Posted on Nov 5, 2015
Can Leaving the military and moving onto civilian life be an incredibly exciting time?
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GREAT Article for Transition - lost, but brought back from 2015 - check it out!
Can Leaving the military and moving onto civilian life be an incredibly exciting time?
Check out this article RP Members - Yes another article "pasted and copied" for those of you transitioning active duty members or you brand new veterans!
Some great advice and a military spouses perspective - hope it provides some good information! If you can't handle the copy and paste then move on!
SOLE-JUR! Most soldiers will find this haranguing, annoying scream from their commanding officer a thorn in their side. They’ve heard it day after day, year after year...for as long as they can remember. Leaving the military and moving on to civilian life is an incredibly exciting time. However, along with the excitement of new beginnings comes a huge dose of anxiety and uncertainty. Why? A soldier’s life is dictated to him or her while on active duty. They have regimens for everything including what time to get up in the morning, what time to start physical training, how many miles to run…the list goes on. It can be overwhelming to think about venturing out on your own, creating a résumé, building a professional network, and going through the arduous process of applying to, and interviewing for, jobs. It’s no wonder this is a serious bone of contention for many troops!
This piece is incredibly important to me, as I’ve been working with transitioning soldiers for years...and I’m married to a veteran. My hope is to shed light on the process, discuss some of the challenges, and provide not only a checklist for those men and women who are preparing to separate, but to hear firsthand from two brave men who gallantly fought and defended our country. They are: Sean Bode (U.S. Army) and Carl Soares, (U.S. Navy / U.S. Coast Guard.) I appreciate these gentlemen for their service and bravery…and for assisting me with this important career development piece that will no doubt benefit many transitioning soldiers.
The first stages of assimilation
Every soldier’s story is uniquely his or hers. Some were entrenched in bloody combat, others were not. Regardless, the psychological and emotional affects can take years to resolve -- if ever. When a soldier first returns home, it’s incredibly important to let him or her decompress. They may not feel like talking about “it” right now…or ever. Be respectful of their situation; offer your love, compassion and patience. Assimilation isn’t achieved overnight. It may take months -- even years. The process is different for everyone. Taking time to breathe, let go, and simply be is incredibly important. It’s great to have goals, but during the first few months, soldiers should simply work on getting back into some type of new routine. Your old normal will not be your new normal. It will take time and determination to realize and embrace your new life.
[“The transition for me was nerve wracking but I still had one foot in the door with the military as I currently serve in the U.S. Coast Guard Reserve. Having a good understanding of what you want, having a plan and executing it will make the transition much easier. Also, receiving the right support from groups and organizations will assist with the transition. The brotherhood and being part of an organization is an adjustment, but staying busy, going to school and utilizing the GI Bill helps because there is an end goal in sight. This is what I did -- and I had good friends and family support. In addition, I had my dogs. They were a critical component to my adjustment process.”] -- Carl Soares
The career planning process:
1) Realize that change is necessary and inevitable. The sooner you come to terms with this, the easier things will flow for you.
2) Reevaluate yourself and decide what you want to do. This is critically important -- self-awareness and self-evaluation!
3) Identify a list of options; don’t just settle on one industry. Be open to a variety of jobs and career fields.
4) Do your research; obtain information and fully understand the fields you’re interested in. Talk to individuals who work in the industries you're considering; network -- and seek advice from your mentors.
5) Assess your current education. Do you need to pursue additional degrees and/or certifications? This may be the perfect time to augment your résumé!
The importance of doing work you love
Working makes us feel useful and important. During tough times, it can serve as a diversion, and often helps us maintain our sanity. Simply working so that you can pay the bills each month isn’t very satisfying. Doing something you love, which you are truly passionate about, means everything. At the end of the day, you feel a sense of satisfaction and that, perhaps, you’ve made a small difference in the world. Those are the best careers to have. Understand that you may be forced to accept one or more positions before you reach your intended destination. It’s also about getting back to civilian life, meeting and networking with people, and applying the life and survival skills and experiences learned in the military to everyday situations. Returning to work and a daily routine are a huge part of the healing process. Granted, it takes some longer than others. It’s important not to compare yourself to others. Your experience is uniquely yours.
[“My advice to veterans would be to learn the KSE acronym: Knowledge, Strategy and Execute. Use this in making decisions about what you want to do in your career and life. Never stop learning...and keep up with technology. Understand cutting edge information about networking, mentorships -- and be social! Even for introverts…break out of your shell and get out there! Be practical in your decision-making process. Don’t get discouraged if you don’t get the first job, just learn from it and build on it. Become so good at interviewing that you enjoy it. Also, understand that just because you’re a veteran, it doesn’t mean you’re qualified. Sometimes you need to begin a new career path.”] -- Carl Soares
Shattered expectations and creating new goals
Leaving the military and trying to establish a civilian career is difficult and often demoralizing for some soldiers. Many leave with a lofty title and expect that their transition will naturally lead them to a parallel position. This isn’t always the case. You may have to accept one or more jobs until you find a new career that you find satisfying and fulfilling. There may be part-time positions, contract or freelance work, or positions that you feel don’t really allow you to shine and utilize your arsenal of skills.
There are many factors to consider...including your family members. What will my husband or wife do if we move? Where will our kids go to school? What is the job market like? Are there ample job opportunities? What about our aging parents? Can I afford the cost of living? Evaluate first.
New frontiers -- and striking out
[“When I decided to leave Active Duty it was not because of my dream within the civilian sector, it was purely because I did not want to raise my family in a cycle where I was home for a year, gone for a year, home for a year, gone...rinse and repeat with no end in sight (back in 2008.) The one thing I did to prepare was to engage a junior military officer recruiting company. The great benefit there was they taught me about how to translate my military experience, polished my professional look, honed my story for an interview and refined my résumé. For all of the great things they helped with, what I did not do was take the time to reflect on my "why". What did I love doing and how could I find a career doing it? Instead, I went with an operations and leadership role that paid the right salary and I was done. I found a job, not a profession and left that company three years later.”] -- Sean Bode
The often complicated transition process
When you’re first released, do you have a clear idea of what you want to do? Have you taken the time to assess your needs and the needs of your family members? Do you feel prepared to create a résumé, utilize your GI bill, create a LinkedIn account, network online and in groups, and interview for jobs? For those who are dealing with PTSD, depression, anxiety, nightmares, mental, emotional and physical scars -- and disabilities, the entire process can seem completely overwhelming.
[“Figure out what you want to do. As a soldier you are serving something bigger than yourself, and if you jump into a job you don't care about, the other burdens will be harder to deal with. Don't jump straight into work, if possible. I did not use my terminal leave but started a week after getting out in my civilian role, but that left little room for a family transition.”] -- Sean Bode
Dealing with the mental and emotional aspects of combat
As difficult as it may be for some individuals, reaching out for help is crucial, and in some cases, it may mean the difference between life and death. It’s a frightening, sensitive topic that we don’t necessarily wish to address, but it’s there. Many troops spiral into a dark, haunting depression that can mean feeling suicidal -- or even acting on those feelings. I cannot stress enough how incredibly important is it to reach out. Call a suicide hotline and vent your frustration, walk out your front door and go talk to a neighbor, distract yourself with a video game...anything to snap yourself out of that immediate wretched feeling. There are programs and services in place to help veterans. Please reach out and ask for help! People really do want to assist you. You will need support with so many things -- not only assimilation, but learning new software, updated mobile phones, career counseling and finding a new job, perhaps purchasing your first home -- the list goes on. VA benefits are there for a reason and you should make good use of the resources available to you and your family.
[“Coming home, it was hard to transition…and realize that crowds or traffic were not a physical threat. I struggled with depression and PTSD. I finally took medical leave from work to go through intense counseling and deal with the demons of war.”] -- Sean Bode
A military wife’s perspective
As a military wife, I had first-hand experience with the transition process. When my husband and I first met, he was a completely different person than he is today. It took him a long time to shift gears and go from that constant “amped up” state of mind to a more relaxed way of interacting. Soldiers are always on high alert. They are surrounded by explosives, gunfire, screaming, and other noises that have an impact on your psyche because it’s constantly around you -- day and night. Returning to civilian life poses challenges because there are many triggers that can cause flashbacks...including noisy traffic, bustling crowds, and the pop! pop! pop! of fireworks. Adjusting your mental state is critical to a successful transition. This is tricky and you must give yourself permission to adjust -- taking all the time you need. Develop a constant, reliable support system comprised not only of family members and friends, but mentors, physicians, psychiatrists, and peers.
Military to Civilian Transition Checklist:
1) Do you know what you want to pursue and why you want to pursue it?
2) Do you have a solid transition plan? Are you being realistic? If you have a plan, do you also have a 'Plan B'? It’s important to hope for the best and be prepared in the event 'Plan A' doesn’t work out immediately.
3) Do you have a professional résumé? If so, have you had several individuals review it for content, grammar and flow? Do you have several versions for different industries?
4) Do you have a civilian presence on LinkedIn with a professional photo of yourself in business attire -- collared shirt and tie? *Note: no selfies, no sunglasses, no fatigues, no uniforms -- and no guns, please! This is part of adapting!
5) Are you utilizing your GI Bill while you’re searching for employment?
6) Are you networking professionally, not just online via social media, but in person in specialty-specific groups, for example, project management or human resources?
7) Are you a lifelong learner? Are you continuing to educate yourself and enhance your skills? Use your transition time to earn certifications, example: Project Management, Supply Chain, and Human Resources Professional.
8) Have you practiced your interviewing skills to become more comfortable with your responses?
9) Have you considered joining professional groups, such as Toastmasters, to refine your professional speaking skills and increase your confidence?
10) Have you posted your professional résumé on Monster.com, Indeed.com, CareerPark.com, CareerBuilder.com, MilitaryHire.com -- and many others?
11) Are you monitoring your digital footprint? Make sure there aren't photos or comments on the web that you don't want anyone to see. Clean up your act now! Make sure your online presence is squeaky clean!
12) Do you have professional business cards to carry with you and distribute at impromptu events?
13) Do you have professional mentors to help guide you with your professional endeavors? (*Tip: It’s a good idea to have several mentors from a variety of professions for maximum impact.)
14) Be aware of your military job codes and titles -- most employers won’t understand them. You must list job titles and responsibilities that explain what you did, and were responsible for. If they don't understand what you did, they may not talk to you or hire you. It's your responsibility to make sure your jobs, responsibilities, and achievements are universally understandable.
15) Are you pursuing volunteer opportunities, apprenticeships or internships to gain knowledge and expand your current skills set?
Final thoughts
We all experience pain, sadness and loss in different ways. The important thing is to take small steps that lead to big successes. Even if it means only doing a couple of seemingly minor tasks during the course of the day -- just get it done. Nobody is judging you…make sure you’re not judging yourself. Take as much time as you need, but continue to propel yourself forward. A soldier who makes a concerted effort to transition back into civilian living should be successful, even if it seems like it's taking forever. Surround yourself with positive people who love and care about you, get help when necessary, and allow the transition to develop with as much patience and persistence as possible. Know in your heart how much everything you did...and everything you sacrificed...means to us, as a country. Please be kind to yourself. You matter.
Crawling out of the foxhole and
walking into the boardroom isn't
easy for any soldier.
Can Leaving the military and moving onto civilian life be an incredibly exciting time?
Check out this article RP Members - Yes another article "pasted and copied" for those of you transitioning active duty members or you brand new veterans!
Some great advice and a military spouses perspective - hope it provides some good information! If you can't handle the copy and paste then move on!
SOLE-JUR! Most soldiers will find this haranguing, annoying scream from their commanding officer a thorn in their side. They’ve heard it day after day, year after year...for as long as they can remember. Leaving the military and moving on to civilian life is an incredibly exciting time. However, along with the excitement of new beginnings comes a huge dose of anxiety and uncertainty. Why? A soldier’s life is dictated to him or her while on active duty. They have regimens for everything including what time to get up in the morning, what time to start physical training, how many miles to run…the list goes on. It can be overwhelming to think about venturing out on your own, creating a résumé, building a professional network, and going through the arduous process of applying to, and interviewing for, jobs. It’s no wonder this is a serious bone of contention for many troops!
This piece is incredibly important to me, as I’ve been working with transitioning soldiers for years...and I’m married to a veteran. My hope is to shed light on the process, discuss some of the challenges, and provide not only a checklist for those men and women who are preparing to separate, but to hear firsthand from two brave men who gallantly fought and defended our country. They are: Sean Bode (U.S. Army) and Carl Soares, (U.S. Navy / U.S. Coast Guard.) I appreciate these gentlemen for their service and bravery…and for assisting me with this important career development piece that will no doubt benefit many transitioning soldiers.
The first stages of assimilation
Every soldier’s story is uniquely his or hers. Some were entrenched in bloody combat, others were not. Regardless, the psychological and emotional affects can take years to resolve -- if ever. When a soldier first returns home, it’s incredibly important to let him or her decompress. They may not feel like talking about “it” right now…or ever. Be respectful of their situation; offer your love, compassion and patience. Assimilation isn’t achieved overnight. It may take months -- even years. The process is different for everyone. Taking time to breathe, let go, and simply be is incredibly important. It’s great to have goals, but during the first few months, soldiers should simply work on getting back into some type of new routine. Your old normal will not be your new normal. It will take time and determination to realize and embrace your new life.
[“The transition for me was nerve wracking but I still had one foot in the door with the military as I currently serve in the U.S. Coast Guard Reserve. Having a good understanding of what you want, having a plan and executing it will make the transition much easier. Also, receiving the right support from groups and organizations will assist with the transition. The brotherhood and being part of an organization is an adjustment, but staying busy, going to school and utilizing the GI Bill helps because there is an end goal in sight. This is what I did -- and I had good friends and family support. In addition, I had my dogs. They were a critical component to my adjustment process.”] -- Carl Soares
The career planning process:
1) Realize that change is necessary and inevitable. The sooner you come to terms with this, the easier things will flow for you.
2) Reevaluate yourself and decide what you want to do. This is critically important -- self-awareness and self-evaluation!
3) Identify a list of options; don’t just settle on one industry. Be open to a variety of jobs and career fields.
4) Do your research; obtain information and fully understand the fields you’re interested in. Talk to individuals who work in the industries you're considering; network -- and seek advice from your mentors.
5) Assess your current education. Do you need to pursue additional degrees and/or certifications? This may be the perfect time to augment your résumé!
The importance of doing work you love
Working makes us feel useful and important. During tough times, it can serve as a diversion, and often helps us maintain our sanity. Simply working so that you can pay the bills each month isn’t very satisfying. Doing something you love, which you are truly passionate about, means everything. At the end of the day, you feel a sense of satisfaction and that, perhaps, you’ve made a small difference in the world. Those are the best careers to have. Understand that you may be forced to accept one or more positions before you reach your intended destination. It’s also about getting back to civilian life, meeting and networking with people, and applying the life and survival skills and experiences learned in the military to everyday situations. Returning to work and a daily routine are a huge part of the healing process. Granted, it takes some longer than others. It’s important not to compare yourself to others. Your experience is uniquely yours.
[“My advice to veterans would be to learn the KSE acronym: Knowledge, Strategy and Execute. Use this in making decisions about what you want to do in your career and life. Never stop learning...and keep up with technology. Understand cutting edge information about networking, mentorships -- and be social! Even for introverts…break out of your shell and get out there! Be practical in your decision-making process. Don’t get discouraged if you don’t get the first job, just learn from it and build on it. Become so good at interviewing that you enjoy it. Also, understand that just because you’re a veteran, it doesn’t mean you’re qualified. Sometimes you need to begin a new career path.”] -- Carl Soares
Shattered expectations and creating new goals
Leaving the military and trying to establish a civilian career is difficult and often demoralizing for some soldiers. Many leave with a lofty title and expect that their transition will naturally lead them to a parallel position. This isn’t always the case. You may have to accept one or more jobs until you find a new career that you find satisfying and fulfilling. There may be part-time positions, contract or freelance work, or positions that you feel don’t really allow you to shine and utilize your arsenal of skills.
There are many factors to consider...including your family members. What will my husband or wife do if we move? Where will our kids go to school? What is the job market like? Are there ample job opportunities? What about our aging parents? Can I afford the cost of living? Evaluate first.
New frontiers -- and striking out
[“When I decided to leave Active Duty it was not because of my dream within the civilian sector, it was purely because I did not want to raise my family in a cycle where I was home for a year, gone for a year, home for a year, gone...rinse and repeat with no end in sight (back in 2008.) The one thing I did to prepare was to engage a junior military officer recruiting company. The great benefit there was they taught me about how to translate my military experience, polished my professional look, honed my story for an interview and refined my résumé. For all of the great things they helped with, what I did not do was take the time to reflect on my "why". What did I love doing and how could I find a career doing it? Instead, I went with an operations and leadership role that paid the right salary and I was done. I found a job, not a profession and left that company three years later.”] -- Sean Bode
The often complicated transition process
When you’re first released, do you have a clear idea of what you want to do? Have you taken the time to assess your needs and the needs of your family members? Do you feel prepared to create a résumé, utilize your GI bill, create a LinkedIn account, network online and in groups, and interview for jobs? For those who are dealing with PTSD, depression, anxiety, nightmares, mental, emotional and physical scars -- and disabilities, the entire process can seem completely overwhelming.
[“Figure out what you want to do. As a soldier you are serving something bigger than yourself, and if you jump into a job you don't care about, the other burdens will be harder to deal with. Don't jump straight into work, if possible. I did not use my terminal leave but started a week after getting out in my civilian role, but that left little room for a family transition.”] -- Sean Bode
Dealing with the mental and emotional aspects of combat
As difficult as it may be for some individuals, reaching out for help is crucial, and in some cases, it may mean the difference between life and death. It’s a frightening, sensitive topic that we don’t necessarily wish to address, but it’s there. Many troops spiral into a dark, haunting depression that can mean feeling suicidal -- or even acting on those feelings. I cannot stress enough how incredibly important is it to reach out. Call a suicide hotline and vent your frustration, walk out your front door and go talk to a neighbor, distract yourself with a video game...anything to snap yourself out of that immediate wretched feeling. There are programs and services in place to help veterans. Please reach out and ask for help! People really do want to assist you. You will need support with so many things -- not only assimilation, but learning new software, updated mobile phones, career counseling and finding a new job, perhaps purchasing your first home -- the list goes on. VA benefits are there for a reason and you should make good use of the resources available to you and your family.
[“Coming home, it was hard to transition…and realize that crowds or traffic were not a physical threat. I struggled with depression and PTSD. I finally took medical leave from work to go through intense counseling and deal with the demons of war.”] -- Sean Bode
A military wife’s perspective
As a military wife, I had first-hand experience with the transition process. When my husband and I first met, he was a completely different person than he is today. It took him a long time to shift gears and go from that constant “amped up” state of mind to a more relaxed way of interacting. Soldiers are always on high alert. They are surrounded by explosives, gunfire, screaming, and other noises that have an impact on your psyche because it’s constantly around you -- day and night. Returning to civilian life poses challenges because there are many triggers that can cause flashbacks...including noisy traffic, bustling crowds, and the pop! pop! pop! of fireworks. Adjusting your mental state is critical to a successful transition. This is tricky and you must give yourself permission to adjust -- taking all the time you need. Develop a constant, reliable support system comprised not only of family members and friends, but mentors, physicians, psychiatrists, and peers.
Military to Civilian Transition Checklist:
1) Do you know what you want to pursue and why you want to pursue it?
2) Do you have a solid transition plan? Are you being realistic? If you have a plan, do you also have a 'Plan B'? It’s important to hope for the best and be prepared in the event 'Plan A' doesn’t work out immediately.
3) Do you have a professional résumé? If so, have you had several individuals review it for content, grammar and flow? Do you have several versions for different industries?
4) Do you have a civilian presence on LinkedIn with a professional photo of yourself in business attire -- collared shirt and tie? *Note: no selfies, no sunglasses, no fatigues, no uniforms -- and no guns, please! This is part of adapting!
5) Are you utilizing your GI Bill while you’re searching for employment?
6) Are you networking professionally, not just online via social media, but in person in specialty-specific groups, for example, project management or human resources?
7) Are you a lifelong learner? Are you continuing to educate yourself and enhance your skills? Use your transition time to earn certifications, example: Project Management, Supply Chain, and Human Resources Professional.
8) Have you practiced your interviewing skills to become more comfortable with your responses?
9) Have you considered joining professional groups, such as Toastmasters, to refine your professional speaking skills and increase your confidence?
10) Have you posted your professional résumé on Monster.com, Indeed.com, CareerPark.com, CareerBuilder.com, MilitaryHire.com -- and many others?
11) Are you monitoring your digital footprint? Make sure there aren't photos or comments on the web that you don't want anyone to see. Clean up your act now! Make sure your online presence is squeaky clean!
12) Do you have professional business cards to carry with you and distribute at impromptu events?
13) Do you have professional mentors to help guide you with your professional endeavors? (*Tip: It’s a good idea to have several mentors from a variety of professions for maximum impact.)
14) Be aware of your military job codes and titles -- most employers won’t understand them. You must list job titles and responsibilities that explain what you did, and were responsible for. If they don't understand what you did, they may not talk to you or hire you. It's your responsibility to make sure your jobs, responsibilities, and achievements are universally understandable.
15) Are you pursuing volunteer opportunities, apprenticeships or internships to gain knowledge and expand your current skills set?
Final thoughts
We all experience pain, sadness and loss in different ways. The important thing is to take small steps that lead to big successes. Even if it means only doing a couple of seemingly minor tasks during the course of the day -- just get it done. Nobody is judging you…make sure you’re not judging yourself. Take as much time as you need, but continue to propel yourself forward. A soldier who makes a concerted effort to transition back into civilian living should be successful, even if it seems like it's taking forever. Surround yourself with positive people who love and care about you, get help when necessary, and allow the transition to develop with as much patience and persistence as possible. Know in your heart how much everything you did...and everything you sacrificed...means to us, as a country. Please be kind to yourself. You matter.
Crawling out of the foxhole and
walking into the boardroom isn't
easy for any soldier.
Transition
Employment
Jobs
Civilian Career
Spouses
Edited >1 y ago
Posted 10 y ago
Responses: 53
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Absolutely and I believe that Veteran's should hold their heads high and be proud of their service. And in some cases I hear regret that they left the military -- that should be thought about prior to leaving the service.
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https://www.statefarm.com/careers/become-an-agent/from-military-to-agent
Check out State Farm agency--we have many successful State Farm agents that have military background.
Check out State Farm agency--we have many successful State Farm agents that have military background.
From Military to Agent – State Farm
It???s a fact. We need your leadership. Meet some of our military to agent success stories here.
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I did it 10 years ago after 24 years of service. It was both exciting and scary. I do not regret any of it for a moment.
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COL Mikel J. Burroughs Do you think Sir that for some it carries separation anxiety and some degree of emotional upheaval?
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It is definitely exciting! It is also, scary, uncertain with a bit of anxiety all rolled up into a little ball of goodness. We have spent years and years moving when we are told, moving to where we are told, where to work and what to do while we are at work. Priorities are set for us, deadlines are set for us, hell, even classes we need to take are set for us by someone else. Now either you are done with the service or it is done with you and YOU have to make ALL of those decisions. I think a lot of people forget this and once the SM starts to transition, it catches you off guard. Add to all of that, unless your service survived unscathed, you may not be able to be anything you want to be (regardless of what Mom says), you may be limited by your disabilities. So now you need to figure out what you want to be when you grow up, while also figuring out what you can be when you grow up.
Really, you just need to take it all one day at a time and make sure you are as prepared as possible along the way. God Bless brothers and sisters, go out there and fight for your place in the world.
Really, you just need to take it all one day at a time and make sure you are as prepared as possible along the way. God Bless brothers and sisters, go out there and fight for your place in the world.
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It can and it should be! Sure, it can be scary. You will have more questions than answers, more doubt than certainty. Yet, with the some hard work and preparation, your transition can be a successful one. While there are some Veterans whom feel that companies will be banging down their door to hire them, I believe we can give witness that this is not the case. More often than not, a Veteran will have to learn how to take their skills and knowledge and figure out how to apply them to civilian life. You need to take time and focus on crafting a resume that works FOR YOU rather than a resume that you work for. You have the skills, you have the talent, you have the drive, you just need to invest the time. Ask questions, reach out, seek input from others. Connect with Veternas either here or in your neighborhood. Again, INVEST THE TIME!
Last week, I spent time in Nashville talking to leaders in the staffing industry about Veterans and how the staffing industry can be a major player in ensuring Veterans have a successful transition. I told them that the transition is not a sprint, rather is it a marathon and along that marathon route Veterans encounter hurdles. Yet, with each hurdle crossed, our confidence builds. More often not, that first hurdle is employment. Finding that good, meaningful, life sustaining pay job. Sure, we may lack some of the skills employers are looking for yet if you take the time and invest it into the task at hands, you will see success over fear come now rather than later.
Last week, I spent time in Nashville talking to leaders in the staffing industry about Veterans and how the staffing industry can be a major player in ensuring Veterans have a successful transition. I told them that the transition is not a sprint, rather is it a marathon and along that marathon route Veterans encounter hurdles. Yet, with each hurdle crossed, our confidence builds. More often not, that first hurdle is employment. Finding that good, meaningful, life sustaining pay job. Sure, we may lack some of the skills employers are looking for yet if you take the time and invest it into the task at hands, you will see success over fear come now rather than later.
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LTC Craig Amnott
Yes. Absolutely. Remember the Army is a socialist institution. The civilian world is predominately a capitalist institution. More flexibility in the civilian world. Greater earning potential in the civilian world. More risk in the civilian world. I have found it to be exciting and enjoyable.
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For the many who stayed, I salute you all and thank you. I took three years to avoid the draft after college was not prepared for me and I had to leave. I extended another year (unfinished business)and I knew at the end I would have to go to OCS because too many NCO's were exiting with 17, 18 years. Some of my pals stayed until they could retire and had some difficult times adjusting but managed to survive once they learned to manage their own time. Divorce was high as it would be with the deployments and transfers so the carnage goes far beyond the obvious. I would hope that programs have been made available for ALL family members to adjust. I am one who would love to see the draft returned so others could build respect for each other and this country. We did not like each other many times but we darn well knew when the manure flew you were not alone.
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