Is there a website where you look up your military awards to see how they translate to the civilian world? Where can I find it?

SPC Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 12 Apr 2019 09:37:23 -0400

basically its for converting your awards to the civilian world.

Response by MSG Private RallyPoint Member made Apr 12 at 2019 9:50 AM

MSG Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 12 Apr 2019 09:50:49 -0400

I've heard and seen sites to translate skills and training but never awards. If you finally find it, let me know....as I am very curious about this

Response by LTC John Mohor made Apr 12 at 2019 9:56 AM

LTC John Mohor — Fri, 12 Apr 2019 09:56:51 -0400

Javier I can honestly say I never heard of such a site. I just made sure I was familiar enough with the write up of my individual awards to discuss them during an interview if it came up.

Response by SGT Ben Keen made Apr 12 at 2019 9:57 AM

SGT Ben Keen — Fri, 12 Apr 2019 09:57:35 -0400

When it comes to writing your resume, when it comes to awards there is no direct translation nor do awards really have any impact on your civilian resume. However, the suggestion I have for you and anyone else making the transition is rather than listing your awards, pull out the DA638, read through the bulletins and pull out one or two bullets that make business sense and apply for the position you are applying. For example, as an Operations SGT I received an ARCOM and one of the bullets mentioned something about reducing time and costs. I put that on my resume to show my understanding of such things. So look through your awards, pull a couple of bullets outs and work the wording so that it makes sense. Be ready to speak to it during your interview and if the job is not military related, be sure to stay away from the military speak. Keep it in terms of business and relatable to the position.

Response by LTC Jason Mackay made Apr 12 at 2019 10:00 AM

LTC Jason Mackay — Fri, 12 Apr 2019 10:00:19 -0400

Have seen the military skills translators. Take the actual award bullets and convert them to the STAR format situation, task, action, result as a bullet on your resume. Commended for (STAR event)

Response by LTC Stephan Porter made Apr 12 at 2019 10:37 AM

LTC Stephan Porter — Fri, 12 Apr 2019 10:37:11 -0400

Hire Heroes USA will take awards/OER-NCOERS/schools into a resume for you. They will assign you a transition specialist!

Response by CSM Darieus ZaGara made Apr 12 at 2019 12:04 PM

CSM Darieus ZaGara — Fri, 12 Apr 2019 12:04:05 -0400

Civilians understand awards language, it is the duties that do not. Words like heroism, honor, discipline, action, superb etc. all translate. It is the level that need be conveyed by some metric, Division-one in 20000, Army-among 1.4 mil etc. you can do this. Thank you for your service.

Response by Lt Col Jim Coe made Apr 12 at 2019 1:57 PM

Lt Col Jim Coe — Fri, 12 Apr 2019 13:57:06 -0400

Read lots of resumes in my time as a private sector and government sector manager. I recognized military awards because of my background. What I was really looking for was responsibilities and accomplishments. Spell out briefly what your job responsibilities were and your accomplishments in that job. If you received an award such as an Army Commendation Medal, you can say something like "Received corporate-level recognition for exceptional performance."

Response by MSgt Michael Smith made Apr 12 at 2019 2:27 PM

MSgt Michael Smith — Fri, 12 Apr 2019 14:27:33 -0400

Awards do not mean much at all on a resume. Focus instead on the activities and accomplishments. Write your resume to show the results of what you did, and how you solved problems. Of course it should be applicable to the position you are seeking employment in. Resumes should be specifically tailored to demonstrate competency in the field you are applying for.

Response by COL Rich McKinney made Apr 12 at 2019 4:38 PM

COL Rich McKinney — Fri, 12 Apr 2019 16:38:57 -0400

The award is unrecognizable to civilians. What is important on a resume is what you have done. And you need to put it in civilian language. That is sometimes the hardest part. "A superb mechanized infantry squad leader" means nothing. Try "Responsible for the training, welfare, and daily tasks of 10 personnel". Or "Directly responsible for the operations, maintenance, and accountability of over $5 Million dollars worth of equipment". Those mean something.

Response by SSG Thomas Trutt made Apr 12 at 2019 4:56 PM

SSG Thomas Trutt — Fri, 12 Apr 2019 16:56:13 -0400

Kind of like awards themselves, it doesn't really matter what you get, but what you got it for that counts. Without getting into that hornets nest, I would say - avoid listing awards on your resume. If you want to highlight your actions then include bullets about what you did in your job description. A civilian reading your resume won't understand what an ARCOM is, but if you say, "received award for maintaining 100% timeliness of all tasks over a 2 year period then that would catch their attention.

On a separate point, as a personal pet peeve of mine - when it asks about awards please stop putting your Army Service Ribbon, National Defense Service Ribbon, GWTSM, Good Conduct Medals, etc. A civilian will be confused and a veteran is going to, at best, ignore them if they don't laugh at the fact that you included them.

Response by SPC Cory Thomson made Apr 13 at 2019 5:28 AM

SPC Cory Thomson — Sat, 13 Apr 2019 05:28:59 -0400

Yeah just google janitor and copy paste. Four years of Army training basically gives you the equivalent of a bachelors degree in mop n glow.

Response by SP5 Michael Cates made Jun 16 at 2019 7:48 PM

SP5 Michael Cates — Sun, 16 Jun 2019 19:48:22 -0400

Probably I should see how what I am going to sign up for in the Armed Services is going to help me when I get out!!! I remember just before I left for Vietnam in '67 I told my mother that I got a form that I could fill out that would get me an early out from Vietnam and so my mother said" Well it cant hurt go ahead you do that" I did! Jump forward 330 days and I had dodged death 3x's and I got the result of that form to Los Angeles Pierce College in Woodland Hills, Ca. and it said you get out 30days early Sp/4Cates! I took it to the First Sgt. and He said what the F--K is this Cates? I said it is my orders that say I get out 30 days early! I am GOING HOME!!!!!! Well I thought he was going to have a Heart Attack! He was so PISSED!!!! He could hardly contain himself! But I was off on a plane to Cam Ron Bay and a Tent where I waited and I was so excited I did a Standing Back Flip and Yelled I am going home! And then ran out to get on the Chartered Plane that would take me to Ft. Lewis, Washington! So prepare for the future! Plan ahead!