What is your strongest trait that you developed in the military, and how would you explain it to leverage it in a civilian interview?

Patience!  As a SNCO, I teach young student pilots in the areas of UH-60 academics, and cockpit procedure training.  After having crewed almost 2500 hours with experienced rated aviators, I am now teaching pilots with zero time in the Blackhawk.  I constantly have to remind myself that everyone starts somewhere, and I am at the beginning of their career.

I would say that mine is the ability to be flexible. I can adapt to almost any situation presented to me with limited issues.

For me it is leadership.  And leadership is not just about being out front.  It works on both sides of the equation.  Civilian employers like the idea of leadership, but I've noted in my employment history that they tend to get a little nervous when you oversell the concept of leading an organization; as if you are going to come in guns-blazing and try to take over the culture.  A reassurance in many cases is to highight how you can help lead from within by applying your keen problem solving capabilities born in an environment where ambiguity is a daily event.  It's okay to follow, because then it allows you to ingest that culture, observe and help formulate strategies to improve the operating conditions.  Planting that seed as a quiet leader can be an incredible tool.   Letting others see you supporting them by following their lead will help to gain that trust and build your own brand equity to go out and start proactively affecting the job.  Highlight how you've helped in both roles to let them see the balance, and moreover, your potential!