About ​Executives Mentoring Servicemembers (EMS)

What is EMS US?

Executives Mentoring Servicemembers (EMS US) exists to support servicemembers moving from a military career into civilian work. Our executives help servicemembers clarify their goals, identify next steps, and make connections with others who can also be a resource to them. 

At the heart of EMS US is our Connect<->US event. It's one evening, built around one thing: giving each servicemember focused time with executives who can offer perspective, connections, and practical next steps. 

What is a Connect<->US event?

Over the course of three hours, each servicemember meets one-on-one with a series of six to eight executives from across business and industry, roughly 15 minutes at a time. These are focused, individualized conversations - a chance for the servicemember to talk through their unique skills, values, and goals with multiple experienced executives who want to help. After these one-on-ones, everyone comes together for a social hour, where servicemembers can circle back to any executive they'd like to talk with further, exchange contact information, connect on LinkedIn, and set up follow-ups.
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The event is free to servicemembers, offered in gratitude for their service. EMS US supports over 100 servicemembers each year through our Connect<->US events.

Why EMS US?

The military and the civilian working world can feel like two different languages - different terms, expectations, structures, and unwritten rules about how things get done. One of the hardest parts of transitioning is simply figuring out where to aim and how to “get your foot in the door.” 

Our executives help servicemembers to bridge that gap. In a short conversation, a good mentor can help a servicemember translate military experience into civilian terms, think through whether they'd thrive at a large company or a small one, narrow in on an industry worth exploring, or point them toward a specific resource - a resume-writing tutor, a useful contact, a next call to make. 

The unique value proposition of EMS US is that our Connect<->US events give each servicemember a set of experienced perspectives, tailored to the person in the room, plus a network of people they can stay connected to.

For servicemembers, each person walks away with something different, because the conversations are built around their specific needs. This is not a one-size-fits-all program, so what happens after the event is also entirely driven by the servicemember’s needs and wants.

For executives, EMS US is a chance to put real experience to work for people who've earned it - in a format that asks for one focused evening of engagement.

How does EMS US work?

Transitioning servicemembers are identified through our network and invited by phone to attend an upcoming event. Those who accept receive a welcome packet with details on the EMS US mission and what to expect.

On the night of the event, servicemembers get a brief overview of how the evening works before being introduced to the executives. We aim to match the number of servicemembers roughly one-to-one with executives, so everyone gets meaningful individual time. Each servicemember then meets with six to eight executives for about 15 minutes each, talking through their interests, background, and goals.

After the one-on-ones, the social hour gives servicemembers the chance to reconnect with any executives they'd like to continue the conversation with. From there, anything is on the table: exchanging information, connecting to other resources, scheduling follow-on conversations, warm hand-off introductions to others in the executive’s network, etc. Any follow-up after the event is entirely optional and driven by the servicemember. There are no required ongoing commitments on either side, but our executives are here to help and support in whatever ways they can.

1. Every year, approximately 200,000 men and women leave U.S. military service and return to life as civilians.

2. Roughly 4.4% of Veterans are unemployed. That is roughly 8,800 soldiers that have transitioned and don’t have a job. 
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3. Servicemembers struggle to find a career that they are happy with. They don’t feel that their experience in the service transfers to civilian careers.  

Transition Stress

Often mistaken or labeled as PTSD, transition stress can occur after a major cultural or situational change.

In the recent essay, Beyond war and PTSD: The crucial of transition stress in the lives of military veterans, authors George A Bonanno, a professor of clinical psychology at Columbia Teachers College, and Meghan Mobbs, a PhD student and former U.S. Army officer, report that a minority of veterans actually develop PTSD, yet a majority experience high levels of stress throughout their transition to civilian life (or transition stress PTSD) has
appropriated much of the attention and dedicated research though, leaving many veterans' transition stress misdiagnosed and mistreated as PTSD.

The military provides a sense of purpose, well-defined roles and hierarchy, camaraderie, honor and mission - things that can be hard to find or define in the civilian world. So when our veterans transition out of the military, it can spark a loss of identity and meaning of life. Yesterday, they were a member of the world's most elite workforce; today, they're back at square one. This causes anxiety, depression, relational conflicts and other
behavior issues.
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It can be difficult to find a career with camaraderie and purpose. These men and women are used to looking out for each other and pulling their own weight for the betterment of the company. The civilian sector can be interpersonally competitive and self-promoting, which is hard to step into after self-sacrifice and fellowship has been drilled into your mind. Even more so, working on a mission or for a cause greater than oneself is obviously tough to replace. This isn't always easy to find in today's workforce, and can be disheartening. Educating ourselves on the hardships our veterans face in their transition is the first step to helping them.