May 30, 2018
Jon and I spoke about his transition out of the Marine Corps and initial civilian career in construction project management. Jon decided after a few years to acquire more education and make a career change for the sake of family; his employer had him traveling to projects all around North America, and he wanted to have more time at home.
Jon attended the University of Connecticut to earn his JD, using the state's program for combat veterans to defer the cost of tuition significantly. He talks about that process, as well as some of the pitfalls he encountered during that time related to mental health, substance abuse, and how his family and friends from the service helped him get the help he needed to get his life back on track.
It's often talked about in the media, but this experience is all too common, and Jon was gracious to be honest and open about his trials, and I think speaking about this topic and publishing it on the podcast is a good step for those that may also be struggling to recognize that they're not alone and that their troubles are not unique.