Posted on Sep 25, 2016
I used to hire a lot of vets, but lately I see people coming out that do not have the professionalism I am used to. Anyone else see this?
9.76K
87
44
13
13
0
Posted in these groups: 
Civilian Career
Military bearing
Civilian Career Military bearing
Posted 8 y ago
Responses: 14
11
11
0
As the head of a non-profit that helps returning service members launch careers in the growth economy, I am surprised by vets' general lack of preparedness for a process that will land--and keep a decent civilian job. A good start might be to overhaul the TAP curriculum top to bottom. Require instructors to have real-world experience, include instruction in basic business protocols, communications and networking, open the process up to employers, and provide support options (not just one-size fits all) to meet the needs of veterans well beyond ETS.
(11)
(0)
MSG Pat Colby
The "needs of the Veteran" should also include opting out of sitting in a classroom listening to someone babble about Fortune 500 companies and freaking protocols. Personally, I had absolutely no intention of starting another career. Sign my damn paper and let me leave. I just wanted to go home, hang up my uniform and plant a garden. (and that's exactly what I did.) Forcing me to sit through another unnecessary class just proved to me that I made the right decision to hang it up and retire.
(1)
(0)
SPC Erich Guenther
TSgt Joshua Duplin - My personal experience, working as a private contractor on a Army contract (USAREC HQ- Fort Knox for what is now HP Services but was EDS at the time) was like working for a family business, it was a lot of fun and uniform or civilian didn't matter we were all one happy group. Had I been an Army Civilian on the same work assignment, there would have been a lot more stress and tension with the office politics. So my advice is always go for the Private Sector first (pay is higher) if you can. I left the Army an E4, AAFES HQ in Dallas interviewed me about 10 years ago for a GS-14 position, because that is what they had to do with the GS scale to be competitive Salary wise and they needed a Congressional waiver for that. The AAFES HQ tour was interesting, they have a full service bar and gym in their Dallas HQ.....lol. Lots of USAF folks there in uniform. Security wore USAF DS hats (lol...seriously). I am happy they didn't hire me because looking back I probably would not have been happy there long term as a Army Civilian because of the restrictive pay scale. It seemed like a close knit team though run by a former Army LTC.
(0)
(0)
CPL Deanna Green (Parkinson)
I would just like to mention that a not all transitioning vets get TAP classes. I was medically boarded out and never went to TAP. I was fortunate enough to have worked many years in the civilian world before my military career, so I had a clue as to what I was facing. But, I also agree that it it time for an overhaul. Employment readiness is not taught in schools...so what should we expect of young people???
(1)
(0)
PO2 Ralph Parris
As I EAS'D back in 96, my TAPS class was useless to me. Unfortunately I'm hearing they haven't improved much. Actually having civilians in charge of the program, bringing in various industry speakers & job recruiters would be a step in the right direction imo.
(0)
(0)
10
10
0
Same here hired a GWOT Marine that refused to get his hair cut. I let it go but asked him about it and he said he served 12 years in the Marines and was tired of people telling him to get a haircut and he wasn't going to do it as a Civilian without pushing back. In my view has to do with the wars. The Army slacks up on garrison or peacetime standards during FTX's and wartime deployments because they feel there is enough stress on the troops. As a consequence when the troops are back in garrison they look at a LOT of the rules as unnecessary BS.........and so when they seperate, they grow beards and let their hair grow long because they can. Your going to need a prolonged period of peace (5-10 years) to fix this, in my opinion.
Also, asked on a Closed FB group the question, why do so many of the new vets grow beards after ETS and the answer of 95% of 12 respondents was: "Because we can". So again I think it is the Army and the way it operates in wartime vs peacetime.
Also, asked on a Closed FB group the question, why do so many of the new vets grow beards after ETS and the answer of 95% of 12 respondents was: "Because we can". So again I think it is the Army and the way it operates in wartime vs peacetime.
(10)
(0)
SGT (Join to see)
MAJ (Join to see) - Facial hair feels weird. That cook story is gross, and yes the 22 Vets a day stat is still current, i believe. There's also #22Kill where you do 22 pushups in honor and post it for others. Many, including I, have done it.
(2)
(0)
(2)
(0)
MSG Pat Colby
Since I retired I shave once a week and get one haircut a year. Pretty much leave on a out of Regs mustache year round although I do keep it fairly short. (I hate flossing my teeth with it as I eat.) My haircut is in late Spring and I usually get an extreme High and Tight due to the heat of Summer. That extra insulation on my head in the Winter really helps as I live in Minnesota.
(1)
(0)
(0)
(0)
5
5
0
And here you see a classic example of the Entitlement Generation and "everyone gets a trophy" mentality. No standards, no reason to excel, no reason to go the extra step.
(5)
(0)
Read This Next
Continue with Facebook 
Continue with Google