ROCHESTER, N.Y. — Serving your country can be a profound honor that instills pride and a deep sense of duty in those who serve. However, for many veterans, transitioning back to civilian life presents significant challenges, including adjusting to a new routine and finding suitable employment.

What You Need To Know

  • According to the Department of Labor, veterans, especially Black veterans, can often face difficulties when transitioning back to civilian life, including translating military skills to civilian jobs and finding employment

  • Navy veteran Cliff Bostic, after 17 years of service and multiple tours in the Middle East, transitioned back to civilian life and eventually started his own automotive business

  • Bostic continues to serve by providing job opportunities to others

"One reason might be that the skills they learned in the military don't translate very well to the civilian sector, or they may not know how to translate them," Laura Heltz, executive director of the Veterans Outreach Center, said. 

This challenge is particularly pronounced among Black veterans, who make up 14% of the veteran population.

According to the Department of Labor, Black veterans face worse economic and employment outcomes compared to other veteran groups.

For Navy veteran and Rochester native Cliff Bostic, who served for 17 years, military service is all he has known.

"I was an E6, a supervisor," he said. "My job was a boatswain's mate, but technically, I was an engineer."

Bostic served three tours in the Middle East between 1995 and 2012 before deciding to transition back into civilian life and return to Rochester.

"It was time," Bostic recalled. "Obama became the president, and they were letting guys retire early."

Determined to avoid the trap of unemployment that often follows military service, Bostic entered the automotive industry. He learned the business by working at other companies and just two months ago, he opened his own automotive shop. In addition to building his business, Bostic continues to serve by providing job opportunities to others.

Cedric Harris, one of Bostic's employees, shares how he came to work at the new shop.

"Cliff and my brother are good friends, and I realized they had just opened," Harris said. "So I came down and talked to Cliff, and he brought me on board."

With his new shop open and business growing, Bostic is optimistic about the future. Not only is he looking forward to what the future may hold, but he is also committed to hiring veterans eager to continue serving their communities in new ways.