I was recently reading an amusing Facebook thread between two new Army retirees debating what they should be doing in the early days of their newfound liberation from service. It would be impossible to recount the humor and whit they exhibited in their exchange, but let it suffice to say that each was going a little stir crazy in their post “I’m still on a long term leave biorhythm.” It seemed that they were getting that vague feeling that perhaps they should be doing something more meaningful than house repairs, a hundredth round of golf or driving their spouses crazy.
Their conversation gave me pause to reflect on that very moment in my own retirement and what I had accomplished since with the ample time my departure from the Army had afforded since May of 2015. Before I present my post retirement OER support form, let me be clear that you have no mandate to do ANYTHING after your term of dedicated service and sacrifice to a grateful nation beyond that which makes you healthy, wealthy and wise. We have already discussed philanthropy, faith, family, personal fulfilment and continued vocation in other articles at length. Above all, “To thine own self be true,” and do that which brings you the joy that you so richly deserve.
Colonel (retired) Mosher departed his retirement ceremony and follow on soiree to return to China Village, Maine with a back seat full of cards, gifts, shadow boxes, memorabilia and a ukulele (thanks Dwaine). It had been a rough ride the previous year. I was heartbroken and no doubt cathartic about finding my continued purpose and the loss of those fellow service members I had treasured for nearly three decades. I wanted to return to the passions of a previous life that I had traded for service, discover new interests and, above all, stay close to others who had served. It was very important that I continue my recovery from a health crisis leading to my retirement and the family that had paid a heavy price for my service and success in the military. I said my prayers and went to bed that night a very grateful man and filled with faith and optimism in my future determined to establish a plan that would meet these needs moving forward.
Professional education had always been critical to my sense of achievement and personal growth. As an officer, I had established the goal of attending and graduating from a course or new qualification every year of my service and I wanted to continue that record of development. During my neuro-rehabilitation the previous year, I had studied for the LSAT to develop my executive function and strongly considered applying to the Maine School of Law as a second career. This course of action fell into direct conflict with my goal of giving my full devotion to the boys as they entered Erskine Academy. A daily commute to Portland was not what I had in mind. I instead turned my attention to a third Master’s Degree, this time in Business Administration from Thomas College. I had always held Thomas with very high regard and my interest in business drew me to that conclusion. I applied and was accepted for the MBA Class Cohort of 2016.
In the meantime, I was spending a lot of time in the Maine woods and on her waters. It was a re-discovery of a passion that I had always held as a young man growing up in Burnham, Maine and consistent with my legacy of Mosher hunters and fishermen. Most importantly, the healing nature of the outdoors allowed me to replace my standby coping mechanisms for the many challenges that I had suffered since my return from Afghanistan a decade earlier. I had lost my ability to run marathons, my profession and most of the people with whom I had lived my adult life. It was humbling and the stillness of the forests and water brought me the space for introspection, recovery and rejuvenation that I needed most. I re-read The Maine Woods by Thoreau and decided to earn my Registered Maine Guides License, so that I could bring other veterans into this healing sanctuary that I had grown to love. Through the Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife (IFW), I earned first my hunting, fishing and then recreation licenses. This allowed me to guide hunters, fisherman and lead canoe trips in the Maine outdoors and get paid for it. I would later add both my sea kayak and tidewater fishing licenses with my USGC OUPV Captain’s license to hold all five of the Registered Maine Guide’s licenses. These qualifications allow me both the skill sets and credibility to bring fellow adventurers into the Maine Outdoors and I love it as one of the driving passions of my post retirement career.
Concurrently with the earning of my MBA, I founded Gold Star Outfitters, Inc. as a 501c3 public charity with the mission to bring those recovering from TBI/PTSD and mobility challenged veterans into Maine’s healing natural sanctuary. This environment is transformational for those who have suffered so since their injuries. Since 2016, Gold Star Outfitters has partnered with Project Healing Waters Fly Fishing and the Travis Mills Foundation to accumulate more than 5,000 hours of service to this important population of service members through adaptive fly tying, casting, fishing, hunting and canoe trips. We have also raised well over $250,000 to support these activities through donated trips, pro bono services and revenue generated from guide services and lavender products. It’s been a labor of love and allowed me to remain close with the service members I love, while basically fishing and hunting for a living in pursuit of my own passions in the Maine wilderness.
As if the previous was not enough to keep me busy, I have also added time guiding at Bradford Camps on Munsungan Lake with Igor and Karen Sikorsky. I host The Military and Veterans Affairs Channel on Mainely Matters Podcast Platform and produce the P’Azul line of lavender products from my gardens here in China Village. Future plans are to seek a PhD in adaptive outdoor therapy and write a new manual for guides leading outdoor activities for persons with special adaptive requirements. Perhaps, my private float plane pilot's license, too, for greater access to Maine's most remote trout ponds?
While the balance of personal and professional lives has never been easy for me, I have the great advantage of sharing that challenge with my wife (Wendy) and our four boys as they grow into men right before our eyes. Our home in China Village, Maine gives us a view and access to a pristine lake, fishing and swimming all within walking distance from our house. We keep gardens and enjoy visiting our families nearby in Burnham and Pittsfield, while taking frequent trips down Maine’s rivers and into its forests for biking and hiking, despite a very busy schedule.
My current post retirement life, though well earned, has not been without its challenges in terms of adjustments, ongoing health concerns, and developing new life skills that I did not necessarily need or use in my military life. I must re-emphasize the ideology of every service member having the opportunity to live three distinct lifetimes in one; one before, one during and one after military service. My true dedication to life after my military service is not only prescriptive to a happy and fulfilling existence after Colonel Mosher, but a tribute to those many friends that did not survive to have a third life in this world. For them, I often pause at sunset in the mirror like reflection of the Allagash to give thanks for their service and sacrifice. Life can be a very harsh teacher, but what a beautiful lesson. I am grateful for the lessons I have learned (mostly the hard way) and for the life I now share with my family and the memories of great people who also gave richly for this nation and our way of life.
In closing, have a great post retirement day, whatever you choose to do, and pursue that which brings you peace and joy. The foreword has worked for me, but yours will be greatly different and hopefully with the same end state. Stay safe and say a prayer for our citizens and service members in peril in Afghanistan, also, please.
Your brother,
Jack