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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
May 12, 2021                                                                                                          

The Honor Foundation Shares Military Pandemic Transition Outlook During House Veterans’ Affairs Hearing

WASHINGTON, D.C. – The Honor Foundation (THF) CEO Matt Stevens appeared before the House Veterans’ Affairs Committee today, providing testimony during a congressional hearing on military transition amid the COVID-19 pandemic. 

“The COVID-19 pandemic exacerbated the existing challenges and stressors presented to transitioning service members and increased the difficulty of executing a [transition assistance] program,” said Stevens during his opening statement to the committee. “A service member’s last act of service to our country while in uniform should be to have an exceptionally positive transition. [They] should set the example for all of those in the next generation, as this will reinforce the idea to all who follow that the military as an institution ‘has their backs.’ This concept is ideal for recruiting, great for retention, and even better for the morale of those remaining in uniform.”

Stevens, a former Navy SEAL, fielded questions from members of the panel on the unique challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic on Special Operations Forces seeking to transition out of the military. Most specifically, he highlighted two critical factors most veterans face during transition: “Figuring out what they want to do next, how to talk about themselves, and develop their value proposition and personal narrative.”

The hearing, convened by the Subcommittee on Economic Opportunity, featured testimony from several other nonprofits and organizations, administration officials from the Department of Defense and Department of Labor, and others, in addition to Stevens.

The virtual hearing, along with Stevens’ full written testimony, can be found here.

About The Honor Foundation

The Honor Foundation (THF) is a career transition program for the U.S. Special Operations Forces community that effectively translates their elite military service to the private sector and helps create the next generation of corporate and community leaders. It achieves this through a three-month program which provides tailored executive education, one-on-one coaching, and access to a nationwide professional network. This program was built by the desire to serve others with honor for life, so that their next mission is always clear and continues to impact the world. Every step is dedicated to preparing these outstanding men and women to continue to realize their maximum potential during and after their service career. The Honor Foundation has 1000+ graduates to-date and has campuses in San Diego, CA; Virginia Beach, VA; Camp Lejeune, NC; a virtual campus (THFv); and its fifth campus launching Fort Bragg, NC in the fall of 2021. The Navy SEAL Foundation is a Founding Partner of The Honor Foundation.

For more information about this press release, please contact Kathy Leming at kathy@honor.org.