Why Veterans Are the Future of Work in the Age of AI

Artificial intelligence is reshaping the workforce at a dizzying pace. From entry-level applications to creative industries, AI is making many wonder: what jobs will be left for humans in the next decade? In a recent conversation, Scott Schimmel and Joe Lara unpacked this very question, weaving together stories of Gen Z job seekers, Coast Guard rescue missions, and the enduring wisdom veterans carry with them into civilian life. Their conclusion was both hopeful and challenging: the future of work won’t be defined by muscles or brains, but by heart.

The Shifting Landscape of Work

Scott shared a story that resonates with many young people today. “I just listened to a podcast about Gen Z and the workplace,” he said, “and it was interviewing this young woman from San Diego State who applied to something like 700 jobs over the course of 11 months. And it wasn’t until 11 months that she finally found an unpaid internship.”

That struggle highlights how broken the traditional job pipeline feels. Entry-level jobs often demand one to three years of experience, creating a frustrating chicken-and-egg scenario. Pair that with the disruptions of AI, and the job market feels less secure than ever.

Muscles, Brains, and the Heart

Joe brought in a quote that framed the discussion: “In the past, jobs were about muscles. Now they’re about brains. But in the future, they’ll be about the heart.” The line, attributed to Manusha Shafik, struck Scott deeply: “Ooh, I’ve not heard that before. I would remember that. It’s good for you and I. We’re gonna cling to that. I have no muscles, very little brain. I think I had a lot of heart.”

It’s a humorous exchange, but the truth runs deep. Muscle jobs defined the industrial era. Knowledge jobs defined the information age. But as AI begins to replicate (and in some cases surpass) human brainpower, what remains distinctively human are empathy, creativity, wisdom, and authentic leadership—the things that come from the heart.

What’s AI-Proof?

Scott recalled a story of a young man who started as a junior lifeguard and found his purpose. He now serves in Coast Guard special operations, performing hurricane rescues. “It’s the small team that goes in,” Scott explained. “And you think, that’s AI proof. Unless little drones come in, like pick people up. I could imagine that.”

Joe laughed at the image of oversized drones plucking people from floodwaters, but his point was clear: many human roles that depend on courage, compassion, and quick judgment can’t be automated away. Similarly, Joe shared about his son who pursued music at Berklee College of Music. At one point, he feared AI would make musicians irrelevant. But Joe reminded him, “We’re going to see live musicians on stage. We’re not going to see AI perform. I want to see somebody put their brush to the canvas.”

Veterans understand this tension. They know what it means to operate under high stakes, where human connection, trust, and courage are non-negotiable. Those qualities are hard-wired into their experience—and they’re the same qualities workplaces will increasingly need.

Veterans Lead With Heart

This is where veterans stand out. Joe explained, “A lot of non-veterans will have an image that veterans are robotic. They follow orders. They do what they’re told. What people fail to see is that there’s still this human element… when the stress is really high, when the stakes are really high, that’s where I’ve seen leadership really come to light and care.”

He contrasted that with civilian workplaces, where disengagement often runs high. Gallup’s surveys regularly show that many employees feel disconnected from their work. Veterans, however, bring a different ethos. They’ve lived in environments where people are treated as the number one resource, where belonging and support are more than slogans. As Joe put it: “Because there’s so much at stake, it’s different. And I think that molded shapes individuals like you would not believe.”

Wisdom Beyond the Algorithm

Another critical distinction is wisdom. Scott noted, “You might have AI be able to be the brains, but it cannot necessarily understand what’s wise. So you can ask it to analyze everything, but what is the wisest course of action? That’s where you need humans.” Wisdom, built from lived experience, is something veterans bring in abundance.

Joe expanded on that idea: “Wisdom is based off of people’s experiences. If AI is not quite living, it’s just observing other people’s experiences. Can it really give true wisdom, or is it just collecting and gathering, which could be totally misguided?”

The Veteran Advantage in the Future of Work

The future of work isn’t just about surviving automation. It’s about building workplaces that thrive on authenticity, empathy, and leadership. Veterans are uniquely positioned to help shape this future because their service has already forged these capacities. They understand belonging, they’ve practiced authentic leadership under stress, and they know what it means to live with purpose.

In a world increasingly run by algorithms, veterans remind us of what can’t be automated: heart. As Scott concluded, “It does circle back, of course, to the self-discovery process that Vector guides veterans through—to sift the good from the bad and lead with clarity.”

And maybe, just maybe, that’s the real AI-proof career path: veterans leading the way, showing the workforce of tomorrow how to work—and live—with heart.