Uploaded February 2026 | Updated September 2026, 2 weeks ago
Joshua Celis, Marine Corps Combat Veteran, in Episode 236 of the Transition Drill Podcast, shares his 23 year career, combat deployments, and transition, where he explains the emotional and practical challenges of stepping away from the uniform, the importance of early preparation, education, and networking, and the reality that senior rank doesn’t automatically translate to civilian success.
Josh was raised between Houston and a tiny East Texas town got pulled out of a rough track, found structure through sports, and then chose the Marine Corps when college felt out of reach. From the start, Joshua’s story is about momentum, consequences, and learning the hard way that “I don’t have time” usually means “it’s not my priority.”
He talks about early fleet life in communications, including getting shot in the head in while stationed in Hawaii that exposed how differently the military handled injuries back then and what he’d do as a senior leader looking back. From there, his career builds: deployments that came faster after 9/11, a first Iraq deployment in 2005, and then as a sergeant, leading in Afghanistan, advising Afghan Army counterparts while managing the pressure that comes with real responsibility. He also talks about the “yin yang” of recruiting duty in Houston, returning to the operating forces, and how key mentors and leaders shaped the way he led Marines as he moved into senior ranks.
The second half of the conversation is all transition. Joshua explains why he started planning earlier than most, how education and certifications changed his options, and why senior leaders often need the most space to detach and reset. He breaks down SkillBridge honestly, including what didn’t work, the stress of rejection, and how networking, making friends, and showing up in person is what finally landed him a role in San Diego with Northrop Grumman. He lays out what he’d do differently, what most people underestimate, and what actually carries you through when the uniform comes off.
CONNECT WITH THE PODCAST:
Instagram: instagram.com/paulpantani
WEBSITE: transitiondrillpodcast.com
LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/paulpantani
SIGN-UP FOR THE NEWSLETTER:
transitiondrillpodcast.com/home#about
QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS:
paul@transitiondrillpodcast.com
EPISODE BLOG PAGE AND CONNECT WITH ANTONIO:
transitiondrillpodcast.com/post/transition-drill-podcast-marine-corps-combat-engineer-to-wounded-warrior-project-antonio-bonfiglio
SPONSORS:
GRND Collective
Get 15% off your purchase
Link: thegrndcollective.com
Promo Code: TRANSITION15
Blue Line Roasting
Get 10% off your purchase
Link: bluelineroasting.com
Promocode: Transition10
Frontline Optics
Get 10% off your purchase
Link: frontlineoptics.com
Promocode: Transition10
#transitiondrillpodcast #militarytransition #firstresponders
Joshua Celis, Marine Corps Combat Veteran, in Episode 236 of the Transition Drill Podcast, shares his 23 year career, combat deployments, and transition, where he explains the emotional and practical challenges of stepping away from the uniform, the importance of early preparation, education, and networking, and the reality that senior rank doesn’t automatically translate to civilian success.
Josh was raised between Houston and a tiny East Texas town got pulled out of a rough track, found structure through sports, and then chose the Marine Corps when college felt out of reach. From the start, Joshua’s story is about momentum, consequences, and learning the hard way that “I don’t have time” usually means “it’s not my priority.”
He talks about early fleet life in communications, including getting shot in the head in while stationed in Hawaii that exposed how differently the military handled injuries back then and what he’d do as a senior leader looking back. From there, his career builds: deployments that came faster after 9/11, a first Iraq deployment in 2005, and then as a sergeant, leading in Afghanistan, advising Afghan Army counterparts while managing the pressure that comes with real responsibility. He also talks about the “yin yang” of recruiting duty in Houston, returning to the operating forces, and how key mentors and leaders shaped the way he led Marines as he moved into senior ranks.
The second half of the conversation is all transition. Joshua explains why he started planning earlier than most, how education and certifications changed his options, and why senior leaders often need the most space to detach and reset. He breaks down SkillBridge honestly, including what didn’t work, the stress of rejection, and how networking, making friends, and showing up in person is what finally landed him a role in San Diego with Northrop Grumman. He lays out what he’d do differently, what most people underestimate, and what actually carries you through when the uniform comes off.
CONNECT WITH THE PODCAST:
Instagram: instagram.com/paulpantani
WEBSITE: transitiondrillpodcast.com
LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/paulpantani
SIGN-UP FOR THE NEWSLETTER:
transitiondrillpodcast.com/home#about
QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS:
paul@transitiondrillpodcast.com
EPISODE BLOG PAGE AND CONNECT WITH ANTONIO:
transitiondrillpodcast.com/post/transition-drill-podcast-marine-corps-combat-engineer-to-wounded-warrior-project-antonio-bonfiglio
SPONSORS:
GRND Collective
Get 15% off your purchase
Link: thegrndcollective.com
Promo Code: TRANSITION15
Blue Line Roasting
Get 10% off your purchase
Link: bluelineroasting.com
Promocode: Transition10
Frontline Optics
Get 10% off your purchase
Link: frontlineoptics.com
Promocode: Transition10
#transitiondrillpodcast #militarytransition #firstresponders
