How to be successful as a Mechanic when you ETS or Get out?

Let me start with my experience before I go to far in depth. I have been a gear head all my life. I am both Master/Advanced Level (Re)Certified with ASE and Ford Motor Company. I have graduated from Universal Technical Institute and have worked in both Independent Repair shops and Dealerships. I specialized in Engine and Electrical Diagnostics, I chase down those pesky Check Engine Lights and Engine Performance problems. When I say performance I don't mean making engine's go faster or anything of that sort. I mean to perform as originally intended by the manufacture.

So I have been on both sides of the fence and I have to tell you a few common mistakes the average Service Member make when Separating from service to be an Automotive Mechanic.

First: Get the word Mechanic out of your head. Mechanic's don't exist anymore you will spend more time with computer's and diagnostic devices in your hand almost as much as a wrench.

Second: The Military is a decent source of education but it will not help much when working for a dealer or any shop for that matter. When I went to work for Ford the first thing they did was thank me for my service, then asked me "What do you know about Ford Motor Company?". Don't think your time in the Military will assist you 100%, however your education benefits will.

Third: Education... GO TO SCHOOL. If you plan on being a professional service technician and do not know the first thing about how to run a four channel oscilloscope with a trigger set, then I am sorry to say you may have a rough time of it. Let the GI Bill work for you, trust me. Go to a reputable tech school or a good community college to help get you started.

Finally, TOOLS they are NOT CHEAP. The average professional technician has about 15K in tools. For example the average steering and suspension tech may have about 7K in tools, the average Transmission tech will have about 10K, and the average drivability tech will have between 10-15K. I am an engine performance and drive tech and in all my experience I have spent about 20K in tools over the past 17 years.

If you plan on getting out soon I would strongly recommend that you plan out what you want to do and pick a specialty, do not think that all technicians are trained and 100% proficient in everything, for example I am good with electrical diagnosis and engine/trans repair so therefor I am a Drivability Technician and only work on check engine lights and sputters, shudders, and stalls (to include NVH (Noise, Vibration, and Harshness)).

If you have any questions, comments, or anything to add to this please by all means do so. If you have any questions about how or what should I do either post them here or Message me.