I'm stuck. I'm in a position where the training I've had in the Navy vs. what I'll actually be able to physically do are in disagreement, and have no idea what I want to do next.
I have to ask: What's your job? What do you actually
do all day at work? What were you doing when you first started there?
Hey, I couldn't find much demand for running nuclear reactors or shooting missiles either.
The transition program's surveys & assessments all said that I'd make an excellent mid-level manager, maybe a nuclear engineer. Great.
You may have more skills than you think. If you have a security clearance then it's a great résumé bullet (since your employer doesn't have to spend as much money getting you a clearance). You already have the ability to show up on time every day, clean & sober, and work under deadlines. You can stay in decent physical condition. You can communicate verbally and in writing. You respond calmly to crises and you're not at all impressed by screamers or physical intimidation. You know how to take care of the building full of people when the fire alarm goes off, and you can probably even put out the fire.
One shipmate adapted the Navy's PMS system to building facilities maintenance. A bunch of us training instructors have developed curriculum (whether it's NAVEDTRA 130/131 or a civilian course, it's the same process). I know a half-dozen retirees who are running various forms of safety programs, CPR/first aid, personnel management, and customer-service help desks. Everyone wants veterans who know military/physical security.
I don't know if you've spent any time with the headhunters, but they can point you to the latest career assessment/survey systems and help you find something that trips your trigger. The guys I worked best with were Lee Cohen & Dave Mauerman of
Lucas Group.
In every neighborhood there's a crying need for a handyman who can hang pictures, fix window screens, get the disposal running again, patch & paint drywall, fix the yard's sprinklers, and clean out dryer vents. You'd be surprised how many skills you can develop from FixItNow.com and a subscription to Family Handyman.
If none of this trips your trigger then you have to study martial arts, be a beach bum, give surf lessons, and be a full-time ER...