Eric Arzaga on Transitioning from Military Service to Civil

On this episode of Veteran in the Park, an Army veteran and West Point graduate discusses the realities of transitioning to civilian life.

Eric Arzaga nearly did not join the military. As a young man, seeing the bullet wound his uncle brought home from service made him hesitant. What ultimately changed his mind was a high school JROTC instructor, a West Point graduate, who recognized Eric’s leadership potential before Eric himself did. Along with the example of his older siblings, this shifted his path. Eric went on to graduate from West Point and serve as a Military Police officer.

His military service spanned a range of roles, including combat support and law enforcement. He managed a level-two confinement facility at Joint Base Lewis-McChord and later oversaw basic training at Fort Leonard Wood. When asked about the most important lesson from his experience, Eric points to transformational leadership—the conviction that leadership is a skill developed over time, not an innate trait, and that it can fundamentally change a person's life and direction. He witnessed this transformation himself and observed it in the recruits he helped lead.

This perspective informs his views on transitioning out of the military. He notes that military service is a finite chapter, defined by a contract that will eventually end. Holding onto the military identity as permanent can make the transition more difficult. His advice is practical: civilian employers will not hire someone solely because they have served; veterans need to actively seek opportunities. For example, recognizing limited local job options near his base, Eric traveled to a major metropolitan area with a large military presence and attended a job fair filled with corporate recruiters. On professional networking platforms like LinkedIn, he recommends building a presence early—starting upon joining the military rather than waiting until shortly before separation—and taking advantage of the complimentary premium access available to transitioning service members. Instead of waiting for recruiters to respond, he advises reaching out directly to hiring managers and operational leaders, using tools such as ChatGPT to craft concise, tailored messages.

Eric is also candid about the challenges of leaving the uniform behind. The military provides a structured environment encompassing fitness, routine, and daily rhythm. In civilian life, that structure disappears, and veterans must reconstruct it themselves. His advice to his younger self centers on discipline: continuously place yourself in uncomfortable situations, recognizing that growth arises from discomfort, while comfort can lead to complacency.

Eric's entrepreneurial journey began unexpectedly during the COVID-19 pandemic. While managing basic training under pandemic restrictions, he sought to connect isolated parents with their children via videography, a skill he taught himself. His work garnered recognition, and he transitioned to full-time video and recruitment production for his schoolhouse. Later, in civilian life, he identified a gap: experienced business owners with strong skills but minimal digital presence, limiting their ability to engage younger audiences. Arzaga Media was founded to address this need.

His guidance for veterans considering entrepreneurship is pragmatic: experiment until you develop a reliable process, validate the business concept before formalizing it legally, and maintain steady employment while building the venture during off-hours. This approach reflects the broader theme in his story—prepare intentionally, act proactively, and do not wait for external approval.

Conversations like Eric's exemplify the mission of GoElite. Veterans making this challenging transition are transforming hard-earned military experience into civilian careers while often pursuing educational degrees simultaneously. Our role is to simplify the educational component of that transition, enabling veterans to focus their efforts on building their futures rather than navigating complex processes.