This author participates in the Readers' Favorite Free Book Program, which is open to all readers and is completely free. The author will provide you with a free copy of their book in exchange for an honest review. You and the author will discuss what sites you will post your review to and what kind of copy of the book you would like to receive (eBook, PDF, Word, paperback, etc.). To begin, click the purple email icon to send this author a private email.
This author participates in the Readers' Favorite Book Review Exchange Program, which is open to all authors and is completely free. Simply put, you agree to provide an honest review an author's book in exchange for the author doing the same for you. What sites your reviews are posted on (B&N, Amazon, etc.) and whether you send digital (eBook, PDF, Word, etc.) or hard copies of your books to each other for review is up to you. To begin, click the purple email icon to send this author a private email, and be sure to describe your book or include a link to your Readers' Favorite review page or Amazon page.
This author participates in the Readers' Favorite Book Donation Program, which was created to help nonprofit and charitable organizations (schools, libraries, convalescent homes, soldier donation programs, etc.) by providing them with free books and to help authors garner more exposure for their work. This author is willing to donate free copies of their book in exchange for reviews (if circumstances allow) and the knowledge that their book is being read and enjoyed. To begin, click the purple email icon to send this author a private email. Be sure to tell the author who you are, what organization you are with, how many books you need, how they will be used, and the number of reviews, if any, you would be able to provide.
Matt Louis is one of the nation’s leading experts in career transition for veterans and public service professionals. He advises veterans on their transition efforts and employers on hiring programs designed to successfully assimilate these valuable talent pools. Matt serves as the veteran Transition Assistance officer for his West Point class, is a National Speaker for the US Chamber’s Hiring Our Heroes program, serves on JPMorgan Chase’s external advisory council for military and veterans affairs, advises the nonprofit Soldiers To Sidelines, and actively serves several veteran collaboratives around the country.
Matt is a retired Lieutenant Colonel and serves on the Service Academy nominating committee for his local Congressman.
Matt holds an MBA in Operations and Finance from The Kelley School of Business at Indiana University, a B.S. in Mechanical Engineering from West Point, and is a graduate of the US Army Command and General Staff College. He is also a certified Lean Six Sigma Master Black Belt, a Project Management Professional, and holds the ASCM organization’s Certified Supply Chain Professional designation.
Matt is also the President of Purepost, a next-generation staffing solution and public benefits corporation whose goal is to level the playing field in the nation's talent market. Previously, Matt served in multiple M&A and global transformation roles at Deloitte, and held operational, production, and quality roles in multiple divisions of both General Electric and Procter & Gamble.
Reviewed by Leonard Smuts for Readers' Favorite
Adapting to the differences between life in the military and civil society can be quite daunting to a veteran of the armed forces who is transitioning to the commercial world. Mission Transition sets out to smooth that potentially stressful process. It may surprise readers to learn that less than one percent of the American population has any experience of the military, which adds to the divide. However, veterans possess a diverse set of skills covering many fields that are a major asset to the nation. The challenge is to integrate these valuable attributes into the business and public sectors with minimal disruption on either side. Veterans must leave behind them a highly disciplined and structured organization that provides training and job security. They venture into a profit-driven environment where an authoritarian management style is neither appreciated nor appropriate, with little permanence. Matthew J Louis describes the process, commencing with planning an exit from the military to acclimatization in a new working environment. Every aspect is covered in detail, including factors such as the impact on family life, potential relocation, and the need for further study. The secret is to know yourself and what you seek - then prepare in advance.
Matthew J Louis speaks from personal experience, backed by considerable research on the subject. Mission Transition also brings a wealth of sound advice from a variety of veterans, whose insightful comments are quoted in every chapter. The book includes many tables of information, checklists, and helpful hints on securing employment. The book is wide-ranging in its scope to the point that it can be used as a career guidance manual for civilians as well. In this regard, the chapters on writing a résumé, applying for work, and the job interview itself, are universal in their application and are particularly informative. The point is made that civilians do not always understand the ethos of the military, thus references to rank and similar terminology must be rephrased as part of the integration process. The corporate world is demystified and many career paths are suggested. The welcome advice on personal budgeting is an overlooked but important aspect that is also covered. The many resources such as support networks and bursary schemes available to veterans in the USA are listed. The book is rounded off with appendices, an index, and an extensive list of sources. It is a unique and well-written publication on an unusual topic, filled with practical information, and is highly recommended. Having served in the military I can relate to many of the situations.
