Describe your greatest struggle transitioning from military to civilian career. What are you doing to mitigate the struggle?

2016-07-14T03:27:17-04:00

Response by Cpl Justin Goolsby made Jul 14 at 2016 8:39 AM

2016-07-14T08:39:58-04:00

My greatest struggle was finding employment in a timely manner. My 2nd child was due to be born right before my EAS, so finding employment and a place to settle down in was of the utmost importance.
To mitigate that struggle, I made myself extremely flexible even so far as looking for jobs in neighboring states. Once I landed a job, I had a basic location to start searching for housing. Once I landed a place to live, I started moving stuff back and forth. By the time my daughter was born, I was already settled.

Response by MAJ Javier Rivera made Jul 14 at 2016 9:26 AM

2016-07-14T09:26:32-04:00

The enemy within! Trying to get my orders (late and with errors) and affairs (transportation, transition leave, etc...) on track and bureaucrats serving as anchors rather than facilitators.

Response by SPC James Harsh made Jul 14 at 2016 9:30 AM

2016-07-14T09:30:21-04:00

Not to bring a rain cloud to the topic, it seems that many servicemembers are concerned and knowingly looking for way to transition into the private sector after ETS. Circumstances may be unique to each person or have commonalities. Some people may not have any idea and may be experiencing issues. I myself had been contemplating re-enlistment after my extension was up and at the time just ETS. People that are planning on leaving the service or on the fence that are experiencing issues should go to the VA. I didn't go to the VA while I was in and kept postponing it. Looking back, it wasn't until I had issues with personal life and at work. Getting out of the Military is a dissattachment also in the case of support, so for me I recommend to people to explore the VA. They don't do magic tricks. If I had years ago It may have helped. I drank I got arrested lived in my car it wasn't pretty. I still think the VA sucks like many others think too, honest opinion though is that it may help prevent an ugly transition if experiencing issues.

Response by PO1 John Miller made Jul 14 at 2016 10:16 AM

2016-07-14T10:16:06-04:00

Surprisingly my biggest struggle was learning how to dress like a civilian. I already had a place to live and was lucky enough to find a job while I was still on terminal leave.

Response by PO2 Tim Druck made Jul 14 at 2016 12:26 PM

2016-07-14T12:26:29-04:00

Learning that in the civilian world, nobody's on your team. They're not necessarily working against you either, but it really doesn't matter to that guy at the DMV, County Clerk, Doctor's office, etc. that your stuff gets done.

In the military, everybody there is on the same team. When you have a problem or you need something done, you go to another member of your command, a guy you may run into in the chow line or whatever. They're military - we make fun of the motivation and effectiveness level of REMFs like disbursing or personnel or even the mess cooks, but I assure you that you'll think those guys are models of efficiency and competency when you're out here dealing with their civilian equivalents.

There are days when it's all you can do to not start painting the bulkheads green with profanity. Nobody at the doctors' office cares if you've pissed more saltwater than they've sailed over. The asshole at the DMV who keeps sending you back for more paperwork when you execute a private vehicle sale does not care how much time you've spent on the shitter at test depth. You have to wait, and their Chief is not going to light them up for sucking at their job.

Welcome to the real world, where nobody gives a damn, and good enough is.

Response by SFC Richard Giles made Jul 14 at 2016 12:27 PM

2016-07-14T12:27:02-04:00

I've only seen 1 response so far about jobs. But that has been my concern and like Cpl Rudquist said the language is a big hurdle for me as well.
I've got resumes in everywhere and have been called for some interviews but it seems that all they're concerned about is my time across the pond. Anybody else experiencing this? A few have asked about my job experiences. One manager even told me that they hire veterans but not ones who've been across the pond. They must not hire many veterans then was my response.
So yeah finding a good job has been my toughest hurdle.

Response by SrA Sheri Wooldridge made Jul 15 at 2016 4:15 AM

2016-07-15T04:15:06-04:00

I was a master security officer at Raytheon. It was an awesome career but the PTSD took over and I had to resign.

Response by SFC J Fullerton made Jul 15 at 2016 11:01 AM

2016-07-15T11:01:12-04:00

The fact that most employers place a greater emphasis on "specific industry experience" than any other attribute needed to perform the job. Puts career SM's at a disadvantage because they are competing with civilian non-veterans who have "specific industry experience" that hiring managers can easily relate to. Military leadership and managerial experience is misunderstood and not always viewed as relevant, especially if not within the industry applying for. That leaves many of us with having to settle for entry-level or low level positions well below the level of responsibility (and pay) we had in the military. And, having superiors and peers who lack the leadership skills and work ethic that you have, but you are powerless to affect change because you are not in a position to do so.

Response by SPC Private RallyPoint Member made Jul 15 at 2016 4:01 PM

2016-07-15T16:01:06-04:00

My greatest struggle was coming from active duty to being homeless and finacially broke for about 6 months, to only find a seasonal job at Target that turned into a part time job working only 12 hours a week. Civilian life sucks hard.

Response by MSgt Mark Bucher made Jul 15 at 2016 7:58 PM

2016-07-15T19:58:35-04:00

Dealing with the civilian mentality.

Response by MAJ Raúl Rovira made Jul 16 at 2016 3:51 PM

2016-07-16T15:51:49-04:00

Balance with time. For a long time I was working on many items to transition; (a) graduate school, (b) networking for jobs, (c) building a house, (d) accepted and going through a 9 month leadership program in Anchorage, (e) morning swim team, (f) Cub scouts with my son, (g) president of a Toastmasters club, (h) volunteer with project management chapter (i) dancing with my wife.
Sometimes things were stable and balanced, but sometimes one became more important than the other and it requires re-prioritizing. It is important to be open to changes during transition.
In the end, my wife and I enjoyed our transition.

Response by SFC Ronnie Simonsen made Jul 21 at 2016 2:10 AM

2016-07-21T02:10:44-04:00

I am currently on transition leave. The hardest thing is finding employment and finding companies who see that you can bring experience, skills and talent to their companies and that you are looking for a career and not just a job.

The other hardest thing is trying adjusting to finding a new purpose in life and trying to find a new routine so that while job hunting you don't lose sight of your goals.

Response by SSgt Melissa Gaitan made Jul 21 at 2016 12:41 PM

2016-07-21T12:41:19-04:00

The great struggle was learning how to be a civilian mentally. Civilians don't have the same mind set about being a team. Everyone works as individuals and they don't worry about how what they do affects the future and the people around them. Civilians in my experience are selfish individuals who work very hard for their money and have no problem in stepping on everyone around them to get there. I went straight into the Oil & Gas industry in Texas and it was easy because I knew how to multi-task and I knew how to not only be a leader but a team member. To sum it up, I was able to adapt to my surroundings but at the end of the day I was not only mentally but physically exhausted. Civilians frustrate me to levels not even my non english speaking Corporal ever got me to. I accept any challenge that I'm faced with but its not easy when you deal with Civilians who have no discipline. #mindovermatter #filteralwayson

Response by PO1 Ron Clark made Jul 28 at 2016 2:48 PM

2016-07-28T14:48:11-04:00

Trying to support my family at or near the same or better level as I did in the military and gaining and maintaining meaningful employment. Often times when you have had a lot of military service then when you try for civilian employment, either you are over-qualified or you meet people who are not military friendly and cares nothing for you time in service. Not that the former service member deserve any special treatment, only what's guaranteed him or her. Some employers even make it hard for you if you are a drilling reservist by scheduling you to work on your drill weekend or scheduling you for some extra project when it's time for your annual training, I have even saw people who cut the number of days you can attend your annual training and be compensated for it. These are things that you just have to work through, by talking with your employer, school whomever the people or organization who are placing these stumbling blocks in your pathway.

Response by SSgt Dwight Deatherage made Mar 9 at 2019 1:09 PM

2019-03-09T13:09:49-05:00

I got out in 1977 post-VN. My biggest struggle was nobody cared that I was a vet and had served my country honorably. Then I tried to get help from the VA - that was a waste of time.

It is interesting that Post 911 servicemembers and vets are actually given thee respect they deserve

Response by SPC Kara Sport made Nov 10 at 2019 10:25 AM

2019-11-10T10:25:23-05:00

I went from being a soldier to a stay at home mom for about three years. It may of sounded wonderful but it was weird. I love being a mom but I got bored and missed being truly busy and having a "mission" to look forward to.

I work full time now and I still adopt alot of the military habits. Unfortunately, it has lead to some frustration and personality clashes. Trying to pull people together to be a successful team when one half wants to work and the other wants to BS or TRYING not to swear loudly when something goes wrong lol.