By Bronwen Hudson
This Veterans Day, we’re taking a moment to recognize the people who have served our country, including those we’re fortunate to work alongside at Reveal Risk.
On our small team, we have three veterans and one actively serving military member. They bring extraordinary skills, a strong work ethic, and perspectives that make our team better. We’re grateful for their service, and for the commitment, curiosity, and care they bring to their work every day.
But as a marketer, posting on LinkedIn can really feel like it cheapens the message, and doesn’t necessarily communicate the appreciation.
So to help mark the occasion this year, I asked one of our veterans, Michael Milroy, about his military experience and how it continues to shape his work.
When asked which military skill has benefited him most in his current role, Michael pointed to the ability to learn quickly, especially when the subject is unfamiliar, or the path forward isn’t clear.
“‘See a need, take the lead’ is a common mantra in the Marine Corps,” he explained. “It’s expected that if something isn’t getting done, you better figure out how to do it so everything keeps moving.”
For Michael, it's meant developing a habit of continuous learning and being ready to step into responsibilities beyond his own. Supporting the team required understanding more than a single assignment. It required curiosity, adaptability, and preparation.
That mindset is something we value deeply at Reveal Risk: the willingness to ask questions, take initiative, and help move the work forward, even when the answer isn’t immediately obvious. Michael exemplifies this attitude and habit often.
Michael’s military cyber work focused on offensive activities and missions. In his civilian career, his focus shifted toward governance and policy.
The transition brought a different set of challenges. In his military experience, clear direction came with a shared expectation that the work would “get done, and get done well.” Workplaces in the civilian world don’t always operate with those same expectations (I’m betting this doesn’t come as a surprise!).
But Michael’s reflection also underscores the importance of accountability: not simply assigning work, but building shared understanding around what needs to happen, why it matters, and how people will follow through.
I also asked Michael what he wishes civilians understood about veterans.
He described how a direct communication style can sometimes be perceived as abrasive, especially if experienced without recognition of the environment that shaped it. His military experience centered on a shared mission and the expectation that everyone was working toward it with the same intensity... and the types of communication expected and honed in those environments is different from the average “corporate communication” vibe.
Leaving a direct, intense environment can be difficult. As Michael acknowledged, veterans have their own work to do in navigating the transition. But understanding should go both ways; taking time to understand someone’s perspective can create room for better conversations and stronger working relationships.
I don’t expect one person’s experience to speak for every veteran, but I’m grateful to Michael for sharing his, and for giving us all an opportunity to listen and learn.
To the veterans on our team, our actively serving colleague, and all who have served: thank you. We’re proud to work alongside you, and we value the people you are as much as the skills you bring.