My Journey from Military to UX Designer: A Veteran’s Story

By Azriele Tingle, UI/UX Designer, BufferSprings

Leaving the Military

From military life to the world of UX design, my journey has been one of reinvention, growth, and the courage to embrace the unknown. I’m Azriele – a student, a UX designer, and a proud veteran. Reflecting on nearly two years of this transition, I often find myself amazed at how far I’ve come. In 2023, I separated from the U.S. Air Force – one of the scariest moments of my life. Walking away meant much more than just not renewing my contract. It meant I’d be skydiving without being sure if the parachute would open, but I knew staying would have been safer, not truer.

In the military, I served as a Bioenvironmental Engineer Technician (a fancy term for Occupational Health Inspector). I enjoyed my job, met incredible people, and learned a ton. But deep down, I always knew I wanted a career that tapped into my creative side and allowed me more freedom. That voice only grew louder the closer it came to my separation date.

Discovering UX Design

Less than a year before I separated, I started researching jobs that blended my love for technology, creativity, and structure. That’s when UX design stood out to me. I had no idea what a UX Designer was or what they even did. But the idea that I could create user-friendly digital experiences immediately intrigued me, and as intrigued I was, the doubt lingered and I hated the thought of starting over, especially for a career I wasn’t even sure would bring me satisfaction. However, I wasn’t at a point in my life where I could afford to doubt myself. So I dove in, learned everything I could about the field, and that night, I made a decision: becoming a UX designer was my new goal.

Finding My Breakthrough with SkillBridge

I enrolled in the Google UX Design course on Coursera, watched countless YouTube videos, and hit the ground running. At first, I was excited to be a part of the program, but over time, it began to feel too mundane. The course gave me vocabulary, theory, and plenty of assignments, but I craved hands-on experience and faster progress. Knowing the transition from military to UX would be tough, I started looking for SkillBridge opportunities to help me explore this new career path. It was time for me to stop thinking of myself as a timid UX design student but as a confident and READY learner!

After months of being ghosted, redirected, and even told to just “find an easier job,” I found a company that was willing to invest in my skills and provide real-time transition support. It seemed too good to be true, but I applied anyway, thinking, “What’s the worst that could happen?” I messaged Rob Arndt directly with no prospects of him even seeing my message, and it turned out to be the best decision I could’ve made. I could have let that recruiter’s words discourage me and settled for an easier path, but where’s the fulfillment in giving up on a dream just because it’s hard?

My Growth at BufferSprings

Once my SkillBridge was approved, I joined the BufferSprings team and was welcomed with open arms by a diverse group of veterans who were all navigating similar transitions. I wasn’t just Airman Tingle anymore, I was Azriele – the UX design intern, and a veteran with a story to tell. That liberation and recognition right there was all I needed to walk into shoes that were bigger than my own.

That recognition alone was powerful, but real growth came once I was given responsibility. Very quickly, I dove straight into assisting with projects for big partners like PepsiCo and FritoLay, tackling design challenges I never imagined I’d be a part of. Not only did I receive personalized support for my military transition, I also gained hands-on, real-world experience and created designs that directly impacted other veterans. I remember being given access to edit their website using a platform I had never touched before. The thought of making live changes terrified me. For a while, I dodged opportunities, held myself back, and let inexperience dictate my confidence. But eventually, I got to work. That’s when it hit me:

I was living the dream I had worked so hard for, but I just hadn’t realized it because I was too caught up in the moment.

Soon after diving head first into web designing and working closely with BufferSprings associates, my personal and professional growth was exponential. I regained confidence in not only my craft, but my own personal brand. The feeling of seeing my work on someone’s website was exactly what my self-esteem and confidence needed! It felt like a switch was flipped and I was no longer doing work for a certificate but I was crafting real experiences for real people! After my SkillBridge experience ended, I realized (a bit too late) that recruiters wouldn’t care that I helped on projects and earned a few certificates from Coursera. It was shattering to see that even Google themselves did not hire applicants that completed their course without a degree. I had no choice but to go back to school – something I’d been dreading but knew was my only chance at continuing my dream. Anxiously, I enrolled in the Spring semester of the next year and soon after, I was recruited back to BufferSprings as their UI/UX designer, and it’s been an incredible journey.

I’ve learned to collaborate with different teams, strategize new content, and most importantly, I’ve learned to see myself as a human navigating life and not just a veteran statistic. If I could sit down for coffee with the person I was two years ago, I’d simply applaud her. She didn’t know exactly where she was headed, but she trusted the direction, and that trust became her fuel. Life became clearer. I thank myself every chance I get for taking such a huge leap of faith by joining the BufferSprings team and going back to further my education. What seemed to be a mountain of fear is now a small ant-hill that I look back and congratulate myself for getting over.

Advice to Veterans and Spouses

To any veterans or military spouses out there who are thinking about a career pivot: trust your gut, and follow what feels right. And don’t forget to serve yourself, too, after you’ve served others.

For anyone feeling stuck or afraid of the “What’s next?” I encourage you to reach out. At BufferSprings, you’re not alone. Our entire team, including our CEO and founder Rob Arndt, has faced the same “What ifs” and come out the other side with real tools, insights, and a mission to help others do the same.