Why Transitioning Military Members Love Abilene, TX

Abilene Chamber of Commerce

Abilene, TX, is beloved by retired and active military members alike, and it’s easy to see why. A special relationship exists between the city and troops who reside there. As military members work hard to serve their city and country, Abilene works hard to be their ultimate support system. 

“There’s a reason Air Mobility Command’s trophy for the community that best supports its local base is named the Abilene Trophy,” says Michael Dean, a recently retired senior master sergeant who served nearly 25 years in the U.S. Air Force.

Master Sgt. Cameron Wiley, who isn’t counting but will tell you he served 20 years and 7 days, says the reason behind the trophy’s name has a lot to do with Abilene’s plethora of resources, opportunities and community support.

While the city is known for providing troops with these attributes, they don’t disappear post-service. In fact, veterans and townsfolk alike will quickly tell you that Abilene, TX, is a flagship community for those transitioning out of the military.

Veterans Can Find a Second Career in Abilene, TX

While retiring from the military is a big decision, members later face the question, “What’s next?”

To help assist with this unknown, the Department of Defense’s SkillBridge Program provides internship opportunities for transitioning military members to help them gain the career skills they need.

While this program is available nationwide, at the local level, multiple Abilene employers partner with Dyess Air Force Base to create opportunities. Examples of employers include Bug Blasters Pest Control, Eye Spy Escape Room, ChemStation Texas Plains, NextEra Energy, Arrow Ford, Hartmann’s Inc. and JACOB | MARTIN.

“It’s a very popular program, for starters, because it gets active-duty members out of uniform six months early,” Wiley says. “But then, what do you do with yourself? You lose a sense of purpose and belonging, and this program gives people the time they need to shift their military mentality to a civilian one without having to worry about financial risk.”

Service members receive their current rank pay and all their benefits, including tuition assistance, during their internship. That safety net is crucial, Wiley says.

“I’m a very involved, social person, but many military personnel are not,” he says. “It makes it hard when you’ve been in one career field your entire life and haven’t plugged in with the civilian sector or networked. Even knowing I can call on anyone I know and find a job, there’s still a weird mindset when you’ve been doing something very scripted for 20 years.”

After retiring, Wiley stayed in the government sector, interning in community relations as part of public affairs. He says that everything he needs, from disability support to Veterans Affairs assistance, is readily accessible.

Military Members Can Experience a Smooth Transition in Abilene, TX

Dyess’ Military and Family Readiness Center is an invaluable resource for active and transitioning military members and veterans. The center offers a variety of programs, including leadership school, career counseling, and even education, training and licensing for military spouses. Plus, those interested in becoming entrepreneurs can take advantage of Boots to Business, a program providing education, training and access to the Small Business Development Center at Texas Tech University-Abilene. Most transitioning members start with the foundation of how to apply for a job in the private or government sectors.

“I took a resume writing class – so beneficial, as I had not written a civilian resume in over 25 years,” Dean says. “I also took advantage of the Transition Assistance Program (TAP) two different times. The first was two years before retiring just to get a better understanding of the retirement/transition process. The second was six months before retiring, so I was no longer just gathering information, rather actively preparing to re-enter a society I left over 25 years ago. Let’s just say things changed just a bit.”

TAP provides members leaving the military with things like pre-separation counseling and a success workshop to ensure they are career-ready and have knowledge of VA benefits.

Outside of Dyess, transitioning military members and veterans can find several groups to join to experience a similar community-feel that they had while serving.

Recently, Dean decided to take a six-month sabbatical to work on his physical and mental health, bolstered by becoming a recent graduate of the Abilene Chamber of Commerce’s Leadership Abilene class of 2024. He says he stays active by supporting local community events. 

“I have always believed in leaving things better than you found them, including the community in which you live,” he says. “I feel it is my responsibility to do my part to make Abilene better. I will admit, this is not everyone’s journey, but I’ve seen for myself that when I invest in this community, the community invests in me.” 

Veterans Love Calling Abilene, TX, Home

Several military members choose to plant roots in Abilene post-service. In fact, Dean and Wiley praise Abilene as the best place they’ve ever lived.

“I have been fortunate to live all around the world, and I have never been part of a community that better supports the military,” Dean says. “From the Abilene Chamber of Commerce’s Military Affairs Committee and its World’s Largest BBQ event to the countless ‘thanks’ from everyday citizens, I absolutely love Abilene.”

Wiley echoes his sentiments, adding, “I literally retired so I couldn’t be shipped off anywhere else – that’s how important it is to me to keep my family in Abilene. I’ve never experienced anywhere that supports the military like Abilene does, and for that reason, I’ll never leave.”

This article was sponsored by the Abilene Regional Growth Alliance, a division of the Abilene Chamber of Commerce. The Abilene Chamber is a nonpartisan and nonsectarian organization that advocates for pro-business policies that create jobs and grow our economy.