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Gennaro "Pirate" Mazzeo turned his military transition into an adventure – and it changed everything. After retiring from the Marine Corps during COVID after 22 years of service, he embarked on an unexpected journey that led him from ROTC instructor to bartender to federal employee with Naval Criminal Investigative Services.

What makes Gennaro's story so compelling is his refreshingly positive mindset about military transition. Rather than viewing this major life change as an inherently difficult struggle (as many do), he approached it with the same openness and sense of discovery that characterized his military deployments. "Every time I got on a plane to go on a training expedition, I didn't know where it was going to take me," he explains. "I wanted to approach the next part of my life with that same kind of openness."

His perspective challenges conventional wisdom about veteran career paths in several important ways. First, he deliberately chose not to pursue leadership roles despite retiring as a First Sergeant. "Leadership comes with a cost," he shares, whether human, physical, or monetary. Instead, he prioritized being present for his family – something he missed during years of deployments and field training.

Perhaps most thought-provoking is his view that jobs don't need to fulfill a higher purpose or passion. "Having a job is just okay," Gennaro insists. "It's okay just to go to work and come home. It's okay just to provide for your family." This perspective freed him from the pressure many veterans feel to find work that matches their previous status.

A recent heart attack at age 44 further crystallized these priorities. In those critical moments, he wasn't thinking about career advancement or financial obligations – only his faith, family, and relationships mattered. This powerful wake-up call reinforced that our professional identities should not define our entire existence.

Are you approaching your military transition with dread or anticipation? Listen to this episode to discover how changing your mindset might be the most important preparation you can make. Subscribe, share, and join the conversation about creating a post-military life aligned with your true priorities.

You can connect with Gennaro Mazzeo on LinkedIn at: https://www.linkedin.com/in/gennaromazzeo8999/

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The Lessons Learned for Vets Podcast is sponsored by Seek Now and their Drive Academy. Seek Now is the property inspection industry's leading business and they created Drive Academy DoD SkillBridge and CSP internships to teach transitioning military service members and veterans skills that prepare them for lucrative and rewarding careers in the property inspection and insurance industries. You can learn more and apply today at www.internwithdrive.com.