Crossings TV Asian Television – Home to Asian Americans
By Norman Manglicmot, Disabled Veteran Outreach Program Specialist California’s Employment Development Department
After 25 years in the US Navy, I thought I was ready for civilian life. I had served proudly as a Navy corpsman, a medic who cared for service members in every kind of situation. I had helped sailors plan their careers, mentored young recruits, and managed medical teams. I figured that after all that, the transition to a new career would be easy.
But when I took off the uniform for the last time, I found myself asking a question I never expected: what now?
Like many veterans, I discovered that the transition from military to civilian life can be disorienting. The structure, the purpose, and the sense of belonging all changed overnight. I took a few months off after retiring and realized I missed the rhythm of service. My wife, who is also a veteran, had found her second career with help from the Employment Development Department (EDD). She encouraged me to give it a try.
I joined EDD first as a part-time employment representative, helping job seekers navigate applications and connect to resources. Then, I became a Disabled Veteran Outreach Program Specialist at the Chula Vista America’s Job Center of California. Now, my mission is to help fellow veterans find meaningful employment and overcome barriers like homelessness, financial hardship, or uncertainty about their next steps.
In many ways, I’m still doing what I did in the Navy: providing guidance, structure, and encouragement. I just do it now for veterans navigating civilian life. I help them polish resumes, connect with employers, and discover training programs through EDD’s veteran services and CalJOBS, our online job search tool. And when a veteran comes in feeling lost, I help them map out a path forward.
EDD’s support for veterans goes far beyond job listings. We offer priority services for veterans and their spouses, access to job fairs, workshops, and career pathways through programs like CalVet’s California Transition Assistance Pathway (CalTAP). Across California, veterans can walk into any America’s Job Center of California and find someone ready to help.
For me, that mission is deeply personal, especially as an Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) veteran. I was born and raised in the Philippines before moving to the United States and joining the Navy. Like many in our AAPI community, whether from the Philippines, Vietnam, Korea, China, Laos, the Pacific Islands, or elsewhere, I know what it means to build a new life, to find belonging in a new country, and to start over while honoring the traditions and values we carry with us.
When I meet other AAPI veterans who feel uncertain or hesitant, I can often connect with them through shared cultural values like respect, family, perseverance, and community. Sometimes that connection comes from language, like when I speak Tagalog with Filipino veterans, or from shared experiences of migration, identity, and service that resonate across our AAPI communities.
To my fellow veterans, especially those in the AAPI community, I want you to know that help is out there. Whether you’re a first-generation immigrant or born and raised here, your service matters, and so does your future. You served your country with pride. Now it’s our turn to serve you. Visit edd.ca.gov/Veterans to learn about the programs, resources, and people ready to support your journey from service to success.