TRUE NORTH SPOTLIGHT: DOG TAG FELLOWSHIP PROGRAM
by Leslie Parsons
If you had met Lauren Warner at the beginning of 2017 and asked her about her future career plans, she probably would have told you that she had every intention of staying right where she was—in the U.S. Army’s Public Affairs office—for the next 20 years. Lauren was four years into a five-year enlistment contract and was in the process of putting together her application for Officer Candidate School.
However, all those plans changed abruptly in May, when Lauren was forced to get a Family Hardship Separation from the Army in order to care for her husband, Seldon. Seldon Warner was also in the Army but was forced into medical retirement after treatment for a blast injurythat subsequently non-epileptic seizures that could be triggered by even small amounts of stress or anxiety.
With little warning—and even less preparation—Lauren had to leave the military to find work that she could do from home to support the couple while Seldon underwent treatment for his condition at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center. Luckily, she knew where to start looking – the Dog Tag Fellowship Program (DTFP).
If you’re not familiar with the DTFP, the program is designed to provide veterans and military spouses and caregivers with the tools, education, and resources they need to build resilience, find renewed purpose, and forge community beyond the military. Over the course of five months, Fellows participate in classes, learning labs, and hands-on experiences that challenge them to learn and develop skills crucial to success in their future careers. Through one-on-one mentorships, and workshops and coaching sessions with business leaders from a variety of industries, Fellows gain clarity and focus on what they want to achieve in their careers moving forward. The DTFP even provides Fellows with stipends to put towards their living expenses so that they can focus all their energy on successfully completing the program.
At the time she left the military, Lauren Warner was already familiar with Dog Tag Bakery—a Washington, D.C. based business that was founded by Constance Milstein and Father Nick Curry, two of the country’s leading advocates for military families, and the initial inspiration and incubator for the DTFP. However, it wasn’t the bakery’s mission that attracted Lauren’s attention, it was their coffee! A connoisseur of all things coffee, she started going to the bakery because they served her favorite brand. She soon learned about the DTFP and joined “Cohort 6,” which began in the summer of 2017.
Graduates of the DTFP leave the program with a certificate from either Georgetown University or Loyola University-Chicago, as well as a plan of action that will help them move forward with their career or even start their own business. Perhaps even more important, they leave with a Rolodex full of connections in many different industries—not only the teachers and mentors they met during the program, but their fellow students and the growing number of Dog Tag alumni.
It was this network that helped Lauren find her footing after she graduated from the DTFP. Prior to joining the Army, she earned a bachelor’s degree in journalism and, thanks to the experience she gained in the military and the training she received in the DTFP, she was able to start offering marketing and social media services to fellow DTFP alums. This “gig work” gave her the income she needed to support herself and her husband, as well as the flexibility she needed to help Seldon through his journey toward recovery. “It (DTFP) was a nice landing pad for both of us.” Lauren says. “It gave me a little bit of space to try to figure out what I wanted to do.” Today, Lauren has found a way to combine two of her biggest loves—writing and coffee—by running the blog for Black Rifle Coffee Company.
The DTFP continues to have an impact on Lauren’s life. Immediately upon her graduation, Lauren joined the mentorship program and now provides support and guidance to Fellows who are going through the program. She also hosts a Learning Lab, where she helps DTFP students hone their job search and networking skills on LinkedIn. By 2018, Seldon Warner had recovered enough from his injuries to be able to join DTFP’s Cohort 8.
Since opening its doors to its first class in 2014, the DTFP has welcomed 18 cohorts at its Washington, D.C. and Chicago locations. The program boasts a 92% graduation rate and, at the time this is being written, there are 213 alumni.
While Dog Tag might not be right for everyone, Lauren encourages transitioning veterans and those about to leave military service to take advantage of programs like the DTFP. “You’re hardwired a certain way after you go through the military and figuring out a way to function differently can be really tricky. …Programs like Dog Tag are a great opportunity and everyone should take advantage of them because they’re going to give you the support that you need not only during your transition, but after.The network isn’t going anywhere.”
The Dog Tag Fellowship Program is currently accepting applications for its next cohort. If you or someone you know is interested, click here to learn more. Applications must be received by March 31, 2023.
The True North Foundation is proud to support the Dog Tag Fellowship Program. If you’d like to learn more about the work we do with organizations that serve the veteran community, please sign up for our newsletter. If you found this article to be helpful, please consider sharing it with your friends and family.