Veterans face unique challenges when transitioning to civilian life. The skills and discipline gained in the military are invaluable, yet applying them in a new context requires adaptation. This transition also presents an opportunity to redefine purpose and prioritize well-being. Many veterans find new callings, whether in corporate roles, entrepreneurship, or health and wellness coaching.
Tim Staton highlights the segment’s focus: “We’re doing about veterans, we’re going to be highlighting what they’ve learned while they were serving and what leadership skills they’ve held onto as they transition into civilian life.” This exploration goes beyond job titles, delving into the underlying principles that shape successful civilian careers and personal lives. The conversation with Andrew Bice, a retired Army Aviation senior NCO turned wellness coach, offers a window into this journey.
Military service instills a robust set of leadership principles. These are not merely tactical skills but deeply ingrained behavioral patterns. They include attention to detail, clear communication, and the ability to adapt. As Andrew Bice explains, “As you look at attention to detail, you look at the ability to communicate. It’s everything we were trained on in the military.”
These foundational elements are critical in any professional setting. The military environment demands constant problem-solving. This includes the skill to “adapt, improvise, overcome on a regular basis,” as Andrew Bice points out. While the specific dynamics of civilian industry differ, these core principles remain constant. They provide a solid framework for navigating new professional landscapes.
For instance, managing complex projects in the civilian sector draws heavily on military planning. Andrew Bice transitioned into a project manager role after retirement. He ran a team of seven, distributing software to Army Aviation units. His military background as an aircraft maintainer, overseeing production and quality control, prepared him for this. “You deal with schedules all the time,” he notes. This experience translated directly into managing project plans and budgets.
The shift from military to civilian work requires adjusting to new structures and expectations. While the principles of leadership remain, their application may change. In the military, a clear chain of command dictates routines and responsibilities. This structure provides a predictable environment. Civilian organizations often have different hierarchies and operational norms.
Veterans must actively create their own routines in civilian life. This self-direction is a major shift from military life. “In civilian life, we don’t have that schedule unless we make that schedule,” Andrew Bice states. Taking ownership of one’s health and wellness becomes crucial. It involves identifying effective routines and understanding how daily habits impact overall well-being.
According to a 2022 report by the Department of Veterans Affairs, unemployment rates for veterans have steadily declined over the past decade, currently standing at 3.3%. This indicates successful transitions into various sectors, often driven by the transferability of military skills. However, successful integration extends beyond employment to holistic well-being.
The journey into health and wellness coaching often stems from a deep-seated desire to help others. For Andrew Bice, this began with his involvement as an ambassador for Mission 22, a nonprofit fighting veteran suicide. This role brought him into contact with a health and wellness coaching program. The program, called the 90-Day Odyssey Program, aimed to help coaches gain their required sessions.
During one of these sessions, Andrew Bice found himself instinctively turning the interview around, focusing on the coach’s well-being. This revealed a natural inclination toward supporting others. “It’s everyday life as a leader,” he explains. “You focus on your team, you focus on their mental, physical, family, their well-being because as that dynamic, if they’re not 100%, they don’t perform.” This leadership mindset, focused on team welfare, made health and wellness coaching a natural extension of his skills.
The core motivation for Andrew Bice in this field is helping people. He believes everyone possesses the “capability and the ability to make change in a positive manner.” Often, this change begins with a conversation. Many people set resolutions or intentions, but struggle with follow-through. “Month in, they haven’t changed anything,” he observes. They talk about change but do not implement it.
A health and wellness coach facilitates this implementation. They listen, ask questions, and empower individuals to realize their innate capacity for change. The coach acts as an “accountability coach.” They pose challenging questions: “Well, why didn’t you do that? What stopped you? What’s making you not achieve your goals?” This approach helps individuals open up and engage actively in their own health journey.
This active engagement is particularly important for veterans. Andrew Bice notes, “as a veteran, that’s something we don’t do that well. We don’t engage in our own health. We check the block.” This “checking the block” mentality means going through the motions without genuine commitment. It prevents real progress in health and well-being.
The “check the block” phenomenon is prevalent among veterans. It refers to superficially addressing health concerns without true engagement. For example, Andrew Bice describes a scenario: “You show up to work one morning and you’re just feeling terrible. You go to the doctor… Oh, nothing, doc. I’m good.” This response expects the doctor to provide all the answers without offering necessary context.
Doctors need a complete picture to provide effective care. When patients withhold information, they hinder diagnosis and treatment. This applies to physical and mental health. “Mental health awareness, when I was a rookie in the military, you didn’t talk about it. Now it’s everywhere,” Andrew Bice reflects. Despite increased awareness, genuine engagement remains a hurdle. Engagement means honest conversations with providers, sharing what is truly happening, and asking clarifying questions.
The most common issue Andrew Bice encounters is people saying “everything’s okay when it’s really not.” This creates an “iceberg” effect, where significant health or mental struggles remain hidden beneath the surface. Veterans often feel compelled to project an image of strength and self-reliance. “We’ve got to provide for our family. We’ve got to keep our teams running. We’re always okay,” he describes.
Inside, however, a “storm” may rage. This internal chaos, left unaddressed, can lead to catastrophic failure. Eventually, ignoring these issues results in serious health crises, hospitalizations, and financial burdens for families. It’s a relentless “adapt, improvise, overcome to the tenth degree until you can’t,” Andrew Bice warns. The first step toward addressing this is admitting that one is not okay. This vulnerability opens the door to healing and proactive steps.
Tailoring Health and Wellness Strategies
There is no one-size-fits-all approach to health and wellness. Individual situations dictate the best course of action. Conversations often begin casually, discussing daily life. A coach can then identify “key indicators that there’s something underlying that they really want to talk about.” For men and veterans, cultural norms often discourage open discussion of struggles.
The “art of communication and engagement of questions” helps uncover these underlying issues. For example, chronic back pain is common among veterans. They might receive medication without a deep dive into lifestyle factors. Andrew Bice personally avoids pain medication, seeking alternative solutions. The correct path depends on the specific problem, but “it all boils back to you’ve got to have the conversation and be willing to open up and communicate what you’re going through.”
Optimizing performance through fitness and nutrition requires a personalized approach. Some individuals thrive on structured plans, while others need group support or external accountability. Andrew Bice illustrates this with his own experience: he attends two gym classes a week but prefers hiking or off-roading for other exercise. “Find something you enjoy,” he advises, “to where you’re either doing it solo or you’re doing it with a group of people.”
The military provides a rigid schedule for physical activity. Civilian life demands self-discipline to create a routine. This includes understanding how daily habits affect health. Andrew Bice shares his experience with a Type 2 diabetes diagnosis in 2015. An injury limited his movement, leading to weight gain despite no changes in eating habits. He experienced rapid weight loss, which he initially ignored, attributing it to looking “good.”
His wife and others noticed, prompting him to see a doctor. His A1C level was critical. “I ignored it,” he admits. This experience drastically changed his approach to eating, sleeping, and exercise. He relearned food groups and their individual impact. His routine now includes:
This personal journey highlights the importance of finding a routine that works and staying engaged with one’s body. “You have to identify what works for you,” he stresses.
Many people claim they are too busy to prioritize their health. Andrew Bice, a retired senior NCO, has a blunt response: “At the end of the day, you either make time or we bury you early. Take your pick.” He has seen countless instances of retirees dying within months of leaving service due to inactivity. They adopt a sedentary lifestyle, leading to rapid health decline.
He challenges the “too busy” excuse by comparing schedules. Andrew Bice starts work before 4 AM, finishes by 1 PM, supports three nonprofits, sits on two boards, runs his own business, coaches health and wellness, and is an author. “I find time because I make time,” he asserts. The constant pressure of modern life, the “noise of the world,” often prevents people from taking a much-needed “pause.”
His book, “Beneath the Noise, Reclaim the Pause,” stemmed from conversations with veterans. They frequently brought up the need for a pause. In health and wellness coaching, the “pause” is a tool. Instead of breaking silence, coaches use it. “Let that uncomfortable pause be there,” he suggests. This pause allows for reflection and regrouping, preventing overwhelm. If one feels exhausted at the end of the day, questioning “What are you doing? Why are you doing it?” is essential. Making time for well-being must become part of one’s routine.
A lack of routine is common after military service. In the military, the chain of command dictates a regimented daily schedule. Training calendars provide clear direction. Upon retirement, this external structure disappears. Andrew Bice tells local veterans, “when we step out of that mission, our new mission is living. Live our best life.” This new mission requires establishing a new routine and managing it proactively.
Even in corporate jobs, where some structure exists, individuals often neglect personal routines at home. “We get home at the end of the day and just too tired. I don’t feel like it,” he describes. This leads to declining physical and mental health. Tim Staton echoes this, suggesting a shift from “I have to” to “I get to.” This reframing acknowledges agency and opportunity.
Making this leap, from obligation to opportunity, varies for individuals. Some embrace it quickly, while others struggle. “It takes four to six months to change a behavior,” Andrew Bice explains. This period requires an accountability partner, consistent discussions, and reminders. Those who state intentions but fail to act benefit most from health and wellness coaching. They need support to bridge the gap between desire and action.
The challenge often lies in a combination of support structure and discipline. Andrew Bice notes, “With the right support structure, discipline can be changed.” In the military, leaders often label inconsistency as a “lack of discipline, lack of initiative.” However, it might be a need for accountability. “It doesn’t change when you move to civilian sector,” he emphasizes. Without external accountability, individuals may struggle more.
Civilian employers offer less leniency than the military. Lack of performance can lead to termination. This creates new forms of mental crisis, including panic over income and family support. Resources like the 988 suicide and crisis lifeline are crucial. Many veterans use it to talk when local support is unavailable.
Veterans carry experiences differently, making open communication challenging. Civilian communities may not fully understand this. “There’s a lot of things we don’t talk about as veterans,” Andrew Bice explains. “Civilians don’t understand that.” The path to wellness involves two key steps:
These steps are often difficult but essential for well-being.
While Andrew Bice has a strong connection to the veteran community, his coaching extends to “anybody and everybody.” For veterans specifically, he refers them to nonprofit organizations that offer free services. This allows him to sustain his business while ensuring veterans receive necessary support. These nonprofits often receive grant funding, covering coaching costs.
Health and wellness coaching is an investment. Rates typically range from $100 to $200 per hour, with upfront payments often required. This financial commitment serves as a “driving factor” for engagement. Clients are more likely to commit when they have invested their own money. “If I’m going to get my return on investment, again, engagement, communication, it’s pivotal,” he states.
The initial session determines fit. It clarifies what coaching involves, its boundaries, and whether the coach-client dynamic is beneficial. If the dynamic becomes argumentative, it wastes time. Andrew Bice maintains a network of other coaches for referrals, ensuring clients find the right support even if he is not the best fit. His work is driven by passion, supporting his primary role in defense.
To improve daily life in the health and wellness arena, individuals should focus on their daily routine and how they feel. As Andrew Bice advises: “Look at how you feel throughout the day. What makes you smile? What makes you sad? What gives you energy? What doesn’t?” This self-awareness is the simplest, most powerful tool.
Consider the example of a construction worker. Physically drained at the end of the day, they might use exhaustion as an excuse to avoid further activity. If they then overeat and drink, their body struggles to process it, leading to weight gain. Even in physically demanding jobs, conscious choices about diet and evening routines are crucial. Small changes can significantly impact long-term health.
The journey to better health and wellness is ongoing. It involves honest self-assessment, open communication, and consistent effort. The principles learned in military service – discipline, adaptability, and leadership – can be powerful tools in this civilian mission.
The transition from military to civilian life offers veterans a chance to redefine their purpose and prioritize well-being. Leadership skills honed in service, such as attention to detail and adaptability, provide a strong foundation for new careers. However, cultivating self-discipline in personal routines and engaging honestly with health challenges are paramount. Andrew Bice’s insights as a veteran and a health and wellness coach highlight the importance of communication, accountability, and the power of “reclaiming the pause” to navigate life’s complexities. By embracing these principles, veterans and civilians alike can foster greater health, purpose, and resilience.
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