For over thirty years I had the honor of serving our country in uniform. I led soldiers at home and abroad. I commanded US Cyber Command and the National Security Agency during some of the most complex technological shifts in our history.
But the transition that came after my time in uniform ended was its own kind of mission. The structure, pace and identity that come with military service don’t just disappear when you leave. The day you enter civilian life, you begin a new chapter – and you are expected to write it as you live it.
More than 200,000 service employees make the same switch every year. And nearly half of post-9/11 veterans say it was harder than they expected — not because they lack discipline or talent, but because it can be difficult to translate your experiences into civilian terms.
The most effective step we can take now is simply to ensure that veterans have access to ChatGPT and other AI tools that are shaping the modern workplace. (iStock)
A resume doesn’t convey what it means to lead a team under pressure, to solve problems when the stakes are high, to adapt quickly to new environments. These skills should be valued, but do not always come across on paper.
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Our country has faced this challenge before. After World War II, millions of returning veterans had to build new careers in a rapidly changing economy. We didn’t tell them to figure it out for themselves. We passed the GI Bill. In 1947, veterans made up nearly half of all college students in America.
That investment hasn’t just helped veterans — it’s helped build America’s modern middle class, fueled the space race and produced more than 90,000 scientists and nearly half a million engineers. Veterans didn’t need handouts. They needed a path – and when they got it, they built the future.
We saw that again after Iraq and Afghanistan. The Department of Veterans Affairs’ VET TEC program has helped more than 20,000 veterans train for jobs in software development, cybersecurity and IT. Given the opportunity, today’s veterans – like the greatest generation before them – have learned new skills and worked to build a stable future for them and their families.
Now we are at another turning point. Artificial intelligence is reshaping almost every sector – from logistics to healthcare to national security. Employers aren’t just asking for AI skills; they prioritize it. The number of vacancies explicitly asking for AI skills has tripled in the past year.
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A recent OpenAI survey found that three-quarters of small businesses say AI skills will be critical to their future. More than 70% of business leaders say they would rather hire a less experienced candidate who knows how to use AI than a more experienced candidate who doesn’t.
This is not about replacing people. Research from MIT and Stanford shows that AI tools increase productivity by 15% – and by more than 30% for workers who are newer to a field. That’s important for veterans stepping into new roles, new language and new environments. AI can help level the playing field. It can help translate experiences. It can help unlock the skills veterans already have.
Veterans don’t need handouts. They don’t want them. What they deserve – and what this country must make possible – is a fair chance at the jobs of the future.
That’s why OpenAI is launched a new promotion for veterans and military personnel in transition. We’re giving every service member in their last year of active duty, and every veteran in their first year after completing service, one year of free ChatGPT Plus. In addition, we offer onboarding designed by OpenAI veterans, tailored examples of real transition tasks, and guidance through the OpenAI Academy.
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This is simple, practical support for the work veterans are already doing:
- Write and translate CVs into civilian terms
- Practice job interviews
- Learn new technical skills
- Insight into the benefits and training options
- Planning for housing, moving and finances
- And – most importantly – help at any hour, without having to wait for an appointment.
The leadership, teamwork, adaptability and sense of mission that veterans possess do not disappear when they leave the service. They evolve. The question is whether we as a nation are evolving with them.
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Fortunately, we don’t have to reinvent anything. Veterans already know how to learn quickly and adapt under pressure. The most effective step we can take now is simply to ensure they have access to ChatGPT and other AI tools that are shaping the modern workplace.
As someone who has been through this transition myself, I can say with confidence that this is a simple way to keep faith in those who have served – and prepare them to lead again, this time in the economy of the future.
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