A Calling Inspired by Family Legacy
Parker Furnish saw the military as a way to serve others while building a meaningful future — one that could also open the door to higher education. Drawn to the opportunity for both personal and professional growth, he also felt a strong pull towards a career in medicine. When it came time to choose a branch, a deeply personal family story helped shape his decision.
During World War II, Furnish’s grandfather was injured in combat and treated by a Navy Hospital Corpsman — an experience he rarely spoke about, but one that left a lasting impression. Inspired by that legacy of care and courage, Furnish decided to follow in those footsteps. In 2014, he enlisted in the Navy as a Hospital Corpsman, ready to give back in the same way that Corpsman had once helped his grandfather.
Facing the Transition to Civilian Life
Furnish spent the next decade of his life serving others, thriving in the structured environment of the military, supporting his fellow servicemembers and making a meaningful impact. But when it came time to transition out of the military and return home to his wife and child, the road ahead held new and unfamiliar challenges.
“The transition piece wasn’t too difficult for me,” Furnish shared. “But for others, it can be extremely difficult.” Still, he admits the early days of civilian life weren’t without their struggles. “In the first few months of getting out, I did miss the military structure. Your day’s planned out for you. You know as soon as you wake up what you’re going to do.”
One of his biggest struggles was translating his military experience into similar civilian jobs. “There really isn’t a good civilian equivalent to what a Corpsman does,” he said.
Finding Support Through KY VALOR
That disconnect between military and civilian careers is what pushed him to reach out to veteran job placement programs in Ohio, Indiana and Kentucky. That’s when he connected with KY VALOR.
“They responded to me within a week,” Furnish recalled. “Luckily, KY VALOR helped a lot with my resume in kind of pinpointing what a civilian employer is looking for, and how I speak to a job description.”
Through KY VALOR, Furnish connected with St. Elizabeth Healthcare, and within just one month of leaving the military, he landed a new role in civilian healthcare.
Now, Furnish is thriving with a non-traditional work schedule that allows him to attend college classes while maintaining a full-time job. “They’ve really worked around my schedule,” he said of St. Elizabeth. “Just having good communication with them has really helped me out.” Looking ahead, Furnish plans to join the Air Force Reserve and eventually earn a master’s degree in nursing — paving the way for a career as a nurse practitioner.
Supporting Fellow Veterans and Their Families
Furnish has some advice for fellow veterans — and their families — who are navigating the same transition. “Utilize the resources at KY VALOR for your spouse as well,” he emphasized. “They’ll look at what work experience your spouse may have, whatever extracurriculars, and they’ll help write a resume. They’ll get you in contact with people who can get you certificates for free.”
He also recommends giving yourself time to adjust to civilian life.
“It’s ok to recognize, ‘Hey, this is harder than I thought it was going to be,’ because transitioning is very hard, especially if you’re single or joined [the service] straight out of high school. That’s all you’ve known for your adult life. It can be difficult, but it’s not impossible. Just start early and work hard.”
Fortunately, Furnish didn’t have to face his transition alone. With his family by his side and KY VALOR in his corner, he was able to find his next calling.