Veterans Forge to widen access to free Transition Ops military career toolkit

Created by retired US Army Lieutenant Colonel Dean Nemecek, the mobile-friendly platform combines transition deadlines, benefits tools, career planning, job listings and AI resume drafting

Dean Nemecek created Transition Ops to bring military transition, benefits and career planning resources into a free mobile-friendly toolkit.

US nonprofit Veterans Forge has announced plans to work with Veteran Bridge Solutions founder Dean Nemecek to connect more service members, veterans and military-connected families with Transition Ops, a free toolkit for people preparing to leave or retire from the military.

Veterans Forge met Nemecek through the Service Academy BizNetwork in Hampton Roads. Explaining the planned collaboration on LinkedIn, the organization wrote: “At Veterans Forge, we know that no single organization can meet every need alone.”

It said the work will focus on extending the platform’s reach and connecting veterans and military-connected families with tools, training and support.

Transition Ops brings resources for Department of Veterans Affairs benefits, SkillBridge opportunities, final Permanent Change of Station planning, deadlines, career pathways and DD-214 reviews into a single mobile-friendly platform. It is also available to Guard and Reserve personnel.

The toolkit does not require a paid subscription and carries no advertising or paywall. Its four-question setup process personalizes a user’s timeline and reminders. 

Three AI resume drafts a day

One feature uses AI to produce a one-page civilian resume draft based on a user’s military experience and intended role. Information that the system cannot supply is left blank for the user to complete.

The AI resume drafter is limited to three free drafts a day. Transition Ops also displays current openings drawn from the US Department of Labor, allowing users to search for roles in the state where they intend to live.

Its Career Pathway Planner starts by asking users to select a military background, with categories including logistics, intelligence, medical, cybersecurity and administration. It then guides them through identifying transferable skills, comparing those skills with civilian roles and mapping gaps in qualifications or experience.

Users are directed to O*NET to examine the knowledge, abilities, education and certifications associated with target occupations. The platform groups potential gaps into areas such as degrees, professional certifications, trade licenses, civilian experience and the translation of military skills into language understood by employers.

Other tools calculate combined disability ratings using the VA formula, estimate compensation, compare taxation of retired pay by state and organize transition deadlines. The platform also presents routes involving college, certifications, trades, SkillBridge placements and apprenticeships.

Transition Ops lists companies and programs it describes as veteran-ready, alongside statements about salaries, training support and hiring rates. The announcement does not provide independent evidence for those performance claims, so they remain platform figures rather than demonstrated outcomes for Transition Ops users.

Military and corporate hiring experience

Nemecek served for 26 years in the US Army and Wisconsin Army National Guard before retiring as a Lieutenant Colonel. His final military command was the Wisconsin Army National Guard Recruiting and Retention Battalion, where he led more than 150 soldiers across 65 locations and managed the talent pipeline for a 7,000-person organization.

He founded Veteran Bridge Solutions in March 2024. His subsequent corporate roles have included Talent Acquisition Program Manager for Military and Veteran Talent at Clarios, Human Resources Director at Mad City Windows & Baths and Talent Acquisition Manager at Trek Bicycle.

Veterans Forge describes itself as a nonprofit providing veterans with training in AI and future technologies, alongside mentorship and community support for transitions into civilian technology careers.