Potential Activities for Veterans Based on Their Previous Army Roles

Following a period of their life in the armed forces, finding post-military activities to keep you busy and stimulated isn’t always straightforward for some veterans, but it is necessary.

Given the disciplined nature of their profession, staying sharp from both a mental and physical standpoint is vitally important and, depending on the role, there are a number of hobbies that can help to maintain a healthy and productive lifestyle. Whether that be keeping mentally and physically active, including keeping well-read and on-top of exercise or perhaps finding a new hobby.

As a result, we’re going to outline several potential activities for veterans based on the skills required in a selection of previously-worked army roles.

Renovating Vehicles

Ensuring that all equipment is in working order, while also constructing necessary facilities including bases, bridges, and roads, for example, requires a particular person who is very meticulous with their work and precise with every detail. Although the responsibilities of the role can vary, the position generally demands the maintenance of vital resources, such as vehicles.

In turn, doing up and renovating cars appears to be a perfect activity for someone who was previously an army engineer, as they will have picked up a wide array of expertise and technical skills. The hobby enables veterans to hone their already-existing skills while keeping their brain and problem-solving abilities as sharp as possible. Moreover, the journey of restoring a car or motorbike to working condition represents something of a challenge that you can apply yourself to at any convenient time.

While the internal components, fundamentals, and mechanics of the vehicle are likely to be somewhat similar to those used in the army, the overall purpose of the restoration itself is very different. Having acquired the necessary skills earlier in life, renovating classic cars, in particular, allows for you to put your own unique spin on the vehicle and potentially even integrate modern-day technology into the mechanics of the automobile. Moreover, car restoration can be used to represent your identity as it sets you apart from everyone else and brings your imaginative side to life.

Forex Trading

However, not every military-based role is hands-on, with those in intelligence analysis focussed on collecting vital information to counter numerous threats while also gathering significant image and signal data. While there are no doubts that every role in the military is mentally testing, there is a more extensive focus on data within the intelligence field as opposed to the above position of being an engineer. In turn, any activities that offer a mentally stimulating, long-term challenge would be ideal for those who experienced this analysis-focussed position.

Due to their similarities in relation to the required mental skills, Forex trading represents an intriguing hobby for those seeking to test themselves. Trading on the foreign exchange market is anything but straightforward, due to the unpredictability that surrounds social factors and the knock-on effect that can have on currency values. As a result, however, you can now learn Forex online through various trading academies to ensure that you have the necessary skills to succeed. Crucially, two of the main strengths that are required to thrive in this industry are; market psychology and risk management, which should be somewhat familiar to military veterans.

While the importance of possessing the technical information shouldn’t be understated, mastering the mental elements, such as discipline and patience, will significantly minimize the prospect of making a loss. Ultimately, understanding market psychology can be the difference between being a successful trader and one that struggles under fluctuating pressure.

Rock Climbing

While the above activities are suitable for the respective veterans, a general infantryman is more likely to seek something physically challenging that also involves the need to problem solve, as their previous position would have been heavily based around fitness. While many possibilities could appeal in this situation, rock climbing closely mirrors the skills that an infantryman has spent most of his career mastering.

There are many advantages to engaging in rock climbing, with many of them concerning physical conditioning. Primarily, it enables veterans to maintain their high fitness levels by combining cardio and strength training into one muscle-testing venture. Furthermore, the completion of the activity also rewards the climber with a sense of accomplishment. Upon undergoing different climbs, you are constantly battling against both your physical and mental abilities, and, if you are able to reach the top of the wall, you can always then progress onto more challenging climbs as you begin to get more comfortable with the environment.

Also, regardless of what position you previously held in the military, rock climbing crucially helps to burn calories and stay healthy, which is something that is beneficial to everyone.

Find Something That Matches Your Skills

As demonstrated, there are plenty of activities out there that perfectly cater to the existing skills of military veterans from all different positions. From car restoration to Forex trading and rock climbing, there are numerous hobbies that can not only keep your mind stimulated but also your body in shape.