Posted on Apr 2, 2014

Transition Gaps - What are your thoughts and experience?

SFC Rich Carey

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Typically the transition problems are addressed as
Veterans as a whole.

Does someone that joins the military and leaves
after 3 years have the same transition problems as someone that leaves after 20
years of service?

For example, the person that served 3 or 4 years
do they really have the same issues someone that stays 8 to 10 years or someone
has more than 20 years? What is different someone joining for 3 years and
leaving compare to someone that works for a company and leaves after 3 years?

Should we be addressing each category differently?
One difference I can think of that is different is age and another is experience
level. The longer you stay in the military the further removed you are from the
civilian workforce is another example.

(I am not stating that someone that serves 3 years
deserve less services, just different targeted services)

What are your thoughts and experience?

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Transition

Posted 10 y ago

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Responses: 3

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CAPT Bob Bechill

Posted 10 y ago

The transition can be tough on anyone at any rank. What worked for me was to take the What Color is Your Parachute book (still the best job hunting book out there) and really do the homework on myself and figure out what would "float my boat" when I got out. Going through that single book alone and doing the exercises really helped me hone in on a career that would make me happy.

I found that by doing the exercises, it helped me as I wrote my own resume (I would never recommend that you farm resume preparation out unless you flat out can't type) and also I was much better prepared to handle just about any interview question thrown at me.

Now, everything did not turn out perfectly. I did bounce around for a time but when I finally gave into my true self and calling (higher education as it turns out), I found a very second career.

I also learned how to "tone it" down. I was plenty desperate when I got out and people that I networked with could sense it almost as soon as I alked into a room. When I relaxed and got people to talk about what they did for a living, that's when I really started to gain friends who helped me on my own hunt. My first job in higher education came while I was in the midst of a 10 mile run with a retired Marine. I'm still am thankful for the time and advice he gave me as we slogged through to the end.

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SSG William Patton

Posted 10 y ago

The military is a total institution and as such, the longer a member stays, the more difficult it can be to make the transition to civilian life. There are also other variables that can factor into this process that can make it difficult regardless of time in service. I know when I left the military after three years, I had a helluva time making that transition. However, I left a combat zone and within 48 hours was a civilian at home and there I was expected to pick up my life where I left off before enlisting. My problem was two fold. First, I enlisted right out of high school and thus did not have any idea what I was going to do, expect join the Army. I had no point of reference to pickup on. I thought about going to college, but was not ready to meet those issues and therefore I went to work. I went through several jobs before finding my niche and ironically, it was another total institution, the police department. Only after several years and joining the active Army Reserve, did I realize I was missing the discipline and routine the military provided. I think we are seeing a similar problem with soldiers and other service members having difficulty making that transition today. The suicide problem is epidemic and I think multiple tours in combat zones and a lack of direction upon ETS is creating serious problems for young service members who need the structure the military provides and cannot find their niche as a civilian. Thus, they become hopeless and see no other way out.

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MSG Wade Huffman

Posted 10 y ago

The current policy of "one size fits all" is as a result of mandatory transition programs. It is definitely NOT the perfect program, but that can't possibly be achieved unless the programs can be tailored to each individual.

I'm not sure that segmenting 'tracks' by years of service would be the answer either. I have known many service members who separated with 3-4 years of service who are well above average on their transition plan and abilities and many in the same year group who had absolutely no plan at all. The same statement would also apply to more senior personnel that I have worked with.

Again, the best improvement would be tailored services; but I can't see the service branches being able to provide that anytime soon.

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SFC Rich Carey

10 y

I agree with you, however I can start here and provide an example. Something else that I have always thought is you should start planning your exit a lot sooner, but we put things off until the last minute. If we really want to take care of our service members, we should set them up for success. One way to do that is the transition period should start the day you enter however that won't fly. But, we can start feeding someone information 2 years out from their expected end date. I use to do that and found that most would stay because they realized they didn't have a plan and was going to wing it. If you had a plan in place, I would congratulate them and open the door.

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Transition Gaps - What are your thoughts and experience?

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