How has your military service helped you accomplish a civilian goal?

2016-11-16T02:20:17-05:00

I'm getting ready to finish my second semester of graduate school. After I retired, I cruised through the rest of my undergraduate degree. I couldn't get enough of the pain so I am where I am now. I spent 14 phenomenal years of my life in both the Air Force and Army, saw and did lots of stuff, some cool, some not so much. Suffered through weeks and weeks at a time without showers or hot food, lost a couple of friends and spent time with friends who lost more. Did some great things for others and had the same returned to me, and most of all, forged relationships with some of the most phenomenal people I'll ever know. However, compared to all of that, working on my masters degree has been one of the toughest undertakings of my life. I am succeeding, and I have my service to thank for instilling the discipline required to undertake some of most difficult things a human being can endure, amongst the experience and other qualities I gained doing all of that crazy stuff we all did in full battle rattle that our old, drunk aunt is always amazed by and could "never do".

I'm curious to know what kind of personal/career challenges some of our vets (AKA, Y'ALL) faced or currently deal with post-service that you were able to give credit to your service for helping overcome those challenges?

Response by TSgt David L. made Nov 16 at 2016 2:55 AM

2016-11-16T02:55:06-05:00

Being in the military helped me get a college education and a skill that enabled me to save countless lives in many countries, as well as fellow GIs. Not trying to sound arrogant of course, but the untold lives, vehicles, property and livelihood of who knows how many people made me feel like I changed the world. Or parts of it.

My civilian goal was to protect and provide for my family so they could live in comfort and safety, as those I helped could do. Egotistical? Probably. Show me another EOD Tech that DOESN'T feel that way, or any of you military folks for that matter.

Response by PO1 William "Chip" Nagel made Nov 16 at 2016 3:17 AM

2016-11-16T03:17:50-05:00

I never focused on "Goals" God bless you that can. I just wanted to work and do my thing and if nothing else my Military Background got me recognized as a Man of Action and a Subject Matter Expert in my Fields and that should never be discounted. The Military will always be an excellent environment to Hone whatever Natural Skill Sets You Have.

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Nov 16 at 2016 3:36 AM

2016-11-16T03:36:50-05:00

My civilian goal was to have a family and the military afforded me the opportunity to do just that. I was able to place myself in a financially stable situation which enabled me to support my wife and have a kid.

Response by Capt Private RallyPoint Member made Nov 16 at 2016 8:00 AM

2016-11-16T08:00:24-05:00

Yes, because I got a degree while in service, and learned a profession and qualified for military retirement I was able to retire at age 62.

Response by CPT Private RallyPoint Member made Nov 16 at 2016 9:26 AM

2016-11-16T09:26:47-05:00

The number one skill that I was introduced to in the military is patience. Some people learn this skill early on, not me! The service introduced it to me and I am still learning how to apply this skill in civilian life.

I am trying to finish a graduate degree also. Graduate school is similar to a long distance race. You need to be motivated enough to train yourself at your institution. You need to be patient enough to let your professors teach you in the classroom and on campus. You need to be disciplined enough to endure the process. The process is putting one foot in front of the other, day in and day out, while keeping your eye on accomplishing your objective.

Response by SSgt Private RallyPoint Member made Nov 16 at 2016 9:49 AM

2016-11-16T09:49:31-05:00

Hi, SSG Cook.

I went back to school too after service. I was on the 20-year degree plan; I went to college right after high school because I thought I was supposed to, goofed off for a couple of years, and dropped out. Then i joined the AF and found the motivation and discipline to go back, but then i didn't have the time. Health issues got me med-boarded, and the VA's vocational rehabilitation program picked up my full ride for my bachelors' degree. Then I got squirrelly, and finished my MBA in 2009.

College was a piece of cake compared to the military. Not academically; any test I took in the AF was multiple choice over information I had just seen, and I never wrote a 40-page paper while I was in. It was the mechanistic structure of the military that made it hard. You had to look like everyone else and talk like everyone else and be on time and on target and on mission 24/7. Make no mistake, that's exactly what we all signed up for. But college was no where close to being as stressful.

I know that Masters' is a lot of work. Hang in there, and good luck!

Response by SFC George Smith made Nov 16 at 2016 10:37 AM

2016-11-16T10:37:33-05:00

interesting... when i retired ... I went in to security...

Response by SGT Curtis Alexander made Nov 16 at 2016 11:08 AM

2016-11-16T11:08:15-05:00

My time in service.. I learned how to always stay more focused but respectful of others. Knowing how others feel and work style allows me to be able to get a mission/goal completed and be able to give bad news when needed.

Response by SSG Derrick L. Lewis MBA, C-HRM made Nov 16 at 2016 12:03 PM

2016-11-16T12:03:48-05:00

SSG Drew Cook -Congratulations on the completion of your most recent semester in graduate school. I can relate to the challenges that you are currently facing as I too felt that pursuing my MBA was one of the most challenging responsibilities that I have completed thus far. With influencers such as unit OPTEMPO, deployments, and just the organizational posture and culture of the Army, had me questioning at certain points within my program if I was taking on too much and if I was even "cut out" to pursue advanced schooling. The other part of me was feeling that the timing just was not right and perhaps I should wait until retirement to pursue my MBA. Then, looking at the realistic perspective, when has there ever been an ideal time based on our profession to pursue college? In order to complete it, I realized that I had to MAKE the time. I am not necessarily sure what drives you or serves as your motivational factor, but for me; it always has and always will be my family. That, coupled with me being my own self-starter. However, like you I am a glutton for punishment and am now pursuing my Doctorate degree. Although I have just a little over 2 and a half years until retirement, I believe that my challenge facing post military life will be completing this forthcoming degree as I transition to the next chapter while being uncertain where the next opportunity is going to be coming from coupled with putting one of two children through college. Thankfully, I am an extreme optimist which helps to keep me from having "the sky is falling" moments in order to remain calm, collected, and grounded. Although the small view of uncertainty is presented, I will keep faith, remain humble, hungry, and with the mindset knowing that it will work out in the best interests of me and my family. Or at least having the peace of mind to know that I busted my ass to ensure it to be as such. Best of luck in the continuing of your studies; wishing you much excellence and continued success. Be well.

Response by SFC William Stephens A. Jr., 3 MSM, JSCM made Nov 16 at 2016 2:30 PM

2016-11-16T14:30:11-05:00

I was off to good start but my page refreshed and I'm starting over so I lost my thought, so here I go again, I did not get a chance to go to college like a lot of you did, and I'm proud you got to get your Masters and all that but I've seen folks with degrees without jobs and who can't write resumes or cover letters and these are the key and networking is the most important tools I'm bringing to the table because of my 20 years most of them I was deployed and when I was deployed a lot of friends got that chance to go to school while deployed, while I was in different assignments, I could not and had not the time to go to school. Again I wish I could of but I did not, I will kick myself for it, but again I am pretty successful without it. I have proved I can do it without a degree. So how has Field Artillery helped me? Really being Artillery hasn't done much it is all the extra schools and the NCOES that has helped me get to where I am today, I am trying to change the thinking of our senior leaders of how NCOES is taught today because we have senior leaders who are educated but can't write a resume for their life or a cover letter and if they could teach this in NCOES courses we could be so ahead of the game for our leaders and soldiers that are transitioning out. Well like I said the schools that the ARMY has sent me to for my extra jobs I had to do in the ARMY that people and other NCOs laughed at me when I was active duty. Look who laughing now. I seen people that I serviced with doing really crappy jobs and I feel for them, then there are the ones who laughed at me during combat who talked behind my back because they got Bronze Stars for doing nothing and I was in the direct shit working for the direct people. I might sound kind of mad at my MOS and the people in my MOS but if it was not for my MOS I would not be where I am today working in the job I'm in and to prove to all the educated people, that look us as DUMB, but Artillery guys can do anything I mean anything. I seen a lot of very successful guys and gays on RP in the combat arms and other MOS who don't have degrees or hold GEDs and work for the Government. People can talk all this LEADERSHIP has help me get where I am today but it is all the small things, like when I first came in I learn to be an adult and how to be a real American and all this other stuff, People always say they learn all these traits from the military and not true. If our leaders would open their eyes and see that we are blind and not teaching the correct classes in NCOES because its the same thing over and over level through level., They just don't see that. I accomplished my civilian goal when I was transitioning out on my own because I was networking with people I knew from the military and the so called resume I developed when I was coming through the ranks. Build your RP bio and Profiles there are people out there who will guidance you, it all part of social media these days, job manger's are watching these sites and if you have something good like a good RP page they will noticed. So thanks ARMY.

Response by LCpl Donald Faucett made Nov 16 at 2016 5:24 PM

2016-11-16T17:24:51-05:00

I became a Florida State Correcional Officer, and retired 26 later as shift supervisor

Response by SGT Todd Miller made Nov 16 at 2016 9:37 PM

2016-11-16T21:37:01-05:00

I learned to take life and to save life. I learned to persevere and finish that last 5 or 10% that's always the toughest. I learned how to get the hard jobs done and has passed the test of hundreds of electrical engineering projects. I learned to deal with the stress of years of travel, extreme environments, and sometimes million dollar projects. It took 6 years to get my AAS and BS degrees working two jobs. I would never have had the opportunity to go to college without the military. I learned to work with others as a team and how to solve difficult problems. Mostly I learned to never quit. I've had to change my tactics from time to time with age but the training that I received in the military has led to a productive life filled with adventure that is still ongoing. I have everything that I ever wanted and then some and the military is my foundation. I get up everyday and keep trying. Suit up and show up. It'll happen and it's worth it.

Response by David Wawrzyniak made Nov 17 at 2016 8:45 PM

2016-11-17T20:45:55-05:00

Didn't finish boot cause of past b's but still love the marine core