Anyone ever feel like getting out of the Army, but feel scared because you think there's nothing in the civilian side?

SPC Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 20 May 2016 14:53:50 -0400

Response by SGT David T. made May 20 at 2016 3:00 PM

SGT David T. — Fri, 20 May 2016 15:00:25 -0400

I felt that way before I got out. Had a wise NCO tell me, millions of Americans make it everyday on the outside. He was right, with a small caveat. There is plenty of opportunity as a civilian if you do the things that you need to in order to achieve it. Get an education, grab an entry level position and work your way up. No one will hand it to you and the safety net is clipped once you're out. The civilian world is a harsh and unforgiving place, but then again so is the military. That being said, I am much happier as a civilian than I was as a Soldier.

Response by Sgt Private RallyPoint Member made May 20 at 2016 3:17 PM

Sgt Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 20 May 2016 15:17:51 -0400

SPC Private RallyPoint Member You should do something that excites you. You should wake up each morning looking forward to going to work and accomplishing something. Is there a job in the civilian world that you want to do? Do you have the necessary skills and education for that career? If not, obtain them. When I was discharged, I worked at a job and went to college full time. Once I had my degree, I started work at my dream job.

Response by SGT Laura Delgadillo made May 20 at 2016 3:19 PM

SGT Laura Delgadillo — Fri, 20 May 2016 15:19:34 -0400

I'm fighting that right now

Response by SPC Mason Butler made May 20 at 2016 3:40 PM

SPC Mason Butler — Fri, 20 May 2016 15:40:52 -0400

Heres the thing, As long as you have that Honorable tag on your discharge, companies want to hire you more than they want to hire college graduates.

Response by SPC Howard Keibler made May 20 at 2016 4:46 PM

SPC Howard Keibler — Fri, 20 May 2016 16:46:36 -0400

The Best Advise and can give is, Get your E5 if your close to it, get some collage done if not at least an associates degree. being an SGT show you were at the least a supervisor, which will help in your job skills category on your resume. There are a lot of programs that can help you when your out. but having a degree and E5 will help land a better job.

Response by SPC Private RallyPoint Member made May 20 at 2016 4:53 PM

SPC Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 20 May 2016 16:53:26 -0400

It's all what you make of it. The Army can be good, but being a civilian defiantly has benefits as well.

If you want out, I'd personally recommend going to school. The great thing about the Post 9/11 GI Bill is it pays for more than just traditional 4 year college degree plans.

Just remember, there won't be an NCO to break you off or keep you motivated to study... Or make you come to work on time.... Or cover for you when you just need to Dick around and avoid 1SG. It really is a transition from a team with set structure, to a do as you please, when you please way of life; that's where a lot of veterans have the most trouble transitioning.

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made May 20 at 2016 5:04 PM

SFC Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 20 May 2016 17:04:36 -0400

I got out after my first 3 years Vietnam Vet. Applied for many entry level HR positions in the mid 70's and was told why should we hire you, as we can hire a female and pay less. Hearing that several times that I made a decision to enlist again and make it a career. I think that opportunities are much better and much more equal now. Also you need to prepare for your re-entrance into civilian life, education and certifications are a big plus.

Response by MSG Pat Colby made May 20 at 2016 5:13 PM

MSG Pat Colby — Fri, 20 May 2016 17:13:01 -0400

This kinda ties in with the other thread regarding Pension programs. My Father retired from the Marines, E-7 with 20 years. I retired from the Army, E-8 with 24+ years. I have (at least) two Nephews that are Marines. The two both came to me for Counsel at their 6/7 year mark. After smacking them upside the head a couple of times for even thinking about leaving, I shared a few drinks and laid out the advantages of staying in for their 20. They are both now on the downhill slide and intend to bail as soon as they reach the magical Pension.

Over my years in, I have talked MANY people into staying in. Here's my standard line and my best advice to anyone that would listen. ~ I want you to go to any VFW or American Legion and talk to a bunch of those Vets. Many of them did a 4/5/6 year stint and got out because the Military sucked ass and they thought the grass would be greener outside of a Uniform. I ABSOLUTELY guarantee you that 90% of them Vets will confess to kicking themselves in the ass for not staying in. Upon honest reflection, some will admit of unsuitability.

Right now, in today's Army I cannot with a sincere heart talk anyone into joining what I perceive as a Uniformed Social Experiment. My Council still stands though for those that have already made that leap to Protect and Defend The Constitution. Embrace the Suck. Stick it out. Always try to do the right thing. Get your 20 and then GTFO and join us Proud Retirees.

Response by SGT(P) Private RallyPoint Member made May 20 at 2016 9:01 PM

SGT(P) Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 20 May 2016 21:01:29 -0400

It's s gamble getting out. I should have stayed in. But like I said it's a gamble. Roll the dice kid and stick to your decisions.

Response by SFC Victor Serrano made May 20 at 2016 10:53 PM

SFC Victor Serrano — Fri, 20 May 2016 22:53:12 -0400

You make the best of it while you're in the service. You should take advantage of tuition assistance while in the service and get at least an associates degree. If you decide to get out you still have the GI Bill to continue your education.

Response by SGT Charles Napierala made May 20 at 2016 11:09 PM

SGT Charles Napierala — Fri, 20 May 2016 23:09:34 -0400

I had the same fears when I was getting out of the military. I know the military touts training and teaching you skills which are transferable to the civilian sector, but when push comes to shove and you're looking at your credentials and how to translate them into a civilian career, anxiety starts to kick in. Make sure to begin your SFL-TAP as soon as available, which I believe is 18 months prior to your ETS date. There is a lot of useful information on how to prepare yourself for a transfer to the civilian occupation. Like SGT David T. said, millions of Americans make it everyday on the outside. You can be just as successful, if not more successful, due to your military experience.

One of the most important things I learned while transitioning is to make a targeted resume specifically laying out the skills you have and certificates you've earned that will directly benefit your potential employer.

Another small tip that took me awhile to come to terms with: Move on with yourself. I was a leader in what was known as the strongest and most capable military in the world, responsible for the lives of multiple other Soldiers. I was in charge of them because my seniors recognized my potential as an army leader. So, because I was a squad leader in the Active Army, deployed to Afghanistan, operated in a volatile district, made daily decisions that effected the daily lives of my subordinates, then in the civilian sector, I shouldn't have to be applying for entry-level positions. I should get hired in a leadership position because I have the experience, right? Wrong. I was dead wrong. The most important part of getting into a field is getting your foot in the door. You're an infantryman that's trying to get into the information technology field? You don't have the credentials needed for it because all you did was deploy to the field or PMCS vehicles?

Blasphemy. Think about those times that you've had to set-up computers at work. Think about those thousands of times that your annual training refreshed while you were in the middle of it or the 'Next' button brought you to a broken "This page cannot be displayed" page. What did you do? Did you stop and dial S-6? Did you fix it on your own? Either way, you needed to get your annual training requirements completed, so you troubleshot the issue. You got your training done. You were a critical thinker, problem solver, troubleshooter, information technology system repairer, networker, etc.

What I'm trying to say is this: Don't be afraid if what you THINK your qualifications aren't up to what YOU THINK an employer in a certain field is looking for. There are a lot of opportunities out there, just get your foot in the door and you'll get to where you need to be. Best of luck with your decision. Be confident and be proactive and you'll find a job in the field you're looking for.

Response by SPC Private RallyPoint Member made May 20 at 2016 11:51 PM

SPC Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 20 May 2016 23:51:49 -0400

Do the entire 20 or at least close. With jobs going overseas and the crap care you receive at the VA plus the stigma surrounding veterans now isn't a good time to enter civilian life.

Response by COL Charles Williams made May 21 at 2016 1:34 AM

COL Charles Williams — Sat, 21 May 2016 01:34:34 -0400

Yes

Response by SPC Kenneth Koerperich made May 21 at 2016 6:35 AM

SPC Kenneth Koerperich — Sat, 21 May 2016 06:35:27 -0400

Make sure your prepared. In my day, we were "force reductioned" straight from the DMZ in Korea. What was left of my COHORT 80/330, only 5 hit all benchmarks to re-enlist. W/ the reduction, none of us had time to prep. Being Light Infantry = NADA on the outside. Being deployed/in the field over 30 months of a 3 yr contract didn't help anybody either. Nobody got a chance @ schooling, even though it wasn't big back then, as you had to attend local colleges. Now adays you got the Internet to help w/ that. Nobody told us how to prep. We only got reference letters from Plt Ldrs, if you were on their good side.

So a lot of us were @ ground zero & had no clue what to do. Worked odd jobs until I got my foot in the door w/ Security Profession. Allowed me to use @ least some of my skills from the service.

Just follow what everybody is telling you here. It all sounds like great info. Wish I had it when I was in.

Good Luck!

Response by SGT Chris Hill made May 21 at 2016 2:09 PM

SGT Chris Hill — Sat, 21 May 2016 14:09:13 -0400

I for sure used to be scared, I allowed my old NCO's to place fear in my mind about getting out, I was so used to the "guaranteed" paycheck and medical coverage that I believed it all. Plus, re-up money incentives spoke loudly too. Truth is, theres PLENTY out here in the civilian side, just have to think like this though: unless you have a degree, you probably won't land that 60K per year job. It just takes determination and discipline to do what you have to do in order to be successful. Final thought - are you doing something on a daily basis that actually means something, or do you feel more like a puppet awaiting all commands from 'higher ups"? If you don't enjoy what you do, get out and get away. Live your life, take charge and control of your life.

Response by SSG Nicholas Wright made May 21 at 2016 3:14 PM

SSG Nicholas Wright — Sat, 21 May 2016 15:14:45 -0400

I'm going to mindread you a little here, and I get the sense that you might be more concerned that there's "nothing for you", eg you might not fit in to a civilian culture or enjoy it much. If you love your job, the people you're with, and the military culture then stay. If you're in a bad unit or have bad leaders, well, there will always be bad units and bad leaders. Sometimes you can change things for the better. Other times all you can do is try to leave it a little better than when you arrived [with emphasis on the 'leaving' part]. But your career can take you to so many places and wildly different units, it seems a shame to leave the military when billets are transient.

If you really want to get out, there may be a period of adaptation where you adjust to civilian life again. But remember that you changed once to join the military and you can do so again. Take your values and morals with you when you get out. And after getting out, you can always chose to live in an area near a military base so the culture shock isn't too great.

Response by Nicole Marie made May 22 at 2016 2:04 AM

Nicole Marie — Sun, 22 May 2016 02:04:10 -0400

A great life awaits you here on the other side...The dark side..lol