How Veterans Are Finding Community and Purpose on the Water

Boating season is officially here, and while the thrill of being on the open water appeals to millions, it can be especially appealing to veterans.

Recreationally, the peacefulness and tranquility of boating offer several mental health benefits, along with opportunities for a successful transition out of the service for veterans looking for work in the boating industry.

Veterans at Brunswick Corporation, a Tampa-based company, told Military.com they found a strong sense of camaraderie and purpose working for the large boating manufacturer, home to brands such as Boston Whaler, Mercury Marine, Sea Ray and Bayliner.

“We employ a strong veteran population across the company, supported by the Brunswick Veterans Network, our employee resource group that connects veterans, military families and allies while advancing their impact across the workforce,” said Michelle Voss, director of global communications and public relations at Brunswick.

Voss emphasized three key factors that make jobs in recreational boating attractive to veterans:

1. A mission-driven, team-first culture that often mirrors their military experience
2. Leadership and technical aptitude sharpened in the service converts well to engineering, manufacturing and operational roles.
3. The opportunities to get on the water and run a boat, leaving the stress of everyday life behind.

Transition to Boating

For Stacy Adams, senior director of human resources at Brunswick, pivoting from 21 years in the Air Force to several HR positions in the civilian world was a fairly smooth transition.

But when Brunswick came calling with an offer to join its team in 2024, it was too good to pass up, offering an all-encompassing HR element. The opportunity also allowed Adams and her husband to move back to their beloved Tennessee, with plenty of winding rivers to enjoy time on the water.

Transitioning from a long military career to the civilian workforce, Adams found that having supporting co-workers around her was extremely important.

“You have to have a buddy, and that’s a big deal in all branches of the military,” she said. “Having someone to lean on, to ask questions and to learn from makes a huge difference during that initial transition.”

Like Adams, Randy Ashby, director of operations at Land-N-Sea, spent 21 years in the military, retiring as an Army major in 2015. Ashby was deployed overseas five times, including two times each to the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan.

“The deployments were a struggle at times, but that’s when you really find out who you are,” Ashby told Military.com. “Being away from family is tough, especially with my Afghanistan deployments when my kids were born. But the most rewarding piece was meeting the people. I still keep in touch with a lot of my soldiers. I’m really proud of the friendships I made in my 21 years.”

After spending time with two other companies, Ashby moved to Brunswick searching for a chance to grow and learn new skills.

“This was right around the time of the pandemic, and a lot of people were getting outdoors, whether that was in a boat, RV, things like that, so I felt that was a really good thing to get into, being able to get something with a stable company. Brunswick and Mercury Marine have been around a long time,” Ashby said. “(Boating) provides a valuable resource for people, getting out on the water in different ways, whether you’re skiing, fishing or just hanging out with family and friends on a boat. It all provides a break from the day-to-day grind that everybody has to deal with.”

Having been diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder, Ashby was able to learn how to relax again through boating.

“It’s just so peaceful,” he said. “I’ve found that veterans who want to stay active find an outlet. That’s where the biggest benefit is. You have to make sure you take some downtime.”

Scott Sorenson, a former Army captain, serves as director of site procurement at Mercury Marine and leads the Brunswick Veterans Network. Sorenson, who served in the Army from 2002-2009, often uses boating as a fun, relaxing time with family.

“Getting out there with family, experience the solitude, it’s time well-spent,” Sorenson told Military.com. “I’ve got three kids, and we’ve recently bought a boat through our employee purchase program, so you have the fun of learning something new, getting your kids out there and passing on an experience that you learned from your parents.”