Nonprofit Helps Military Members Transition to Civilian Life

Hire Heroes USA provides job search assistance and training for veterans and their spouses

Jan. 29, 2026 at 4:07pm

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Hire Heroes USA, a national nonprofit organization, is helping servicemembers, veterans, and their spouses gain the tools and skills needed to successfully transition into the civilian workforce. The program provides resume writing assistance, one-on-one coaching, and mock interviews to help translate military experience into marketable job skills. Since partnering with Norfolk Southern two years ago, Hire Heroes USA has assisted over 6,200 service members, including Tradd Stevens, a former Navy chief petty officer who is now working as a project estimator.

Why it matters

Transitioning from military to civilian life can be challenging, as service members often struggle to translate their skills and experience into the private sector. Programs like Hire Heroes USA play a crucial role in supporting veterans and their families during this transition, helping them find meaningful employment and acclimate to the civilian workforce.

The details

Hire Heroes USA offers a range of services to assist service members, veterans, and their spouses, including resume writing support, one-on-one coaching, and mock interviews. The program helps participants learn how to effectively communicate their military experience and skills to potential employers. Tradd Stevens, a former Navy chief petty officer, worked with Hire Heroes USA for several months to learn how to take partial credit for his prior successes and present his qualifications in a way that resonated with civilian employers.

  • Hire Heroes USA partnered with Norfolk Southern in 2024.
  • Hire Heroes USA has assisted over 6,200 service members since the Norfolk Southern partnership began.

The players

Hire Heroes USA

A national nonprofit organization that helps servicemembers, veterans, and their spouses gain the tools and skills needed to successfully transition into the civilian workforce.

Norfolk Southern Foundation

A corporate foundation that teamed up with Hire Heroes USA in 2024 to provide job search assistance and training for veterans and their families.

Tradd Stevens

A former Navy chief petty officer who worked with Hire Heroes USA to translate his military experience into marketable job skills and is now employed as a project estimator for Taylor Controls.

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What they’re saying

“Change is hard,”

— Tradd Stevens, Former Navy Chief Petty Officer (atlantanewsfirst.com)

“Support writing their resumes, one-on-one coaching, and even mock interviews,”

— Kristin Wong, Director of the Norfolk Southern Foundation (atlantanewsfirst.com)

“The ability to perform in a fast-paced, high-pressure, environment and make quick decisions and how to lead a team,”

— Kristin Wong, Director of the Norfolk Southern Foundation (atlantanewsfirst.com)

“Being able to say there's a plan especially for someone in the military very used to plans vs you're just going to go do it,”

— Tradd Stevens, Former Navy Chief Petty Officer (atlantanewsfirst.com)

“Being able to sit back and go to an employer, a potential employer and say, 'These are the things that I did,' was very challenging because I wanted to say, '(Yeah,) we did a great job.' But when you say we, there's no one else in that interview with you. So I had to be coached through that,”

— Tradd Stevens, Former Navy Chief Petty Officer (atlantanewsfirst.com)

What’s next

Stevens recommended that service members start the Hire Heroes USA program six months to a year before leaving the military to ensure a smooth transition.

The takeaway

Programs like Hire Heroes USA play a vital role in supporting veterans and their families as they transition from military to civilian life, providing the tools and resources needed to successfully navigate the job market and find meaningful employment.