Former army captain Paul Alcorn now helps develop the workforce at Staffordshire County Council, carrying forward his decades of military leadership and training experience into the public sector.
His service took him across continents – from the prairies of Canada to the jungles of Southeast Asia – and included multiple operational tours in conflict zones. Like many of his generation, he shouldered deployments in places such as Iraq and Afghanistan, gaining invaluable experience under pressure.
Yet after decades of moving wherever duty called, Alcorn reached a personal turning point. “I was looking for a change that would allow me to settle down with my family,” he recalls. In 2024, as he approached his mid-40s, the long-serving captain made the life-changing decision to hang up his uniform and build a more stable life back home in Staffordshire.
Leaving the army after a quarter-century of service was both exciting and daunting. Alcorn knew he had achieved much in his military career – from leading troops to managing complex operations – but stepping into civilian life meant starting over in many ways.
He was returning to a home community he had rarely seen for more than a few months at a time. Moreover, he wondered how to translate a résumé filled with infantry commands and overseas tours into something that civilian employers would understand. After so many years in a structured military environment, the freedom of civilian life came with an unexpected question: What’s my next mission?
Finding purpose beyond the uniform
For Alcorn, the initial transition to civilian life proved challenging. “The army was a life-changing, fulfilling experience giving me the opportunity to learn lots of skills and gain lots of qualifications. I knew I had lots of soft skills, I just needed help and the opportunity to transfer them to other areas of work,” he says, reflecting on that period of self-discovery. Like many long-serving veterans, he discovered that translating military-gained skills into the civilian job market wasn’t straightforward.
Leadership, discipline, problem-solving under pressure – these were second nature to him, yet he realised civilian employers might not immediately see how a former Army captain’s experience could fit their needs. Alcorn was determined to prove that his talents could benefit his community, but he wasn’t sure where to begin.
A few months after leaving the forces, in August 2024, the 46-year-old veteran from Stafford turned to a local initiative for guidance. He connected with the Staffordshire Jobs & Careers Service – a council-run program dedicated to helping residents find new employment – and found exactly the support he needed. The career advisors there provided one-on-one coaching on how to change careers, along with practical help updating his CV and honing his interview skills.
Importantly, the staff understood the value veterans bring. “The Staffordshire Jobs & Careers Service was very welcoming… They gave me a real supportive veterans vibe which encouraged me to join the council,” Alcorn notes.
Buoyed by this encouragement, he began to see a future for himself in the public sector. After conversations with the council’s Talent and Resourcing team, Alcorn was intrigued by an opening in the Learning and Organisational Development department – an area where his army experience as a trainer and mentor could prove invaluable. With growing confidence, he put in an application. Following a successful interview, he was offered the job and officially started his new role in January 2025.
Thriving in local government service
Stepping into a civilian leadership role in local government felt like a natural next chapter for Alcorn. In his new position with the council’s Learning & Organisational Development team, he helps design and deliver training programs to develop the skills of council employees.
In many ways, it’s not so different from the work he did in the army training young officers and soldiers – except now his “troops” are fellow public servants. He brings to the job the same strengths that served him well in the military: clear decision-making, a disciplined work ethic, and a knack for leadership under pressure.
These qualities have given him an edge in the public sector, where complex bureaucracies and high-accountability environments can intimidate those not used to them. Veterans like Alcorn, however, often transition well into structured organisations with clear chains of command. “I really enjoy the job,” he says simply, grateful for the sense of purpose it’s restored to his daily life.
One big difference he’s noticed is the improved work-life balance. After years of 5am physical trainings, overseas deployments, and weekend duties, Alcorn now cherishes the more predictable routine that comes with a civilian job. Many public sector roles offer stable hours and a focus on employee wellbeing, which has helped him settle into a healthy rhythm at home.
Even as he traded his camouflage uniform for a business casual attire, he found that the mission-first mindset remained the same. In the army he served Queen and country; now he serves his local community. Whether he’s planning a staff development workshop or rolling out a new training initiative, he approaches it with the methodical planning and team-focused attitude ingrained in him by military service. Alcorn also enjoys the collaborative spirit among his civilian colleagues.
He notes that the council, much like an army unit, operates on teamwork and trust. If anything, he’s found that his presence has had a positive influence – his colleagues appreciate the fresh perspective and calm under pressure that a veteran brings, especially when tackling the council’s big projects and organisational challenges.
Encouraging fellow veterans
Now thriving in his second career, Captain Alcorn is passionate about paying it forward to the veteran community. He knows first-hand how daunting it can be for long-serving military personnel to imagine life beyond the barracks. To help others see the possibilities, he often shares his own story – at workshops, networking events, or even just over coffee with former comrades. His message to other service leavers is simple: your skills and experience are more valuable than you think.
The discipline, leadership, adaptability and sense of duty drilled into you in the military are exactly what many civilian employers – especially in the public sector – are looking for. Alcorn points to his example as living proof that ex-forces personnel can not only find their place in civilian life, but excel there.
“I’d urge others to get in touch with the team… Without this programme, I might not have found work,” he says, crediting the veteran support initiative for helping launch his new career. By urging fellow veterans to seek out support and consider public service roles, he is continuing to live by the principle of leave no one behind.
Ultimately, Paul Alcorn’s journey from the battlefield to the council office exemplifies how military skills can seamlessly fuel success in civilian roles. He has discovered that leaving the Armed Forces didn’t mean leaving behind the ethos of service. Instead, it was an opportunity to serve in a different way. The public sector has given him a new mission and a renewed sense of belonging – “a chance to serve again, this time in a different uniform but with the same sense of purpose”.
From leading troops to leading training for a local government team, Captain Alcorn’s story stands as inspiration for all veterans looking to build meaningful second careers. With resilience, the right support, and a willingness to reinvent oneself, life after service can be every bit as rewarding as life in uniform.
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