The transition from military to civilian life is a complex journey with profound changes. As veterans switch their uniforms for everyday attire, the sense of companionship, structure, and purpose that once defined their world often fades into the backdrop of an immensely different civilian landscape. The sudden shift can leave many disoriented as they struggle to rediscover their identities outside the military framework.
While every soldier’s journey is uniquely their own, there are shared challenges that many encounter during this stage. Among the most common issues veterans face are the search for new employment, adapting to less regimented daily routines, and struggling to articulate experiences that defy easy explanation or understanding.
29-year-old San Diego-based retired Marine-turned-content creator Taylor Gunner is one of the many veterans who experienced firsthand the hardships of the adjustment to civilian life. Taylor joined the Marines at the age of 18 when she moved from her native state of Missouri to California. She spent the next four years of active duty service there in aviation logistics, where she thrived, but was forced to prematurely medically retire due to a spinal injury when she was only 22. Faced with the reality of having to return back to civilian life, Taylor found herself surrounded by uncertainty and concern for her future. “The military made me feel at home regardless of where I was because of how close my colleagues and I were. We worked and lived together and shared all our everyday experiences. We were, and still are, a big family.”
Having heavy experience in overseeing millions of dollars for the US military, Taylor decided to take her love of numbers and organization as a way to integrate back into society. Attending a renowned school, she spent another four years earning herself a bachelor’s degree in accounting, as well as a top internship and job offer from a multinational corporation as an internal auditor, “the dream job.” However, having spent time in it, she found the work too simple compared to the challenges and structure the military had challenged her with. So, despite the countless hours of work and study, Taylor discovered that structuring a business around herself was a more significant mental exercise and made for a better use of her time and degree. Her love for content creation and her fan base on Onlyfans was indeed a fantastic way to feel fully understood in society again!
Taylor’s journey into civilian life led her to a perhaps unconventional path. As an avid superhero and cosplay fan since she was a little girl, Taylor leveraged her “quirky interests” and found her calling as a content creator, believing it would be not just a lucrative venture but also a way for her to rediscover her place in society more smoothly.
“I started just talking to people and the community that was there. It ended up being a really healthy outlet for me after I transitioned out of the military because it was a way for me to get to know people with an open minded outlook and also learn about myself in the process,” Taylor explains.
Motivated by her experiences, Taylor recognized the feelings of isolation many others face. This empathy fueled her desire to provide further support and companionship to her online community, particularly those undergoing similar transitions.
To achieve this, Taylor initiated “buddy checks,” a practice where she reaches out to members of her online community to check in on their well-being. The term “buddy checks” itself refers to a practice where soldiers regularly check on each other’s physical and mental health.
“When you come back from the military, it’s easy to feel alone since you don’t have your battle buddy by your side. So, I try to make sure I can be exactly that for them, even if it’s just online,” Taylor says, adding that things as simple as asking her community members how they are or how their lives are going can make a huge difference.
In addition to buddy checks, Taylor has also started several initiatives to support her community. These include sending care packages to deployed individuals, maintaining communication even with those who are not current subscribers, and creating safe spaces for conversations about navigating boot camp. “I also do charity hikes, and I’ve made my own merchandise, like military patches, in hopes of giving as much back to this community that has shaped me.”
Aside from the help she provides to community members with military backgrounds, Taylor has worked hard to support non-military supporters as well. As all of her supporters, regardless of whether they are officially subscribed to any of her channels or not, are equally important to her, Taylor hopes to continue supporting everyone in a meaningful way.
“Community and human connections are the invisible threads that stitch us all together. Our stories, our struggles, and dreams are our lifelines,” Taylor says. “We can understand the true essence of our shared humanity through these relationships. Our strength doesn’t come from standing alone, but from standing together.”
