During your transition from Soldier to Civilian, what were the biggest differences between your expectations and reality?

I see a lot of denigration of civilians and their sense of purpose/mission. Either you are working for the wrong companies or your expectations are warped. I have worked for several good companies and have met good/great people in all of them as well as some that were less desirable. Very similar to my military experiences. I have worked for companies with a sense of mission as good or greater than the military (UPS, Lear Corporation, IAC and SCA Paper to name names). These are world class organizations with dedicated staff. These companies have helped me develop, trained me and offered me opportunities that would have never been available to me in the military.

Maybe you need to look within and your dedication to that company. If it is lacking, try another there is low unemployment. You could always go back to service if that is your niche.

I agree with u, as an equipment manager for an oilfield company I have tried to set standards but hey its like baby sitting a bunch of kids. Its not the same

Civilian "life" is 180 degrees from military "life," especially in the work arena. It was quite a transition that took several years to "sink in." In the Army, it's "counseling;" in the civilian world, it's "coaching." Many states have "at will" employment, which means they can let you go for any (or no) reason. You'll see.

The job hunt during transition was a real eye-opener for me. I was a Major in the Information Technology field, supervising 130 people. I had just left Fort Huachuca for Phoenix, AZ - the 6th largest city in the country. I thought finding my post-military career would be a piece of cake. I spent two months job hunting in the Phoenix/Scottsdale area before figuring out that I had no civilian network. I had not found the "doorman" that could get my resume inside. I ended up taking a contract project manager position without benefits in Plano, TX. That was in the late Summer/early Fall of 2016.

Points of learning:
1. Build a network outside the military. About 75%-80% of my LinkedIn network were military people when I started my transition. They were not in a position to help me.
2. Be flexible - go where the jobs are. I initially set my sights on Phoenix and used my retirement move to get there. I opened up my job search nation-wide about six weeks into my transition and moved at personal expense to Plano, TX.
3. "Civilianize" your resume and LinkedIn profile. Do not assume civilians know all the abbreviations the military uses. Only about 6% of the American population are Veterans or currently serving. You have to play to the 94% that don't have a clue what happens "behind the curtain."
4. About 95% of hiring recruiters use LinkedIn. Become an expert. Make sure your LinkedIn profile tells people what you want to be when you transition out of the military. Make sure it compliments your resume.
5. For job seekers, there's no such thing as an interview. Everything is a conversation or discussion. Never think of a discussion with a hiring manager as an interview - you will feel a lot less nervous about your conversations by changing your thinking.
6. Pay it forward. I volunteer my time as requested doing LinkedIn reviews and critiques for anyone who connects with me on LinkedIn (http://www.linkedin.com/in/wfrobe) and asks for a review. I also connect those people with recruiters in my network. I want future Veterans to have a smoother transition road than I had.

Bonus: join the Veteran Mentors Network on LinkedIn and consider using http://www.veterati.com to find mentors. Both are free.

My plan worked out without a blemish on paper, but it took a lot of time, preparation, patience, and commitment.

The most disheartening thing for me was that I thought since I had a degree when I got out I’d have more leverage. That wasn’t the case. I was offered minimum wage positions after meeting for management positions. Overall, hiring managers want to see verified experience coupled with a willingness to learn.

I did not expect people to discount my time in service and that the benefits earned from my service were undeserved. I am now a GS with the Navy so there is not so much of that anymore.

Trying to re-establish a routine

The biggest "Headache" every transitioning service member has is remembering to "STOP",,, We were taught to reach above and beyond what our 'military training' started us at. It didn't matter where our skill set said we where; it is where our supervisors pushed us to, E-4 performing as E-6's, E-6's as PLT LDRs, Officers doing the same always reaching and performing above and beyond... However:

In the civilian world, that same drive we have is now governed by a different set of rules that require time and money for "higher" edgamacation, a slip of "Vellum" that says you've been "skueld' by a "Civy skuel" and can now perform 'dis an dat' even though you could before, you just didn't have the paper to prove it.

Ain't it nice to be out of uniform and to realize that all you've been trained to do for Uncle Sam ain't worth the DD214 it's written on.

A Lack of discipline and organisation I found the most difficult aspect to absorb and convert down for a short period, especially following on from s Senor Commission position.
In Military life you say "Get it done" and it happens, In Civvie life you say "Get it done" and the response is basically: "Yea, we'll get to it sometime". This is where "Come to Jesus Experience Re-finds its Basis!" Let it drop once and you've lost your authority! Your staff must know who is the Boss, that does not mean you've got to around shouting orders, au contrare, compromise and adjust and the biggest help: Get to know their family and inquire as to their welfare when the situation is appropriate.
Further, civvies are unaccustomed to end of day meetings to inform them as to what has to happen tomorrow. They are used to Punch a Card and leave! Which way you go on this defines your presence and position! Take your pick and Good Luck!