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A Taking Stock Mission: Transition

s you take stock of 2015 and establish your priorities for 2016, ask yourself: “What have I

learned in the past year, and how could it make a difference in my personal and my professional life?” The first step is to identify areas in

which you want to achieve results. At work, these areas will converge where you have implicit responsibility, such as strategic planning, staff development, or asset management. In addition, everyone has aspirations in their personal lives that might include family, fitness, spirituality, and finances to consider. Within these areas of emphasis, it’s im- portant for goals to be specific, yet achiev- able within the constraints of your life.

High-Tech Armor

The time required to compose and edit your personal and professional goals will add clarity to your thinking. Plus, having your goals in writing will make it easier for you to assess your progress, reaffirm your intentions, and make adjustments. “Make a conscious effort to do some- thing about [your goals] on a regular basis,” advises executive coach George Hollenbeck. “Tell other people, and gen- erate some social pressure to keep your- self on track.” Finally, consider that the most valu- able part of the process is the time you devote to reflect on your life and what’s really important. — Capt. Jim Carman, USN (Ret), director, MOAA Transition Center

The Tactical Assault Light Operator Suit (TALOS), a light- weight body-armor exoskeleton that will allow soldiers to carry heavier loads, will include special tech- nology to monitor the wearer’s vital signs, better data processing, and improved sensory capabilities, according to researchers with

the U.S. Special Op- erations Command at MacDill AFB, Fla. A functioning pro-

totype is expected to be available for testing by 2018, reports Mike Fieldson, who managed the TALOS project dur- ing its early stages. In addition to pro-

tecting soldiers, TALOS also might have civilian applications, including assisting paralyzed in- dividuals with walking as well as other activi- ties of daily living. — Don Vaughan

IMAGES: ABOVE, KELLY LEIGH MLLER; RIGHT, U.S. ARMY

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