It's something nearly all veterans have in common – stories about basic training and overcoming hardships as they began their military service. However, the transition to civilian life can also be just as challenging in different ways as they begin a new chapter.
“As a leader of soldiers, you're intimately involved with their day-to-day life, for good or for bad,” said Army veteran Jason Rothamel, TD Bank Regional Vice President for Orlando, “The decisions you have directly impact their families. When you get out of the military, you're no longer making those decisions, and you can feel kind of hollow.”
This Veterans Month, Jason and other TD colleagues share their own experiences of returning to civilian life and what insights they gained to help make it easier for other veterans navigating similar journeys. We also invite you to learn more from Army veteran Robert Opp, TD Bank's Sourcer for Veterans and People with Disabilities, about specific ways to help find the best career path after military service.
Carrying camaraderie forward
JoAnn Means has always been an advocate for others, and her journey began at just 17 years old when she joined the Army and found that connecting with her Army peers was a big asset. She served a total of eight years in the National Guard and Reserves, including two years of active duty, and during her service, she worked as an operating room nurse after completing operating room school, along with other medical training programs such as EMT and LPN training. However, when she transitioned to civilian life, she faced the challenge of her military certifications not transferring to a civilian nursing license, prompting her to regroup and forge a new path.
As the youngest woman in her all-female platoon, JoAnn learned the importance of camaraderie and support, particularly from her peers who faced significant challenges. Many of them dealt with personal hardships such as domestic violence or navigating single parenting, which deepened her understanding and commitment to uplifting others. In both the operating room and her current role in recruitment, JoAnn always encourages people.
"It's so important to lead with empathy," JoAnn said. "Whether I'm supporting someone through a medical procedure or guiding a candidate through a job search, I believe everyone deserves encouragement and the chance to thrive."
Now, as a Senior Diversity Talent Sourcer at TD Bank based in Mount Laurel, New Jersey, JoAnn focuses on helping Black and multicultural candidates find meaningful employment during their job searches. She understands the unique barriers they face and is passionate about creating opportunities that celebrate their strengths and experiences. JoAnn helps those she supports recognize their resilience and potential, reminding them that they have the skills to overcome any challenge.
Her experiences in the Army have shaped her approach to recruitment, allowing her to connect authentically with candidates from all walks of life. JoAnn’s commitment to community extends beyond her professional role; she also leads initiatives like her HBCU (Historically Black Colleges and Universities) Professional Clothing Drive, providing professional attire to underserved college students. She knows that a simple suit can significantly impact someone’s career path, stating, “By giving someone a suit they can’t afford, you’re literally changing their trajectory.”
Her efforts reflect a profound understanding that small acts of kindness can lead to significant transformation. JoAnn exemplifies how one person’s dedication to diversity, empathy and giving back can create a ripple effect of positive change.
Finding mentors and volunteer opportunities
Felicia Fulton knew she needed to transition out of the Air Force after eight years of service to focus on being a single parent.
But she hadn’t expected the transition to come so suddenly. One month she was deployed in Malaysia and the next month she was a civilian at home with two young children. Because of that short timeframe, Felicia didn’t get a chance to complete the Transition Assistance Program offered by the Air Force, and she struggled to understand what employers wanted.
“I put out hundreds and hundreds of applications. No one would give me an interview,” Felicia said. “I had eight years of experience, but I didn't know how to highlight it appropriately.”
Felicia decided to go back to school and ended up in college where, with support, she flourished.
“The mentorship I had in college helped get me out of my own head and set me on a path that was different,” said Felicia, who is now a TD Bank Senior Manager in Fraud Resiliency, based in New Port Richey, Florida.
Over the years, the people that helped the most were the ones who were honest about her skills and made thoughtful recommendations. A kind professor, managers at work who focused on her different skill sets, and a colleague who is a reservist and made her feel comfortable at work by teasing her.
“That's what I was missing,” Felicia said. “In the military, you make fun of each other a lot. He understood and got me out of my shell. All my mentors supported me by allowing me to be my authentic self.”
In addition to her job, Felicia previously served as a co-leader for the New Jersey veteran’s employee resource group at TD where she attended career fairs and helped people leaving the military understand how their skills transition to civilian life.
“A big piece of the military that maybe a lot of people don't know about is that we do a lot of volunteer work when we are on our missions,” Felicia said. Her advice is to find others with similar values, morals and mindsets. “I love volunteering, so that’s where I usually find my people.”
Learning to advocate for yourself in the workplace
Jason knew he wanted to be in the military from the time he was in middle school. He worked hard and was recruited to play football at West Point where he loved the discipline.
During his service, Jason was an Army officer and believed in building strong character, both in himself and in the soldiers he led.
“Being in a leadership role and mentoring young soldiers was truly rewarding,” Jason said. “Watching them accomplish their goals and seeing the smiles on their faces really made me love being a leader.”
He spent five years in the Army before he ruptured a disc in his spine which forced him to retire.
The transition was a challenge, and Jason missed the level of responsibility he held in the Army. Eventually, Jason got his MBA and a job in finance before joining TD in 2021 as a Relationship Manager. Today, Jason leads the team responsible for all Regional Commercial activities in the greater Orlando area. Outside of work, Jason remains active within the community and enjoys networking with local Veteran Associations.
The advice he gives soldiers and officers who are making that transition is first, to always take care of your health. Second, he recommends making a list of individual contributions as they go through the military.
“The biggest difficulty I had in transitioning out was using ‘I’ instead of ‘we’ when I was in interviews. In the military, you have that team mentality, but in the corporate world you have to focus on what you individually accomplished.”
He highly recommends staying in contact with a mentor or veterans’ group to get advice on the different expectations as a civilian. “Having a veteran mentor is really important because that shared experience makes you feel like you can open up.”
Today, Jason and his wife, whom he met at West Point, had to learn to go with the flow since having four children very close in age. “The military, and my experience there, definitely helped me get through the chaos moments. My training really helped me navigate family situations in a calm and effective manner.”
Every individual has their own story
While everyone’s story is unique, being able to switch gears, foster a strong connection to peers and commit to the mission are skills that helped these veterans persevere and thrive in every stage of life. Strengths they recognize when they encounter other veterans who made a similar transition.
“When you bump into people with similar experiences,” says Jason who, in Orlando, now has a closeknit community of military veterans, “you feel like you are home."