Wednesday, 16 July 2025 Issue#040

Transition Smarter. Tech-Driven Guidance for What’s Next.

Welcome to another week!​
This week’s newsletter is all about equipping you to tackle the toughest parts of your transition out of the military; whether that’s making sense of the VA disability claims process, finding clarity in your next chapter, or crafting a resume that helps your experience shine. From innovative AI tools that de-mystify paperwork, to new programs built around personal growth, to next-level strategies for civilian job hunting, we’re covering solutions that can make a real difference. If you’re getting ready to separate, or just looking to make your journey smoother, there are more resources, more support, and more smart technology at your fingertips than ever before. Dive in and take advantage of the tools and insights designed with you in mind.

Weekly Spotlight

When you start planning to get out of the military, there are some things on your list that you probably just accept will be a pain. Sadly, filing for your VA disability benefits is likely one of those things. For starters, there is all the unsolicited "advice" offered by your peers, supervisor, TAP facilitator, and that one guy who knows everything.

While mostly well intended, all this "advice" sometimes creates confusion, apprehension, and can end up preventing filing a claim at all.

According to a survey done in 2022 by Allsup, a national disability representation company, they discovered:

This same survey noted that "While at least four in 10 service members exit the military with service-related conditions, only 32% file for VA disability benefits."

With all the attention given to this aspect of military transition you'd figure that stats would be much higher. The fact that it isn't just underscores the continued confusion around the process.

This has created an environment rich for some type of solution that alleviates some of the pain points. To it's credit, the VA itself has rolled out several tools on its website such as the claims status tool and VA disability calculator. While a step in the right direction there still is a gap. I mean, that status tracker is great but how do you get a claim submitted in the first place? What medical conditions should you enter, how do you describe injuries that makes sense?

Fortunately, this gap has started to be filled by some relatively new tools independent from the government. They give service members options and help them understand the process better.

Launched just last year, VeteranAI was developed to help solve some of the issues surrounding VA claims. It is Veteran owned and has legit privacy polices too. This tool helps walk you through some of the documents needed such as Nexus letters. Leveraging AI to generate some of these complex documents saves time and could be the difference to get your claim through the system. There are plans to integrate Veteran Service Organizations (VSO) too, which could potentially help those organizations increase their volume and help more service members.

Bottom line here is that a largely manual and cumbersome process is getting the attention needed from tech solutions. Don't sleep on adding adding some unique new tools to your transition tech stack.

What We Are Tracking

Free Transition Program for All Veterans

The Vector Accelerator: A New Beginning for Veterans

Transitioning out of military service is not just a job change—it’s the start of an entirely new chapter. Many Veterans grapple with more than just finding a new career; they also seek purpose and direction as they redefine who they are beyond their service. The Honor Foundation, known for over a decade of supporting elite military talent, has launched the Vector Accelerator, a program designed to help answer those fundamental questions.

The Vector Accelerator is a free, fully virtual and self-paced program open to all active duty service members and Veterans, regardless of rank, branch, or date of separation. What sets Vector apart from traditional transition programs is its emphasis on personal discovery rather than simply preparing participants for their next job. Through guided modules and a digital workbook, Veterans are encouraged to explore their values, motivations, and vision for a fulfilling life after service. The approach is rooted in science-backed tools that foster introspection and clarity about one’s future.

Vector is more than just another online course; it’s a supportive platform where Veterans can move at their own pace, connect with a broader community, and utilize practical resources throughout their transition journey. By focusing on “why” rather than just “what’s next,” the program aims to empower Veterans to make choices that lead to long-term satisfaction and meaning, rather than simply landing a new position.

The Honor Foundation’s initiative ensures that all Veterans now have access to professional-grade transition support, building a bridge between military life and the rich opportunities that await in civilian society.

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Supercharging Your Post-Military Resume: How to Stack AI Tools for a Winning Edge

Transitioning from military service to a civilian career is daunting, and one of the steepest learning curves comes with writing a resume that truly captures your skills and achievements. Fortunately, artificial intelligence has revolutionized the resume creation process, bringing a powerful set of tools within reach, especially for veterans and service members looking to translate their experiences into civilian language. The best-kept secret among savvy job seekers is that you don’t have to settle on just one tool or chatbot. By “stacking” several resume writing AI tools and large language models (LLMs) together, you can create a resume that is professional, persuasive, and tailored for your target roles.

Understanding AI & LLMs in Resume Writing

AI tools are designed to automate and enhance the process of building your resume. Some services guide you step-by-step through best practices, some recommend language for roles you’re interested in, and LLM chatbots, like those powering ChatGPT and similar technology, can translate your military roles into civilian terms with ease. Each tool tends to have its strengths: some excel at formatting, others at phrasing, and still others at providing targeted industry keywords.

The Power of the Stack: Combining AI Tools

Instead of relying on a single AI tool, consider using several, each for its particular strength. Let one tool handle formatting to give your resume a clean, modern look. Use a chatbot powered by an LLM to help you brainstorm bullet points that accurately reflect your achievements, translating military terms into language civilian employers understand. Another AI can analyze your resume against specific job descriptions and recommend critical keywords or phrases to include, maximizing your match with applicant tracking systems. By combining the best capabilities of several tools, you build a resume that is competitive both in clarity and in how it makes it past digital gatekeepers.

Personalization Through LLMs

No two veterans’ experiences are the same, so every resume should have a personal touch. Chatbots built with LLMs can interview you interactively, prompting you for specific accomplishments and examples, details that generic resume templates often overlook. You can ask an LLM to role-play an interviewer and help you craft STAR (Situation, Task, Action, Result) stories for your resume. If you’ve written your resume draft with one AI platform but feel that the language is too generic, paste it into a different LLM chatbot and request a rewording to highlight leadership, project management, or technical expertise unique to your service.

Fine-Tuning for Every Opportunity

After generating your main resume, don’t stop there. Select an AI resume scanner or optimizer to compare your resume with a target job description. These tools can highlight missing keywords and suggest how to customize your experience for each opportunity. Large language models can instantly tweak your summary and bullet points for various roles, from logistics to cybersecurity to project management, allowing you to submit a tailored resume for every application quickly without overwhelming manual edits.

Bridging the Civilian-Military Language Divide

Veterans often face the unique challenge of translating military accomplishments into terms that resonate with civilian employers. LLMs are especially adept at this. If you input your military title and list your job duties or achievements, these AI models can rewrite them using industry-standard language. For example, “Platoon Leader” can be rendered as “Operations Manager,” focusing on leadership, team training, and logistics management, all skills highly sought after in the private sector.

Staying in Control

While AI tools and LLMs can do much of the heavy lifting, the most important ingredient is still you. Review every AI-generated suggestion to ensure it accurately reflects your story and your goals. Use your judgment to combine the different strengths of each AI: let one check your formatting, another polish your wording, and a third optimize your content for specific jobs. Double-check that military awards or technical certifications are depicted fairly and truthfully, and that each change still feels authentic to your journey.

Final Thoughts

AI and LLM resume tools are accelerators, not replacements, for your voice. By stacking these technologies—letting each one do what it does best—you give yourself a sharper, more competitive edge during your civilian job search. For veterans and service members making this transition, using a toolkit of diverse AI options is a mission-ready way to ensure your resume isn’t just good enough—it stands out.

Productivity Spotlight

Tools that help you stay, or get, productive

✅ Planori- Create plans, track tasks, share progress

✅ 15minutes - Just like the title says, 15 minute book summaries

✅ PromptTessor - Improve your AI prompts

Check us Out

Help us create a new community where we can exchange and share military transition related stories and best practices.

​Join Our New Exclusive Facebook Group!

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