinion, this Field Manual has the potential to become a cornerstone tool for counselors working with Veterans and their families. Its contents provide comprehensive guidance on various aspects of the journey, making it an indispensable guide for those navigating the challenges of post-military life.”

— Kenneth MacIntosh, Fleet Marine Force Navy Corpsman, former Department of Veterans Affairs Suicide Prevention Case Manager and Vet Center Readjustment Counselor and currently a private practice therapist specializing in Veteran mental health

“As I sit here, embracing the profound energy of this book's preface, I am moved to tears. It is a divine jewel, a sacred keepsake that holds the power to touch the hearts of veterans and active-duty personnel alike. In this moment, I send forth an outpouring of gratitude and love to Alex and Rob, who have embarked on a sacred mission.  This book is a testament to the power of prayer, an ethereal thread that weaves through the lives of all those who have served. It is a beacon of hope, a guiding light that illuminates the path of transition from military to civilian life. With deep reverence, I applaud Alex and Rob for their unwavering dedication and commitment to crafting a transformative gem that surpasses the fleeting nature of a one-week traditional transition class.”

— Tammy Archibald, Surface Force Independent Duty Corpsman, HMC(SW) (Ret.) and current Integrative Healing Arts Practitioner, Graduate of San Antonio Naturopathic School

“This is a book that can change lives. I hope it does. It is the culmination of the work of Rob and Alex over many years.  By that, I mean not just the intense work on this Field Manual over the last four years with everything they had, but also the work they have done on their own heroes journey - difficult self-examining, personal growth-learning action-taking quests of discovery, manifesting their best selves in service of a higher cause, the cause of serving veterans and their spouses and families. I have been privileged to witness Alex's quest first hand and have learned of Rob’s — remarkably similar and parallel journeys. I hope veterans and their spouses take advantage of what this Field Manual has to offer — it can unlock your own heroes journeys!”

— Mimi Peak, J.D., MCC, BCC, C. Ht, Owner Peak Experiences Coaching