How do other soldiers maintain their bearings in a civilian environment after transitioning?

2018-04-19T18:32:58-04:00

So im a young soldier currently just completing my first year in service. Now i already know im only doing 4 years. But im very nervous already just thinking about transition back to being a civilian. i was just curious of what other soldiers did to help them and how do many maintain some of their bearings in such a different environment. I know its very easy to get complacent and dissatached from people after leaving. Anything will help im open to a lot of advice

Response by Sgt Private RallyPoint Member made Apr 19 at 2018 6:41 PM

2018-04-19T18:41:25-04:00

SPC Private RallyPoint Member You already know that you will serve four years. Decide what you want to do when you transition. Do your research and obtain any training or education that you need. Save your money so that you have money when you get out for an apartment and anything else that you might need. Be a planner, establish a plan, set goals, and then implement your plan.

For example, I knew that I wanted to work for the Space Program, so I did my research. My plan was to drive to the Houston area, get an apartment find a job, and work on my degree, and then go to work for the Space Program. I moved to Pasadena, Texas, found a high paying operator job at a chemical plant, and started school. Five and a half years, later, I had my degree, and started work on the Space Shuttle Program. I stayed until the program ended 33 years later.

I was very busy with work and school, and that helped with my transition by forcing me to be very focused on my goals. The discipline that you obtain in the military will be a big help.

Response by MAJ Ken Landgren made Apr 19 at 2018 7:06 PM

2018-04-19T19:06:02-04:00

Don't worry about an event that will happen 3 years from now. Focus more on the present and near future. Create long-term goals, focus on your constitution, and how to live a good life.

Response by SGT Joseph Gunderson made Apr 19 at 2018 8:30 PM

2018-04-19T20:30:11-04:00

Don't do drugs.

Response by LTC Private RallyPoint Member made Apr 19 at 2018 8:36 PM

2018-04-19T20:36:54-04:00

Everyone should have a plan to get out. Think about what you want to do. Look at what you need to do to make you qualified and prepared for that. Go do those things.

Also, network with people in that industry and area you want to work. More important than I reilized before.

Response by SSG(P) Drew Hunnicutt made Apr 19 at 2018 8:46 PM

2018-04-19T20:46:14-04:00

Keep your options open. Some people come in, do their initial service and get out. When I had one year in, I certainly knew I was getting out as soon as possible. Last year I knew I was getting out as soon as possible. Last week I met with a career counselor to discuss a 5 year re-enlistment. Take advantage of Army resources. Use all of your TA and get a degree. Travel and enjoy your time off. Learn from your leaders, your battle buddies, and your subordinates so that you know how to interact with all types of people when you get out. Stay out of trouble. Don't get sucked into doing something stupid that can ruin your honorable service. Contribute to TSP, as much as possible. Do all these things and you will be much better for it at the end of your four years. Finally, keep your options open, don't be afraid to re-enlist if there is more the Army can provide for you or if you are not ready to transition.

Response by SPC Erich Guenther made Apr 19 at 2018 10:09 PM

2018-04-19T22:09:43-04:00

What are you nervous about? You made the transition to military you can do the reverse. Just put a plan together for ETS if you do not have one. You have three years to prepare.

Response by SPC Private RallyPoint Member made Apr 19 at 2018 10:15 PM

2018-04-19T22:15:50-04:00

Thank you all much appreciated

Response by Maj Robert Thornton made Apr 19 at 2018 10:22 PM

2018-04-19T22:22:01-04:00

Take a look at the other responses, there are some really good comments out there. The main thing you need to look at is what you will do when you seperate. Do you have a military job that transitions well to the civilian world? If not, you need to think about what you do wish to do when you get out. Can you get some training accomplished while still in, do you want to go back to school on the GI Bill? All things you need to think about.
SGT Drew H. had a good suggestion as well, keep your options open. You have three more years on your enlistment, you may change your mind and decide to stay, or you might want to change your MOS; who knows what you will really want in 3 more years.
I went in for 3 years, ended up retired from the Air Force. Who knows.

Response by SGT David T. made Apr 20 at 2018 7:55 AM

2018-04-20T07:55:33-04:00

Transitioning back to civilian life is rough. Regardless if one does 2 years or 40, it is a culture shock. While in the service, you are told where to be, what to do, and what to wear. Once you get out, things aren't quite so cut and dry. My first post service job was very confusing for me at first. Even simple things like deciding what to wear to work presented challenges. They asked what I wanted my schedule to be and I was confused because I never had such choices while I was in.

Here's a few pieces of advice and a few things I learned:
1. The transition program is a complete joke. They don't prepare you for the civilian world. Do your own research and use the time to learn about job hunting from outside sources. The resume they helped me make never even got me an interview.

2. No one cares. You served, great. However, a prospective employer only cares what you can provide to them in the here and now. They don't care what you did before.

3. Demilitarize your resume. Try and adapt your military experiences into civilian concepts. Even if you apply for a government job with one of the services, you cannot assume that the hiring authority has military experience. Also, look at the doctrinal concepts behind your job tasks and articulate it in those terms. Also, show results of your work. Quantify as much as possible.

4. Get an education. It doesn't matter if it is a trade or a university degree but get something. Without the paper, your resume will end up in the trash.

5. Save, save, save, and save some more. I cannot stress this one enough. I had $13K saved up when I got out. That was barely adequate to get me started. If you live in the barracks, you have a great opportunity to save. Do not waste it. Eat in the DFAC. Avoid debt or at a minimum keep it very low. Don't go and buy the cool car from the buy here pay her lots just off post. Get you something reliable and good on gas.

6. Learn to talk civilian. We have a tendency to be very different in how we interact with each other. Try and curb the cussing, the sarcasm (I still struggle with this one), and dark sense of humor that typically gets us through. For example we might say "What the f%^$ you are a total sh%#bird" whereas in civilian you might want to phase it as "hey so and so, you may want to relook that".

7. Civilians are not soldiers. They do not work the same way at all. They tend to be a bit less productive and not prompt. This is an area where you can shine. If you apply a military get the mission done attitude to the job and do the show up 10 minutes early to everything, you will be noticed. Of course it may create some animosity between your peers but oh well. They should work more effectively and efficiently. Also, you cannot talk to them the same way. You need to get buy in and consensus to get things done.

8. This one can probably be debatable but it has served me pretty well. I don't advertise that I served openly. I am very selective of who I share that with. People have stereotypes in their head based on the bs they see in the media and on facebook. Many of them think we all have PTSD and are gonna snap and go postal. Regardless of how false this actually is (mostly), people believe it.

9. Adapt to the civilian world. What I mean by this is that civilians will not adapt to vets. They don't live in our world, we have to live in theirs. American Soldiers are great at improvising and adapting. Use that.

10. Take advantage of the opportunities the military offers. Use your TA. Get any training you can because you never know when it might come in handy. There a few courses I did the Army that I list on my resume because they relate to what I am applying for. Funny thing is, I did some of them for promotion points but they were actually civilian employee focused courses. Double win!

11. Don't stress. As a general rule, you are not being shot at in the civilian world. So when things get tough remember that at least you aren't in combat.

12. Live your life and enjoy it. Life is short and you only live once. Have a good work/life balance and don't let your career consume you.

Sorry for the wall of text, but all of these things I learned the hard way. I hope you can get something from my experiences with it. Also, one last thing. Just remember that millions of people are civilians and do just fine. The civilian world is different, but it is nothing to fear. Don't let your NCOs and Officers try to scare you into reenlisting. You don't even want to know how many times I heard snide comments like "what are you going to do flip burgers"? I never once flipped burgers as a job since I got out. Sure things get rough sometimes, but it all works out.

Response by SSG (ret) William Martin made Apr 20 at 2018 10:59 AM

2018-04-20T10:59:06-04:00

When I was coming up in the ranks I had a plan for if I got out and a plan if I kept on reenlisting and so here I am today. When you have a few general idea branch off how you would make those ideas a reality. Far as my bearings go, I use the golden rule by treating others how I would like to be treated and that's with respect, dignity and having patience with others.

Response by LCDR Private RallyPoint Member made Apr 20 at 2018 12:05 PM

2018-04-20T12:05:44-04:00

Not a Solider...but here's my experience.

The first year was tough; I felt completely disconnected, confused, lost, and frustrated. The second year, I started to get my feet on the ground, and see the "big picture". By the fourth year, I was "fooled" into thinking I had "beat the beast"...and almost crashed and burned when it caught up with me.

Now-I'm pretty much "out" mentally, emotionally, etc.

The most important thing is family Brother; we sometimes don't realize how important our "Battle Buddies" and "Shipmates" are until we're not among them anymore. It helped that I had family who had served, and knew what (and what not) to say. SGT Gillespie (the Old Man) helped me through the worst parts.

Stay involved with veterans groups and take full advantage of networking. I ended up with my current career because of former friends in the Military, and honestly think things would've been much harder now if I had gone it alone.

Try and decide now what you'd like to do then...make a list of "cans" and "cant's"...be realistic, and stick to your list. Debt, fear, doubt will all push you to make hasty personal and professional decisions you may regret later.

Finally-and some may disagree; give yourself six months to let off steam.

I wish I had taken a little of my saved deployment pay and just gone somewhere out of the way, warm and exciting and let the "suck" seep out. There are volunteer organizations that need tough, resourceful people for up to six months in places around the world, and I wish I had gone that route before "settling down" to a job, wife and child.

Hang in there, and keep your head in; if you have a plan (and a backup...and another), the DD-214 can be a ticket to a whole new life of challenges, opportunities and memories.