Volunteering: A Veteran’s Path to a Meaningful Retirement

This article is courtesy of my brother-in-law Doug, who has some great points to share about his retirement adventures in volunteer work.

November 28, 2024 – I retired from the Marine Corps in 2005, and then fully retired from Defense industry related jobs in 2020, after a 43 year career. I stayed quite busy for a couple years after my retirement, planning and building a house for my kids and grandkids. Even after that I was staying plenty busy with family, hobbies, sports and the like. 

I knew that in my late 60’s and 70’s I would have the time, energy and desire to do some volunteer work; the question was what. I want to have a direct, personal impact on people or things that I care about, and I hoped to find opportunities that I was well qualified, or even uniquely qualified to do. 

Finding My Volunteer Mission – Paralyzed

Before I retired, I kept a folder on my desk with potential volunteer opportunities – the folder is fat! Local church and civic organizations target the early retiree community with a tremendous variety of possibilities – food banks, drivers or home visits for elderly or disabled, working at local historic sites or museums, Literacy Council, Hospice, mediating, and repairing and disbursing medical equipment to name a few. 

My career in the military and defense industry led to ideas like counseling service members getting out of the military on their follow on career search, or re-joining the local Marine Corps Aviation Association scholarship committee. I always wanted to be an athletic coach, and I still know the local high school coaches from my son’s days there, maybe assist with one or more of the teams? 

My wife and I love the small charming town we live in, can I help there to influence the future of the town? Should I join the Lions, Optimists or Rotary clubs?  On a larger scale use my recent home construction experience to help Habitat for Humanity, etc. Maybe turn the hobbies that I’ve been spending more time on since retiring – photography and guitar playing – into volunteer gigs? 

My list of possibilities was so big that it paralyzed me into inaction. One of my goals at the beginning of 2024 was to try out 10 volunteer opportunities. It turned out even that one goal was too daunting! (ok, and I’ve been working hard on my golf game this year as well). I have to get on with it though, so I’m approaching it with the “start by taking one bite at a time” method. 

Keeping in mind my desire to have a personal impact, do things I’m good at, and do things I care deeply about, here’s where I’ve started. 

Colonel Doug

Getting Involved

Supporting My Town

A couple years ago I let the Leonardtown leadership know that I loved their vision and progress with our town and offered to help. Turns out they welcome citizen volunteers, so over the past few years I’ve served on several town committees, mostly focused toward the future of the town, served on the Board of Appeals, and the Planning and Zoning Board. 

Capturing the Moment

I spoke to the high School track coach this last Fall about helping out and have become a team photographer. I’m excited about this and love capturing a sports action moment and providing it to the athletes. 

The Joy of Helping Animals

 My wife and I  are big time animal lovers, I heard about training session for adoptable dogs, with the goal of helping them more easily integrate in to a new home and reduce “returns.” That led me to the Volunteer Coordinator at our local  animal shelter. After taking a really good online class on shelter animals behavior and handling,  as of last week I am able to come and go as I please, any time the shelter is open.

 I signed up for dog walking and photography. Our worry was that I would not be able to do this without wanting to take every dog I walk, home. But by going in with the mind set that I’m not here to adopt, there hasn’t been a problem. By the time I get them out of their pens, harnessed and leashed up and out on a really nice mile and a half loop, it takes me 45 minutes to an hour per dog. I’ve been doing two a visit at this point. The dogs love it; I can almost hear them saying “thank you! Thank you! Thank you! As I’m walking them. 

Maybe even more important than getting the dogs exercised and happy is getting or keeping them “people trained”. So when they are brought in to the “bonding room” with a potential adopter, they are as well socialized as possible. 

This morning my second dog was Bart, a 5 month old Terrier mix. Bart was very unhappy and stressed looking and very shy with me at first. I sat in his pen with him for about 15 minutes before he was comfortable enough to come over and accept a harness. He was really skittish on the leash getting him out of the building, and nervous about walking with me, but after ½ mile or so, and particularly once we got to the woods section, he was transformed into a happy, playful puppy – a puppy who someone would want to take home! I’m anxious to work with him again tomorrow. 

Volunteering: A Two-Way Gift

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As I was leaving today. I asked the Coordinator where Daisy Do was. Daisy was the first dog I walked, about a 6 year old Pit Bull mix, who had been in the shelter for a while. What a sweetheart, she has been one of my favorites, and she was adopted yesterday. I smiled all the way home. They say volunteering can benefit the volunteer as much as the recipient; I’m a testament to that Now I’ve got to work in the time to start playing pickle ball.

Bottom line – How to Volunteer in Your Retirement

If you’re considering volunteering, my advice is simple: start small and focus on what you care about. You’ll be amazed at the impact you can make—and the happiness it will bring to your life.

Thanks Doug – Your experiences are very helpful!

Comments? What have your volunteer experiences been. Have you struggled to find something meaningful, or did discover a fabulous opportunity. Please share in the Comments section below.