Why Watchword?

When I speak to people about Watchword I do tend to focus a lot on service members and veterans. It's who I am, and I created Watchword directly in response to my observations of people in the military and those who got out of it around the same time as I did.

While I am very positive that many people leave the military and waste their talent - I see it all the time- I should also be clear about what Watchword is not, and what our goals really are.

We aren't a recruiting mill for the defense community. Our mentorship isn't intended to convince people to remain in national security if their talents are not meant for the endeavor, or if their heart is far from in it. It is intended to take people who haven't made that consideration at all, often due to negative experiences while serving in uniform, and to offer career guidance & professional services as a means of enabling possibilities.

I served for just six years. By the time I got to my first, and only duty station I was nearly three years into my contract. I was assigned to a unit that supported work at NSA Georgia. I enjoyed the experience a lot, but most of my colleagues didn't. As we operated in a joint service environment, those colleagues represented every branch of the military.

I can probably count on one hand the number of people I know who remained involved in national security work after getting out, and I cannot help but think that with more exposure to what was possible, a few more would have stuck around. In fact, I know this to be true-- more than a few of my friends have said as much.

So Watchword's goal is to reach those people, and to reach them before they begin making plans for life after the military. With growth as our goal, we also intend to build programs for those who don't fit into groups like "service member", or "veteran", but who may find themselves pursuing careers in intelligence, tech, and cyber. Watchword plans to extend its mentorship to those folks as well -- college students pursuing intel-related degrees, ROTC cadets, and even high school students who may be considering a future in public service.

It is never too early, nor has it ever been more important than now, to seek and confide in a solid mentor. As former non-commissioned officers, passing knowledge and providing direction to those who follow in our footsteps is innate. It is who we are, and it is those ideals that serve as the foundation for what Watchword seeks to build.