“No one can stay in the military forever. We all get out one day. It’s just something we don’t think about.” – Bernard Edwards (U.S. Air Force Technical Sergeant, retired)
Military service members bravely dedicate their lives to serving their country, but for many, one of the most formidable missions they’ll face is the transition back to civilian life. Roadtrip Nation: The Next Mission explores the personal and systemic issues facing veterans through the experiences of three transitioning service members from the US Army & Air Force.
With an estimated one million service members who will transition out of the military in the next five years, The Next Mission brings together military veterans in various stages of their post-service lives to discuss the unique challenges of re-entering civilian life. From nonprofit directors to sponsored athletes, each interview offers insight to the diverse career paths possible after life in the military.
Trekking over 3,000 miles, the road trippers' month-long trip introduces them to post-military careers they never knew were a possibility. Interviews with fitness entrepreneur Derek Weida, skincare line founder Nicole Baldwin, author and businessman Robert Kiyosaki, and others, prove that the skills cultivated in the military aren’t relegated to the battlefield; they can be translated to exciting and meaningful jobs. While they’ve left combat behind, our courageous veterans are inspired to tackle a new mission: the fight to build a life of purpose, for which their greatest weapons will be their heads and their hearts.
“You’re not going to find self-worth sitting on your couch.” – Josh Kinser, Texas Trophy Hunters Association
Sam Shockley, 28, enlisted immediately after high school determined to work a lifetime in the military. However, on his third our in Afghanistan, Sam lost both his legs when he stepped on an IED during a routine clearance as a combat engineer, which halted his dreams of a lasting military career. “I got my purple heart…I made through it, but I lost everything.”