JERSEY CITY, NJ - Enlisting in the military is an honorable decision that is a perfect fit for many young Americans.
Oftentimes, these brave souls know that education after high school is simply not for them. Rather, they choose to answer the call to serve our great nation. It's one of the most noble decisions a young man or woman can make - it is a truly selfless act.
And it is an excellent decision.
Service in the armed forces provides everything they need to survive and then some: purpose, identity, training, skills, discipline, guidance - even tangible items like housing, medical, retirement packages - just to name a few.
As they enter service, the military options available are seemingly endless. They can pursue mechanics, intelligence, culinary skills, communications, electronics, and much more. Then there are additional training opportunities within their field, all along the way.
Or, for the select few who are physically and mentally tough enough, they learn the fine art of killing, hostage rescue, and other highly demanding and sensitive missions.
This critical and necessary skill is reserved for a fraction of those who serve in the military.
One such example is the Navy SEALs. This elite unit has one of the most grueling training regimens, which has an astonishing dropout rate of over 80% for their BUD/S qualification course. And once qualified, they must continually train at a high level to ensure their “killing skills” stay finely tuned.
The missions assigned to Navy SEALs are often extremely challenging, highly sensitive, and require the utmost care when executing them - and only the best will do. In order to achieve and maintain such high standards, effective leadership is a critical component in the teams. It’s a fundamental part of being a Navy SEAL, regardless of official rank held.
For those elite few who are capable and willing to serve in such a highly skilled capacity, it becomes an identity, it becomes everything they are as a man and human being.
But what happens after service?
Many of these SEALs choose to leave the military for a variety of reasons, whether personal, professional, medical, whatever. Regardless of the reason, they are also leaving behind everything they have known while they were in service. For many of them, it is everything they have known as an adult.
That is a lot to leave behind. It is also one of the reasons why many SEALs struggle to adapt to civilian life.
Think about it. Some of them have gone directly from a structured lifestyle, such as high school and college, to the military for an even greater level of structure.
Once they return to civilian life, all that is gone. No more structure, no more direction. It’s enough to severely impact their mental health.
“Psychologists who study veteran transition have identified a phenomenon known as the "identity gap" — the disorientation that occurs when a person's primary source of identity (in this case, military service) is suddenly removed. The symptoms can range from mild restlessness to significant mental health challenges, including depression, anxiety, and in some cases, crisis. Understanding this gap — and naming it — is the first step toward bridging it,” the BTB website wrote.
Jimmy May, former Navy SEAL and Founder of Beyond the Brotherhood, knows this all too well.
“Within 4 months of my retirement, four of my Teammates had died by their own hand - something had to be done,” an emotional Jimmy told LET.
He got to work.
Jimmy sought to find a solution and started the nonprofit organization, Beyond the Brotherhood. He wanted to create a program that focuses on giving former Navy SEALs training and skills to add to the existing skillset they forged while in service.
"The problem is that their leadership potential is being wasted. America invested millions in developing these leaders. Beyond the Brotherhood ensures that investment pays dividends for decades to come," Jimmy said.
The BTB system consists of a selection process to ensure they maximize their program and give the attendees the highest chance of success. The selection process is aptly called SEAL: screen and select, equip and engage, assess and align, and launch and lead.
Their program is highly effective and has helped countless Navy SEALs transition into civilian life and into leadership roles with some of the most well-known companies in the world.
Noel Sons, a career Navy SEAL, wrote about his experience going through the BTB process. "Beyond the Brotherhood isn't just a program — it's a brotherhood. When I hit a crossroads after service, the community and mentorship were there immediately. I didn't have to figure it out alone,” he said.
Navy SEAL Hudson River Swim
BTB has been so successful with their programs that they were selected as the primary recipient of the popular annual Navy SEAL Hudson River swim event. This year it is held on August 15th, 2026.
“Beyond the Brotherhood focuses on helping Navy SEALs continue creating impact through mentorship, leadership development, and strategic support,” the swim event website wrote. “The Official NYC SEAL Swim helps amplify awareness around that mission.”
No one is more excited about the partnership than the founder of the SEAL swim event, Bill Brown, a former Navy SEAL.
“Beyond the Brotherhood is made up of Navy SEALs, beautiful Americans who’ve served our nation. They understand the difficulties of the transition process for Warfighters when they come home because they’ve lived it,” Bill Brown told LET.
He continued, “Beyond the Brotherhood understands how adventure therapy helps bring together great Americans for patriotic athletic events. This helps us reenergize each other.”
To learn more about Beyond the Brotherhood, visit their website at https://www.beyondthebrotherhood.org/ and follow them on Instagram, Facebook and LinkedIn.
To learn, participate, or volunteer for the Navy SEAL Hudson River Swim visit their website at https://nycsealswims.com/.
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Writer and author Eddie Molina has over 25 years of combined LEO and military service. Learn more about his interview articles at www.eddiemolina.com
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