This week, I had my experience assessment interview for CIPD Fellowship. I had to provide evidence from the last five years of where I’ve had an impact on learning.
It felt like the right moment to pause and reflect on everything I’ve done since I officially left the Army in February 2020.
My first civilian role?
Instructional Designer in BT Enterprise.
My first big task?
Put together a PowerPoint for a 3 person team in an office in Liverpool somewhere.
I’d gone from Head of Assurance at the School of Infantry, responsible for training governance in one of the Army’s most operationally focused schools, to sitting in a corporate office, staring at slides. It was a shock to the system.
But it wasn’t just the work that felt different. I was now battling the Manchester traffic every single day—50+ minutes to travel just six miles. After years of living meters away from my workplace, where I could roll out of bed and be at my desk within minutes, this was a brutal adjustment.
I was stuck in an office, 9-5, Monday to Friday. No flexibility, no real purpose. It felt like I had gone from making a tangible impact to just filling a role. And I won’t lie—it was draining.
Then lockdown hit.
I know many people struggled through that period, and I don’t take that lightly. But for me, it was a lifeline. Suddenly, I was out of the routine that had been pulling me under. Instead of traffic jams and office cubicles, I was spending every day with my family. I had time to think, to reset, to figure out what I actually wanted from my post-military career.
And what did I do when things started returning to normal?
I chased job titles, promotions, and pay. Like many people transitioning out of the military, I thought that was the path to success—climbing the ladder, proving myself in the civilian world. And yes, it brought financial stability and career progression, but something still felt off.
Then I landed with CDS Defence & Security in the summer of 2023.
For the first time since leaving the Army, I felt the same challenge and stretch I had thrived on in my military career. But more importantly, I was back in a sector I believe in. Defence. Training. Developing people in a way that makes a real difference.
And that’s the biggest lesson I’ve learned in five years:
It’s easier to thrive when you believe in what you’re doing.
When you find your why, the work stops feeling like just a job.
Purpose matters more than promotions.
To those who’ve transitioned out of the military—or anyone feeling stuck—have you found your why yet?
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