Recently, SOLID’s very own Jim Yauger was selected as a scholar for The George W. Bush Institute’s 2024 Stand-To Veteran Leadership Program. The program is “aimed at accomplished leaders from diverse sectors across the country who are motivated to increase their impact in supporting our nation’s veterans.” As a valued member of our team, Jim brings a wealth of experience, dedication, and a profound commitment to serving the military-connected community, both in his personal life and through his work here at SOLID. Recently, we sat down to pose a few questions to Jim, and he graciously shared insights into his background and his current priorities, shedding light on the pivotal moments and experiences that have shaped his path to this remarkable opportunity.
From his military service to his transition into civilian life and his continued advocacy for veteran empowerment, Jim offers a candid reflection on what drove him to apply for the Veteran Leadership Program and what he is most excited about as he prepares to embark on this new chapter of leadership and advocacy. Join us as we explore Jim’s journey and celebrate his unwavering commitment to making a difference in the veteran community and beyond.
SOLID: Tell us about your position and the work you do for SOLID.
Jim: In my current role as an Analyst, I support a few programs for the Department of Defense’s Office of Secretary of Defense. Two of the programs that I support include the highly popular and successful DOD SkillBridge program that provides opportunities for service members to gain valuable civilian work experience through specific industry training, apprenticeships, or internships during the last 180 days of service. The DOD SkillBridge program connects transitioning service members with industry partners in real-world job experiences.
The other program that I currently support is the Air Force COOL program. Air Force COOL is a pathway for enlisted Department of Air Force members to earn industry recognized professional certifications, licenses to enhance their active-duty work, and to prepare them as they transition to the civilian job market. My support of this program includes conducting comparability analyses to determine the relatedness between AFSCs, and public sector credentials and licenses. I also lead our Veterans Resource Group (VRG) at SOLID, which aids SOLID’s veteran staff members in navigating transition challenges, accessing veteran benefits, and fostering mentorship opportunities. As a group, we also act as an advisory body, supporting both SOLID’s veteran community and the management and leadership teams company-wide by offering valuable recommendations on processes, policies, and client-related products from the military-connected perspective.
SOLID: Tell us about your work experience in the service.
Jim: During my time in the Army, I served as an Indirect Fire Infantryman, otherwise known as a Mortarman. My service was centered around Operation Iraq Freedom II. I spent the first 18 months of my enlistment going through pre-deployment training to prepare for serving in the area surrounding Abu-Ghraib in Western Baghdad. After a 14-month deployment with my platoon, we returned to Fort Hood Texas and my enlistment ended a short time thereafter.
SOLID: Tell us about Team 43 and how you became involved.
During my deployment to Iraq, my platoon and I were deeply involved in fighting the insurgency. In March of 2004, I was among many who were injured by an improvised explosive device. I learned about Team 43 in 2015 from a friend who was invited to join the previous year. Team 43 is one of the initiatives managed by the George W. Bush Presidential Institute showcasing the importance of sports as part of the rehabilitation process for those injured on the front lines through golf and mountain bike riding. President Bush is an avid mountain biker and a former golfer, and Team 43 provides post 9/11 veterans a community to heal through these sports. I’ve had the opportunity to visit President Bush’s ranch in Crawford, Texas to share some miles with him and many other teammates on multiple occasions over the past few years. President Bush is one of my all-time favorite people.
Leading the charge on a ride with Team 43 and President Bush on his ranch in Crawford, Texas. 
Jim with President Bush after a Team 43 ride. These rides are key to the program, where veterans “work together, help each other, recognize they are not alone, and re-affirm the teamwork they learned in the military is the same teamwork to sustain them in the civilian world. “ 
After an injury in March 2004 during deployment in Iraq, Jim is just one of the many veterans who have found community and healing through Team 43.
SOLID: What led you to apply for the Stand-To Veteran Leadership Program?
Jim: I’ve spent the past 15 years supporting various military-connected programs and initiatives that facilitate successful transitions for veterans. Many of my peers and colleagues that I’ve worked with during these years have participated in the Veteran Leadership Program, and they’ve had nothing but praise and recommendations for the program. As someone who values continuous improvement, personal enrichment, and lifelong learning, I couldn’t help but have a deep interest in the program. I put off applying to the program for a few years thinking that I wouldn’t be “good enough.” Last November, during our most recent trip to President Bush’s Ranch, my teammates and I had some really great conversations and they convinced me to apply. Being able to share some space with some of the brightest and best leaders who do similar work to support our military-connected population will be an awesome opportunity to pour into one another and amplify the work we do collectively. I’m extremely excited for the journey we are about to embark on!
SOLID: What are you looking forward to most, as you work with veteran-focused leaders from across the nation?
Jim: I think I’m most excited about getting to know my other cohort members and learning about the great work they are doing to better their communities across the country. Also having the opportunity to learn from some world-class leaders who will be pouring into us during the modules is very exciting to me. I hope to walk away from the program at the end with a wealth of new knowledge and skills to enhance the work that I do at SOLID, in my local community, and most importantly into the community that supports the military-connected population.
SOLID: What do you hope to bring back to your fellow SOLIDzens from this experience?
Jim: I hope that I can encourage others from SOLID to explore the Veteran Leadership Program and to have at least one SOLIDzen be a part of each cohort in the future. We have plenty of highly talented team members at SOLID (a large portion of which are also veterans) and this is a fantastic opportunity to highlight them to the rest of the country. The journey is the destination.