When she was in high school, Ashli Alonza dreamed of designing and building homes.
“I remember watching HGTV with my mom and dad and thinking it was something I wanted to do,” she said. “I went to school for interior design, but the classes were very expensive.”
So she put her dreams on hold and joined the Navy as a way to gain experience and pay for school. Seven years passed, and Ashli enjoyed a successful military career. As she traveled the world with the Navy, she gained skills and leadership experience, all with an eye toward entering civilian life.
But as that day approached, the decision to leave the military was not as easy as she thought it would be.
An Anxious Decision
As Ashli’s last day in the Navy approached, she was filled with a sense of anticipation. But she said she also felt a lot of anxiety. She considered re-enlisting, which was tempting due to the benefits the military provides.
She also said entering civilian life comes with a lot of uncertainty. “You don’t know what’s out there for you,” she said. “You might have a plan, but then you second guess it. Where am I going to live? Where am I going to work? Am I going to make enough money?”
Ashli was determined to pursue her dream of building homes, enrolling in the SkillBridge program at Home Builders Institute in Orlando. But she still wasn’t sure where she would end up working.
That’s when she met Paola Rivera from BTF.
Smooth Transition
Ashli approached Paola, an Engagement Manager with BTF, after Paola gave a presentation at HBI. She was intrigued by BTF’s approach to helping people like her find meaningful employment after serving in the military.
Paola helped Ashli set up her profile on JobsToBuild and guided her through the process of applying for jobs, ultimately placing her in a job at American Builders Supply. She also worked with her new employer to hold Ashli’s position open, which allowed her to complete her service obligations to the Navy.
For others who are entering civilian life after serving in the military, Ashli recommends developing a plan. “Do a lot of research about what you want to do, what type of field you want to pursue, and where you want to live,” she said. “Don’t be afraid to reach out to a career counselor or somebody else outside of your unit for help.”
Ashli also recommended that veterans consider the homebuilding industry because it offers a great deal of opportunity. She added that BTF is an invaluable resource for connecting veterans to careers in the industry.
But for Ashli, the best part of connecting with BTF is having an Engagement Manager like Paola on your side to make the transition from the military much smoother. “To have somebody who always has your back, it meant the world to me.”