Hosted by the United States Army, the Warrior Games will feature nine days of adaptive sports competitions, including wheelchair basketball and rugby, archery, swimming, sitting volleyball, track and cycling. Army, Air Force, Marine Corps, Navy, U.S. Special Operations Command (USSOCOM) and international ally teams will compete in indoor and outdoor events.

Established in 2010, the Games provide a way to support wounded service members in rehabilitation and recovery. They not only promote growth and achievement but also inspire participants to stay physically active in their own communities.

Close to 300 U.S. military and allied nations competitors have trained hard to compete in this year’s Games. As part of the preparation for the events, competitors participated in an adaptive sports program that helps build endurance and encourage camaraderie among teammates.

Comedian Jon Stewart will host the opening and closing ceremonies at The Stadium at ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex. Singer and songwriter Darius Rucker will perform at the opening ceremonies while rock band American Authors is scheduled to perform during the closing event.

The Venue

This year marks the first time Disney’s ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex will be a Warrior Games venue. We asked Faron Kelley, Vice President, ESPN Wide World of Sports, runDisney and Disney’s Water Parks to share Disney’s reasons for donating the 220-acre facility for the Games.

Q: What can you tell us about the Warrior Games?

A: The Warrior Games is the ultimate triumph of the human spirit. It is a chance to see how powerful sports and competition can be when used as a transforming element in a person’s life. It also gives us a chance to say thank you and cheer on these warriors who have done so much for all of us.

I have always been a proud supporter of the military, as my father and many of my aunts and uncles had served, but being able to witness first-hand the positive impact that sports could have on the lives of these service men and women truly changed my life.

Q: Why are the Warrior Games important from a Disney perspective?

A: Disney has a long-standing history with the military, dating back to our founders, Walt and Roy. Today the company continues to be involved on a number of levels including our Heroes Work Here program that works to hire veterans and military spouses into post-service roles within our company. For veterans who have joined Disney, we have the SALUTE Business Resource Group, which connects them with other Cast Members (Disney’s term for employees) who have served and are now transitioning into the private sector. And we also look for outreach opportunities – including powerful events like the Warriors Games and not only host them at our Sports Complex, but also engage ESPN to help tell the stories of these amazing men and women.

It is truly humbling to be a part of these games. Everyone involved is so incredibly thankful for what we do – when in actuality, what we are doing pales in comparison to how much each of them has given. We are truly grateful to have this opportunity to say thanks.

For game location and schedule information, check the official Warrior Games website.

Roy O. Disney served in the Navy. While Walt was not old enough to join the military, he volunteered to be a Red Cross ambulance driver, and deployed to France at the tail end of WWI.

“While there, he actually started doodling military insignia,” said Cappy Surette, a Navy veteran who is Senior Manager, Executive Communications, Public Affairs, Disney Parks, Experiences and Products. Walt and many of his animators eventually “went on to create over 1,200 military emblems throughout World War II and beyond. And many of those are still in use.”

Today, Disney continues to support the armed forces in numerous ways, including its Heroes Work Here program and Veterans Institute summit.

A Beginning: Heroes Work Here

Disney’s focus on veteran outreach and hiring began in 2012, as veterans faced a high unemployment rate.

“We saw a great opportunity to see what we could do to help reduce that and find meaningful work for those who have served our nation. So Disney created a program called Heroes Work Here,” Surette said. “We guaranteed that we were going to hire 1,000 veterans over a three-year period. And then we ended up hiring 1,000 in a one-year period.”

Seeing the success of its hiring initiative and the benefits veterans brought to the table, the company chose to extend the program, and has hired more than 11,000 veterans since 2012.

The Veterans Institute Summit Presented by Disney Institute

Building on the success of the Heroes Work Here initiative, Disney Institute hosted its first Veterans Institute summit in 2013. The summit “was a natural extension of the Heroes Work Here program,” said Surette. Disney’s Veterans Institute aims to educate, inspire and empower, sharing “best practices in veteran hiring with other organizations, so they help build veteran hiring initiatives and have their own programs.”

Returning to Walt Disney World in August 2022

This year, the Veterans Institute Summit will take place on August 19th and 20th in person at ESPN Wide World of Sports located at Walt Disney World Resort and online via livestream. Registration details are available on the Disney Institute website.

“We’re really proud to bring it back to Walt Disney World for the first time since we hosted it in 2013,” said Ashley Taylor, Portfolio Director Disney Institute & National Geographic Live, and head of programming for Veterans Institute Summit. “And we’ve expanded it. Now, this is a two-day event focused on both veteran and military spouse hiring and care initiatives within organizations.”

The free event will focus on getting “robust and important content to the people who want to partake of it,” said Taylor. “This event isn’t just for HR or recruiters. This is designed for anyone within an organization because a culture is created in a business with the entirety of its employee base.”

Thanks to the livestream, everyone who wants the content will have access to it. By registering in advance, attendees will also have access to the on-demand replay.

The Speakers

The list of speakers is rich and varied, with speakers coming from a number of different companies and non-profits. The sessions will explore a wide range of perspectives on how veterans and their spouses can navigate the world of civilian employment.

“Hiring and supporting spouses will be an important topic at the summit this year, ” said Taylor. “We have an entire panel that will be dedicated to military spouse employment and helping organizations think differently about what they may see as gaps, whether that’s gaps on a resume or frequent job changes.”

The summit will also explore other ways to support military spouses. “For example, maybe there’s not a direct employment opportunity within their own organization. But have they thought about supplier diversity?” said Taylor. “Are they working with military-spouse-owned businesses, since we know that military spouses have a high rate of small business ownership?” A major goal is to help organizations “think a little bit differently about what the opportunities are and how they can be more involved.”

While the Veterans Institute event is intended for those who hire and support veterans, Disney offers many resources and programs for military servicemembers, veterans and spouses. Here are just a few to consider.

● Heroes Work Here – From this landing page, veterans and military spouses can view “videos and have PDFs and PowerPoint presentations and a lot of great resources…as they prepare to pursue opportunities, whether it be with the Walt Disney Company or with other employers of choice,” said Matt Andolina, Senior Recruiter, Walt Disney World Casting Services. Among the available resources are job openings, transition success stories, and information about career fairs, interviewing, personal branding and resume writing.

● Disney Military Fellowship program in Collaboration with the Department of Defense Skillbridge program- Kristy Hall, a Disney Company Executive Search Consultant and U.S. Navy veteran, participated in this program after serving for 22 years. “Through the Department of Defense, I was still a sailor, and I was able to come and experience the corporate world at Walt Disney World for 180 days,” said Hall. She landed a job with the company as a senior recruiter for Disney Cruise Line and eventually moved on to “join the executive recruitment team for Disney Parks, Experiences and Products, which is now supporting recruitment for all of our executives.”

● U.S. Chamber of Commerce Hiring Our Heroes Participant: Disney is a host company in the Corporate Fellowship Program, providing civilian work experiences that support transition from military service to civilian employment.

● Disney Heroes Supply Here: This program, introduced in 2015, promotes the support of veteran-owned businesses, including companies owned by disabled veterans.

● Military Discounts – The Disney’s Armed Forces Salute program offers discounted theme park, resort stay and cruise rates to active and retired service members and their families.

Victoria Terrinoni, author of “Where You Go, I Will Go: Lessons From a Military Spouse,” identified rediscovering a sense of self as a primary challenge after transition. “Many spouses feel like it is now their time to be their own person but often aren’t sure who that is anymore,” said Terrinoni. For the 31 years her husband served, Terroni’s main identity was being a military spouse.

Jennifer Aloisie became an Army spouse at an age when many are still under their parents’ wings. “When my husband joined the military he was 18. When we got married and I joined him at his second duty station, I was 19. I tell people often that when we got married, we were both kids and the military was our parent. I am not joking when I say that retiring and reintegration into civilian society is like growing up and leaving your parents’ home all over again. We had to learn how to adult for a second time.”

Then there’s the loss of military community and connection.

“Putting down roots … can be hard after moving around. The loss of community was a big issue for me, mainly because we do not live near a military base,” said Terrinoni.

Navy spouse Katie Hancock shared how it felt when her husband transitioned. “The people he served beside were incredibly hard to leave. They are still family.”

Fortunately, separation can be easier when military families find veteran groups for support and camaraderie. “After the military, we were lucky that his university had an incredible student veteran group,” said Hancock. “Now they’re family too.”

Conflicting emotions are common, even when military families are excited about transitioning to civilian life.

“I wanted to retire two assignments [four years] before my husband was ready. However, when the time came, I was afraid and anxious, even though I knew where we were going and what we would do,” said Terrinoni. “It’s such a significant change from what you are used to. I had a time of sadness for leaving it all behind, and I know my husband did too. And we both miss it still.”

Transitioning family members must also relearn how to do things the civilian way. This includes activities most civilians take for granted like grocery shopping.

“I literally anguished over which grocery store to go to. I was used to shopping at the commissary, and then I moved to an area with grocery stores all over the place,” said Terrinoni. “Just as it takes time to settle in after a PCS, I had to get used to a new location.”

And then there are the kids to consider. Children may struggle as much as adults during transition. The military has often been all they’ve ever known. Add that stress to moving, starting new schools and making new friends, and it’s easy to understand why many kids find it overwhelming.

Heather Forrey, an Army spouse, described the impact on kids as “the worst.”

“They spend their entire lives on and around military bases, but they get completely cut off, ” said Forrey. “Can’t go on base without a sponsor, so no longer able to shop at the grocery they knew, eat at the food courts they spent their teen years enjoying, or even run an errand for you. The things that were familiar to them no matter where you lived are cut off. Our children serve as much as their parents.”

Even reunification with extended family members can prove a challenge.

“Many don’t have a close relationship with extended family because they weren’t around and it’s easier to be close when the kids are nearby,” said Forrey. Furthermore, “many don’t have a sense of a hometown,” because of the frequent relocations typical of military service.

As for dual military families, there are unique stressors when one spouse remains in the military.

“I felt like I went from the front of the car where my husband and I would take turns driving and each of us was in control of our lives and career,” said Amanda Huffman, Air Force veteran, military spouse and founder of the Women of the Military podcast. “When I left, I felt as though I was kicked to the backseat of the car. I no longer had a say in where we would go next and my career was no longer something the military considered moving forward. It was really hard to shift into my new role, and I struggled with how to move forward.”

The transition for dual military spouses can be eye-opening. “Before leaving the military, I thought I knew what it was like to be a military spouse,” said Huffman. “But what I didn’t understand was how much of a sacrifice was required by the military spouse to support their spouse’s career.”

Likewise, the loss of mission and purpose can evoke complicated emotions for the transitioning spouse.

“While I was still in control, I still had a mission, and the mission was directly tied to where we were and where we would go next,” said Huffman. “Then I left and I went from being someone the military valued to being put into a role where I felt pressure to fill all the gaps at home. It was really hard. And for a long time, I felt resentment over my new role.”

Finding a new sense of purpose in the development of the Women of the Military podcast made a major difference for Huffman. “It took time to adjust and find confidence in the work I was doing,” said Huffman. “And while still knowing the military was focused on my husband’s career, I could also use my voice behind the scenes to help us plan for our future in a way that supported both of our careers.”

Though challenges go with the territory, making transition plans at least a year ahead and taking advantage of available resources, such as the Military Spouse Transition Program, or MySTeP, can make a difference for military spouses and children. “Most active-duty members have to take a transition course [TAP] when separating. I would advise the spouse to go with them,” said Terrinoni.

The answer is networking.

“Eighty percent of all job offers are referral-based and made through the power of networking,” said Carla Miller, Senior Program Manager at Hiring Our Heroes.

Pete Blum, Navy/Marine veteran and military transition expert, agrees. “Finding that new career can be made simpler by having an established network, being connected to people at companies you’re interested in, and learning what is a good fit for you before you take the leap.”

Start Early

Start networking early to develop strong relationships and ensure your connections are ready to help when needed. Blum recommends beginning “at least two years before transitioning out of the military.”

An early start is particularly important when seeking senior-level civilian employment. “Many senior leaders in the military work right up to the last minute of transition,” said Blum. They “are the ones that need to start early the most. Senior positions in the civilian world are harder to get.”

Expand Your Network Online

Without even trying, you’ve developed a network of military connections, family, friends, and neighbors. Now is the time to build additional connections and nurture those you’ve already made. Experts recommend using LinkedIn for networking online.

“LinkedIn is the best business networking tool for veterans and spouses to use for finding a new career or if they start their own business,” said Blum. “No matter where you are in the world, you can network with people where you want to end up and before you get there!”

Veteran Amanda Huffman of Airman to Mom agrees. “I thought I had a great network because I met so many people while I served. But I didn’t realize the value of connecting with veterans outside of the branch I served in. I have found LinkedIn a great way to connect with veterans outside my standard network.”

Use the People You May Know feature to find contacts you’ve previously made. Send a message asking how they’ve been and sharing a brief update about you. Focus on maintaining relationships by reaching out every few weeks or so.

Start With Military Contacts

“For transitioning military, it’s great to start building connections from those you know from the military; you know they always want to help their military brothers and sisters,” said Blum. “The greatest thing here is perspective. If you talk to a veteran who has already transitioned, they understand what you’re going through and they have experience on what has worked and what has not.”

Connect With Civilians

Connecting with civilians within your industry of interest is also important. “One, so you can learn from them. Civilians do things different from the military,” Blum said. “Two, civilians can introduce you to more civilians, which means more opportunities.”

Make the most of networking with the following tips:

• Ask for the help you need. Don’t be shy. Most people genuinely want to help others. Not sure what you need? Request advice.
• Be authentic and interested in others. Reciprocate when you can by offering support, guidance, referrals, and references.
• Consider the DOD SkillBridge Program. Find a few companies that interest you and connect with someone at each company. Ask questions and evaluate if the company seems a good fit. Then, determine if it’s part of the DOD SkillBridge Program. This program “is a great way to get in the door of a company,” said Blum. “Your command has to approve it, but you can get out like 60/90 days early while still getting paid by the military to intern at a civilian company.”
• Network in person too. “Networking events like the ones Vets2Industry hosts can be an invaluable tool in meeting others outside of your niche and provide great insight into what your future could be,” said Huffman.
• Don’t stop networking once you have a new job. Blum drew on experience to offer advice. “Where I really dug in and started helping other veterans with the transition was after a personal struggle with finding a new job due to a company layoff. The important point here being transition is not over when you get out of the military. It can happen at any time!”
• Understand that everyone in your network has potential as a decision-maker, information resource, linker, or cheerleader. Don’t discount anyone.

“Networking plants the seed for a professional relationship,” concluded Miller of Hiring our Heroes. “Then it’s up to you to show your commitment, determination, and competence as you cultivate the relationship.”

However, women veterans may also encounter gender pay gaps, bias against mothers, financial instability, gender-related health concerns, stereotypes about female soldiers, and stress caused by military sexual trauma. Add to these obstacles the frequent lack of a trusted peer network, and one thing is clear: Transitioning to life outside the military can be particularly hard for women veterans.

“I lost a part of myself when I left the military. I expected motherhood to fill the mission and purpose I had felt while in the military,” said Air Force veteran and military spouse Amanda Huffman. “But instead, I found it challenging and that I wasn’t doing enough. Part of it was the challenge of being a new mom. But I also needed something for me besides raising my kids.”

Huffman served for six years as a civil engineer, including a deployment to Afghanistan. Like many female veterans, she struggled with transitioning from purpose-driven military service to finding where and how she belonged as a civilian. This led to frustration, anxiety and disappointment in the lack of resources tailored to women like her.

“I felt so alone when I was transitioning,” Huffman said. “I thought my experience was so different from everyone else’s (getting out to be a stay-at-home mom) that I did not have anyone to talk to. I felt that I wouldn’t be able to relate to other veterans because my situation was so different.”

Whether a woman transitions into parenting, a civilian career or both, it is common to feel confused, left behind and disconnected. Huffman eventually found a new purpose and sense of community by creating some of the very resources she lacked during her own transition. However, she didn’t stop there — Huffman also created resources for those joining and currently serving in the armed forces.

Here are a few ways Huffman strives to help women who serve or have served in the military:

The Airman to Mom blog

The Airman to Mom blog shares details about Huffman’s experiences in the military, leading a dual military life and eventually transitioning to civilian living and motherhood. The blog also provides links to many of Huffman’s other free resources, including a deployment guide, a PCS moving guide and transition resources.

The Women of the Military podcast

Huffman’s Women of the Military podcast shares interviews and stories about women who have served in the military over the last several decades. By offering an in-depth look at what other military women have experienced, the podcast aims to provide inspiration and community to current and former female soldiers. Likewise, the podcast offers advice for women as they face challenges during and after service.

“What I have found through talking to veterans is that even if our path after the military is different, many of the emotional challenges are the same. It is through the veteran community that I realized I wasn’t so different after all.”

The Women of the Military eBook

The Women of the Military eBook features 28 stories about military women. The interviews in Huffman’s book illustrate how women have journeyed over the years from more traditionally female jobs like nursing to serving in combat positions.

“I did not know about all the things women were doing in the military until I started interviewing them,” Huffman said. “And even today, with over 200 interviews completed, I still learn more about women and their history in the military.”

Girl’s Guide to the Military

Huffman’s Girl’s Guide to the Military offers both insight and advice for women who are entering the military or currently serving. Huffman also plans to publish an expanded edition of the guide in September 2022.

“I have expanded that guide into a book A Girl’s Guide to Military Service, publishing September 13th,” she said. “It is meant to answer all the questions, starting with, is the military right for me to what branch, career field, etc., along with topics like military sexual trauma, deployment, relationships, motherhood and more. I want to ensure girls joining the military have as much information as possible to help them make informed choices.”

The Women of the Military Mentorship Program

Determined to do the best she can for the women she aims to help, Huffman created the Women of the Military Mentorship Program. Her goal is to provide one-on-one connections for women interested in joining the military, women who are currently serving and female vets. The mentorship program aims to connect women with others who have shared similar experiences and challenges, offering valuable support and guidance.

Finding support and fellowship can be key to fulfillment during military service and eventually a successful return to civilian living.

Your military resume.

Many recruiters and hiring managers are unfamiliar with how military experiences offer preparation for private-sector jobs.

“Translating military experience into a one- to two-page civilian resume, understandable to the average civilian recruiter is probably the number-one challenge we see,” said Cara Cooke, United States Air Force vet and Senior Program Manager at Hiring Our Heroes. “There are so many different roles a veteran has within a four- to 20-year period. It’s difficult to summarize.”

Your post-military resume must do more than present your applicable history. Its most critical task is translating military experience into the specific qualifications and skills civilian hiring managers seek.

Here are some tips for accomplishing just that:

Start with a career summary

Employers won’t take time to speculate about your career aspirations. Make yourself easy to hire by conveying your career goals alongside skills, experiences, and training crucial for achieving them. What career do you want in the private sector? State it clearly. Have leadership, organizational, technical, or communication skills? They are in high demand. Showcasing your skills and qualifications in your summary section encourages recruiters to read the rest of your resume.

Focus on the position

Often, job seekers create one general resume and use it to apply for multiple jobs. Focus your resume on a specific position. If you’re applying for more than one type of job, create a separate resume for each one.

“One generic resume will not pass through a human resources management system. You must spend the time to curate a resume that speaks to each position you’re applying for,” said Cooke. “Make the resume clear as to what you want to do in your civilian career, and tailor your resume to those keywords that will pull from a job requisition.”

Hiring managers want your resume to answer their ultimate question — what can you do for them? Answer by pulling keywords directly from the advertised job description and matching them to skills you’ve gained through military service. Give these matching skills and qualifications prominent positioning on your resume.

Avoid military jargon

“The military uses unique terms only those who have served would understand,” Cooke said. “Those military terms are usually embedded in resumes, which don’t pass through the traditional online human resources management system.”

Replace military titles, jargon, and acronyms with terms familiar to civilians. Recruiters won’t spare the time to learn military lingo. Make it easy for them.

For example, if you were an executive officer, translate that title to assistant manager, squad leader to team leader, and operations NCO to operations supervisor. Use easy-to-understand terms like managed or supervised instead of commanded. Describe a mission as a responsibility or task, subordinates as employees or staff members, and regulations as guidance or policies. The Hiring Our Heroes Resume Engine powered by Toyota provides free assistance with translating military resumes into civilian terms.

List education and achievements

Though the average private-sector employer has certainly heard of officer training, most don’t know what it entails. So, keep it simple when describing military education. For example, list officer training as the more recognizable leadership training. Since a civilian recruiter is unlikely to know what War College means, CareerOneStop recommends listing it as Executive Leadership School to provide clarity. Focus on your most relevant military education, and include any applicable civilian courses you’ve completed.

Don’t forget to list relevant awards. Employers actively seek candidates who demonstrate dedication, good character, and high performance ability. Include awards you’ve received for performance capabilities, character qualities, dedication, and leadership.

Ask for help

“Give your civilian resume to a mentor or friend to review, who doesn’t have service experience, ” Cooke advised. “Ask if they can understand what roles you’re looking for and if the experience bullets are tailored to support that role.”

Your resume should highlight your desirability as a candidate not detract from it. Revise any words or descriptions a civilian friend or mentor finds unclear. Ask for help correcting typos and grammatical errors as well. Both are top reasons for resume rejection.

Seek reputable, professional help when you need it. Helping Our Heroes, a non-profit, offers free resume assistance, mentorship opportunities, annual hiring events, and connections to more than 5,000 employers.