Richard Cato: Veterans, the world is waiting for you

Re “Army life ending for thousands amid cuts” (Page B5, Nov. 13): Just for transparency, I am a veteran; I grew up in a career military family, and my brother retired from the USAF as a career legal officer.

To those career veterans feeling rejected by their employer because of budget cuts, I say “Welcome.” You are joining the ranks of millions of your fellow citizens who have suffered the same fate at the hands of their employers during the recent recession.

You, however, have several distinct advantages. You have a pension, medical care and, most importantly, a welcoming civilian population eager and willing to take you on. I know the transition is difficult, but you are doing the country a service by moving to civilian life just as you did your country a service by enlisting and putting your life at risk in service to your country.

So, learn from your military training. Take what you know and apply it to your new future. Kiss the military goodbye and don’t look back. Change is a fact of life. Change is good. There is a world out there that desperately needs your training, your skills and your unique perspective on what is important in life.

Shake it off, get yourself together and move out!

This story was originally published November 13, 2014 at 11:04 AM with the headline "Richard Cato: Veterans, the world is waiting for you."