“My Transition” Story #3: Charles Payne — West Point Officer to Missionary
Charles graduated from West Point and served as an engineer officer in Afghanistan. His military service was cut short by a chance of fate that left him searching for meaning, purpose and the next mission. He’s now traveling the world as a missionary.
“Don’t be that person at age 50 who never did what you really wanted to do with your life. Be positive, figure out what you want out of life, and take steps each day to get there.”
Charles Payne is a former army engineer officer and West Point graduate. After serving 5 years in the U.S. Army, he separated and began searching for his next calling. That calling led him to a year-long Christian missions trip across 11 countries in 11 months.
DJS: Why did you join the military?
CP:
I joined the military because I wanted to serve and learn to be a leader. Also, West Point was a phenomenal engineering school and offered to pay entirely for my education in exchange for serving. That was a big factor. Lastly, I really wanted to be self-reliant and tough, so I figured West Point was the school for me.
DJS: What were the most important skills or lessons that you learned?
CP:
The most important skills I learned at West Point were time-management, how to deal with stress, how to influence people without being uptight about rules, and discipline. These came largely through the demands of my civil engineering degree, a 23-credit hour semester my junior year, and my experience as a cadet squad leader for beast barracks.
DJS: Did you know what you were going to do when you got out?
CP:
My initial plan was to apply to top-tier MBA programs or a consulting firm. But, after 6 months of working on applications and my first rejection letter, I realized I had no clue why I wanted spend $200,000 on an MBA or actually wanted to work in consulting. So, I did the one thing I knew I wanted to do — travel the world and figure out my life and faith.
DJS: Did you face any major struggles?
CP:
My biggest struggle was changed my mindset as I was being separated. In my mind, I was a failure because my career failed. I felt great shame inside. One day, an email from an HBS grad named Vik, made me realize “I’m not a mistake, I just made a mistake.” This changed my perspective completely and made me realize I still have worth. I still have a good heart. I just got lost in a nasty command climate and let my situation dictate who I was, instead being true to myself.
It’s okay that getting out (or the idea of getting out) leaves you feeling lost and unsure about life and yourself.
DJS: How did you decide to do the World Race?
CP:
I was fed up with my grad school applications. I knew I wanted to travel, take a risk, and break out of the box everyone told me I needed to live in. So, after some feedback from my Dad and Vik, I decided I was going to do something for me for a change. I put in my application, I was brutally honest about where I was at, and I was accepted.
You may need to take time off to listen to yourself, your heart, and stop everything to ask yourself important questions about life.
DJS: What did you learn on the Race?
CP:
First, I learned on the race that not everyone is a focused or driven as myself. Second, I had to learn be still and silent for long periods of time. Practicing meditating prayer made me realize how much I desired to be validated by other people and that my self-worth was still defined by what I do. I realized that until I learned to love and respect myself for who I was, is, and will be, I will never be happy.
DJS: What was the experience like?
CP:
Imagine you’re deployed and you have to jump-TOC to a new country every month. Each month you have to learn a new city, new nation of troops, new language, new transportation, etc. That’s the best analogy I know. It’s challenging, exciting, empowering, full of unknowns at every corner, yet I began to see what was constant and true about myself and God in each country.
DJS: Ups/downs/challenges?
CP:
The ups are adventure, connect deeply with your travel companions (battle buddies!), and helping people everywhere you go. Also, you get treated well in many countries. People are super friendly (especially in Asia).
The downs are immaturity, interpersonal conflict, and dealing with the rough parts of people’s past / perspective that they continue to “project” on other people. But you’re probably doing it to so it comes full circle!
DJS: What skills from the military translated into your role as a missionary?
CP:
Being able to quickly manage problems, make plans, and make decisions is a huge skill as a missionary. Things are constantly changing in developing countries, so you really have to be quick on your feet making decisions.
There is hope and purpose beyond the uniform, but this requires a massive investment in yourself and taking 100% responsibility for your life.
DJS: How did you find people around the world react when they found out you were a soldier?
CP:
Being in the military was hugely helpful when I was working with refugees in Indonesia. Many of the refugees were from Afghanistan and worked with U.S. Forces, DHL, etc. causing them to become targets of ISIS and the Taliban. We were able to connect over my service and my time in Afghanistan.
Many people very cordial and often surprised once I revealed I was in the army. It’s fun to shatter people’s perceptions and molds for ex-military.
DJS: What is your next plan?
CP:
Long-term, I want to create a transition service for unorthodox careers and life-vision following the military. Leaving the military is 100% life-style change. You need to figure out who you really are outside the uniform and the job. That’s were I want to fit.
I want to create a program to connect people to a variety of great coaches and teachers and provide vision-trips around the world. I think this will really help service members make a change, get a bigger worldview and just be happier and full of gratitude while living life. Ultimately, I hope to put dent in the number of veterans finding themselves homeless and/or committing suicide every year by helping people see life can be really great with some new perspective and positive changes to your core beliefs.
You need to figure out who you really are outside the uniform and the job.
To do that, I’ll be going to go to Mozambique for 2-months for Harvest School of Missions to expand my network and do life with people love Jesus. Then, hopefully, I’ll be connecting with a positivity consultancy in Spain while expanding my network of veterans who want to proactively prevent further loss of our brothers and sisters. I’m actually fundraising right now.
DJS: If you knew one thing before the transition process that would have made your experience easier, what would that be?
CP:
You need to look at your deep desires, passions, etc. and determine how you want to invest in yourself — what matters to you most. Chances are you live to at least 70-years old. Taking a few months to a year to evaluate the first 1/3 of your life is wise investment.
DJS: What was the hardest piece of the transition?
CP:
Being okay with uncertainty. It’s really tempting to conform to the pattern of society and let the expectations of other people run your life. Fortune 500 may be for you, but it’s definitely not for all military guys. Since I was accustomed to structure and certainty, low-risk and battle plans, I had to learn to be okay with uncertainty, believe that I can figure it out, and, if you have faith, trust that God is good and will be there with you through it all.
As you sort through your emotions and answer the tough questions, I encourage you to find positive people, do positive things, think positive thoughts, and be honest with yourself.
DJS: What one piece of advice do you have for anyone reading this?
CP:
Tim Ferriss says, “Most people will choose unhappiness over uncertainty.” Don’t be that person at age 50 who never did what you really wanted to do with your life. Be positive, figure out what you want out of life, and take steps each day to get there. Read inspirational material that helps you be positive and reject negative thoughts with everything in you.
No matter how many unknowns there are, know that there are other vets who have already transitioned who are here for you. We understand your fears and want to help. If you ever want to connect, my email is chukk.payne@gmail.com or you can follow me on medium here.
Service Details:
Charles Payne commissioned as an army engineer officer from West Point in 2011. He led 1st Platoon (Route Clearance), 34th Sapper Company, at Schofield Barracks, Hawaii before becoming an Executive Officer and deploying with 82nd Engineer Support Company to Camp Leatherneck, Afghanistan. After returning from deployment, Charles finished his service and decided to leave everything behind to spend 11 months traveling and volunteering across Africa, Europe, and Asia. His next adventure will be to Africa where he will expand his network and begin his next stages of his transition.
Top 3 Resources:
http://www.yourpositivitycoach.com
The first few chapters of the 4-Hour Work Week by Tim Ferriss
Are you interested in sharing your story of transition? Or are you a military transition specialist who would like to share some tips? Send me an email at MilitaryTransitionStories@gmail.com
The goal of this series is to bridge the military-civilian divide in three ways: 1) Highlight the incredible skills and value that military veterans of all generations and backgrounds bring into the workplace. 2) Help transitioning veterans understand their true value and therefore aim as high as possible in their employment and educational goals. 3) Discuss the common struggles, pitfalls and indicators of success in veteran transition, in order to provide better transition assistance from both military and civilian sides.
