How did Johnny Cash go from the Air Force to a music legend?

Johnny Cash. Air Force Cold War radio intercept operator who became one of the best-selling musicians in history, with more than 90 million records sold.

In the military

Enlisted July 7, 1950 (age 18) at the start of the Korean War; basic training at Lackland AFB and technical training at Brooks AFB, Texas; Morse code intercept operator with the 12th Radio Squadron Mobile, U.S. Air Force Security Service, Landsberg, West Germany, monitoring Soviet Army transmissions; honorably discharged as a Staff Sergeant on July 3, 1954.

The transition

• Before leaving the service he wrote to Arkansas Congressman Ezekiel Gathings asking about a civilian job with the National Security Agency, and got a reply saying his chances looked favorable.
• Formed a band with fellow airmen in Landsberg (the Landsberg Barbarians).
• After discharge in 1954 he moved to Memphis, sold appliances and studied to become a radio announcer, while playing at night with Luther Perkins and Marshall Grant.
• Auditioned at Sun Records in 1955, less than a year after discharge; his first recordings, ‘Hey Porter’ and ‘Cry! Cry! Cry!’, charted on the country charts.
• Never left the military community behind: toured for troops, including Vietnam, and performed for President Nixon in 1970.

What came next

• Sold more than 90 million records worldwide.
• Inducted into 5 halls of fame: Nashville Songwriters (1977), Country Music (1980), Rock and Roll (1992), Gospel Music (2010), Memphis Music (2013).
• Kennedy Center Honors (1996) and National Medal of Arts (2002).

In Cash’s own words

“[The military] taught me the things every military service imparts to its enlisted men, Plus one skill that’s pretty unusual: if you ever need to know what one Russian is signaling to another in Morse code, I’m your man.” (From Johnny Cash’s official website)

“I was the ace. I was who they called when the hardest jobs came up. I copied the first news of Stalin’s death.” (Cash: The Autobiography)

“I went to support our guys, because I loved them so much. I know they didn’t want to be there, which is why I went over myself.” (On performing for troops in Vietnam; HuffPost)

“Pretty soon June, [guitarist and singer/songwriter] Carl Perkins and I were doing seven and eight shows a day, sometimes for only 10 people in a hospital ward.” (On the Vietnam tour with June Carter and Carl)

“We pray, Mr. President, that you can end this war in Vietnam sooner than you hope or think it can be done” (Spoken to President Richard Nixon at the)

Lessons for your own transition

• Specialised military skill is not the only asset you leave with: Cash had a top-secret trade but built his civilian life on a passion he had practiced on the side while serving.
• Take the bridge job: he sold appliances and trained as a radio announcer while working on music at night, and got his break within a year.
• Keep a plan B and a network: he lined up a possible NSA job through his congressman before discharge, even as he pursued music.

More veterans who made the leap

See them all, and practical steps for leaving after a long career: How do I transition from the military to civilian work after 30 years?.