Airman Pulse

A weekly podcast featuring analysis of issues critical to Airmen with experts currently serving in and retired from the U.S. Air Force.

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Don’t Wing the Exit: Preparing for Life After the Force

Airman Pulse
Cody Stollings and Collin Meisel
February 3, 2026

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Episode Notes:

Senior Master Sgt. (Ret.) Cody Stollings joins Collin to share his experience during his transition out of the Force into the civilian professional world. Cody emphasizes the importance of adequately preparing for retirement and leveraging resources like skill bridge programs. He advises veterans to invest in relationships and adapt their military skills for civilian roles, citing the book "Your Final Debrief" by Mary Polanco as one of his most valuable resources.

Image: Tech. Sgt. Tyler J. Bolken via DVIDS