Making Our Next Move: Thoughts on Transitioning to Civilian Life

LCDR Gerald Lowe — Wed, 27 Apr 2016 11:32:14 -0400

Many, if not all, of you reading this have made a transition at some point in your life. Whether it be the transition from grade school to middle school, or middle school to high school, we have all had drastic life changes as we move from childhood into adulthood. Fewer Americans, however, have transitioned from military service to the civilian world. I have lived through this transition and continue to live it in some aspects, even two years after retiring, or “transitioning,” from the military.

Admittedly, I was better prepared for my transition than others – I thought about it for five months; many don’t stop long enough to do that. I also have a strong professional background – engineering, project management, and foreign languages. The economy was not at a low point when I retired from the military. I tried to understand what the mandatory transition assistance program taught me, other than how much I dislike PowerPoint presentations. My primary question over those five months was how I could translate my experience and skills into a document that corporate America might consider worthwhile? All the while I was thinking, if only this transition were as seamless as my transition from grade school to middle school.

So what did I do? Like any veteran would, I got down to business. I drafted my first resume in over twenty years. Next I revised my CV, again and again and again. I had friends and family provide feedback on my resume, and I continued revising it. I cut more details from my CV than calories most people cut out of their diets when they want to lose weight. You see, our transition is not just about leaving or retiring from the military. Our transition is truly about redefining ourselves. It’s not that I haven’t known who I have been for the past twenty years. But after retiring, it has become more about defining who I am going to be out of uniform. My personal clothing preferences, for example, were among the questions I needed to answer. Remember, we haven’t had to choose our own clothing in years. We have worn a uniform throughout our military careers. Wearing a uniform makes picking out clothes for the week easy, but when my uniform is no longer the default - then what? My first impulse was shorts, a T-shirt, and flip-flops, although that probably wouldn’t go so well in an interview unless I wanted to be a lifeguard, but...even then, it would be questionable.

Next, I had to become accustomed to introducing myself constantly. Think about it: a uniform has your name on it, rank, title that is equated with your experience, skills badges, your service branch - all in a single glance. It’s a ready-made introduction. Throw in a dress uniform with the ribbons and medals, and now we really know exactly what this man or woman has accomplished during his/her service. Conversely, no matter the tailor, if I’m dressed in a suit and tie, no one can estimate my skills and experience by just looking at me.

Depending on length of service, I submit that the transition period varies in duration. Using my experience as an example, I spent over twenty years serving. Again using myself as an example, my transition is still in progress. What’s the big deal, why does it take so long? Well, there is no big deal. My intent is to build awareness of the transition process and its many facets. Therefore, if you do nothing else before leaving the military, start planning your transition as early as possible and consider who you want to be outside of your military uniform. Acquaint yourself with a civilian profession that you’re interested in, learn what credentials you may need, and determine if you can transfer your military credentials directly from the military to the civilian workforce.

The next two points are the most important to remember and utilize throughout the transition period:

- First, be as bold and fearless out of uniform as you were in uniform. I could talk for days about the amazing things we have all done in uniform. In contrast, it would only take me a few seconds to tell you the accomplishments of most of the people you will interview with and work for in your new careers. Remember, be bold and be fearless!

- Second, always support your fellow veterans in the civilian world. Like the military units we previously served in, we worked together to accomplish our missions.

Now, let’s sustain our esprit de corps by serving each other in our transition.

Response by SPC Rory J. Mattheisen made Apr 27 at 2016 11:40 AM

SPC Rory J. Mattheisen — Wed, 27 Apr 2016 11:40:27 -0400

Forget about the "transition' process, continue to adapt and overcome. Figure out if you are living your life or if you are reacting to it, and remember to be intentional about thinking decisions through for the first couple years. We get into the react/respond mindset during our time in service and have to re-learn to process life as it happens.

Response by MSG Private RallyPoint Member made Apr 27 at 2016 11:41 AM

MSG Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 27 Apr 2016 11:41:20 -0400

since i left the millitary, my bosses recognized my abillities, my attention to detial, and work ethic i now work on special projects, as well as my normal job, it give me overtime that others dont get, they still dont get what i could do as a leader, but eventually they may

Response by Sgt Private RallyPoint Member made Apr 27 at 2016 12:45 PM

Sgt Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 27 Apr 2016 12:45:28 -0400

LCDR Gerald Lowe Sir, Being a planner is key when you transition. I transitioned in June 1972, and I knew that I would move to the Houston area, get a job, and start work on a degree. Once I had the degree, I would start work on the Space program. I found a good paying job while I worked on my degree. Once I had my degree, I started working on the Space Shuttle program. I had a plan in place that I executed.

After 33 years working on the Space Shuttle program, The program was ended after the last flight of Atlantis, in July, 2011. Years in advance, I knew the program was ending, and I made plans for that. Even with careful plans, emotionally, I was out of sorts for a couple of years. When you are totally invested in something that you believe in, it is a shock, when it is gone.

With any transition, what helps is to stay very busy with your new goals and objectives so you have less time to think about the past.

Response by PO1 Private RallyPoint Member made Apr 27 at 2016 12:56 PM

PO1 Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 27 Apr 2016 12:56:36 -0400

If at all possible, start your own business.

Response by CPO Ronnie Townes made Apr 27 at 2016 2:10 PM

CPO Ronnie Townes — Wed, 27 Apr 2016 14:10:11 -0400

After retiring, I knew I had to adjust my way of think of what I had been accustom too for over 20yrs. I also had to deal with the challenge for translating my military skills to the civilian world. And it's been a very eye opening experience since I've been in the corporate world.

Response by SPC John Lebiecki made Apr 28 at 2016 4:52 PM

SPC John Lebiecki — Thu, 28 Apr 2016 16:52:48 -0400

Great points!

Remember: You are human again. You have a first name, and you have the abilities to succeed. I got out in 2012, thought that I would easily get into a high paying job but I was wrong. I ended up going back to school and going to work full time. Now, I have a good paying job that supports my family and me.

Always remember to keep learning. Just as the military adapts to the times, so does the civilian sector. If you're in the tech industry, dont just settle on the compTIA certifications- go after Microsoft, Cisco, ETC. Dont EVER settle.

Also remember that even when the pressure of work gets to you, that you have experienced far worse. Think of your objectives and continue to think two steps ahead.

Response by SFC William Stephens A. Jr., 3 MSM, JSCM made Nov 30 at 2016 2:57 PM

SFC William Stephens A. Jr., 3 MSM, JSCM — Wed, 30 Nov 2016 14:57:51 -0500

This article nails right on the head senior enlisted transitioning from the military have no clue on how to develop a resume or cover letter and most of it is going to be all military experience there and This all started in 2006 when I started thinking is the ARMY really for me, Then they sent me to 1SG course as SFC and I thinking I was cream of the crop, think again, The ARMY don't care how much school or college you have or deployments, I thought my NCOERs were top as well, but I guess when I was SGT getting a 2 block really hurt me. I never thought would go back that far but I did not know what the hell they were looking for. So I started building my resume, I had some kind of draft when I went to ACAP and the volunteer there kept telling me too long too long and never told me it was to military, Well, Years later I learned and I'm still learning I went from 8 pages to 6 pages and now down to 3 pages and hope soon to 2 1/2 pages but 3 pages is fine if you have 20 years like me or more.
I'm going tell you it was very hard for me to transition to civilian section, I went to CO school and I just could not stand civilians telling me what to do but I made through the schools and graduated my class. Everything that you learned you can turn into some
type of language that will benefit your resume. just have a bunch of experienced people take a look at your resume, try to find someone who job was looking at resumes. There are a lot of these people out there who have done this for companies that you just don't know. Resume writing is one of the hardest things you will ever do and then there is the Cover letter, the supporting document to the resume which is the selling technique from you to the hiring manager. I just wish the military would teach more of this in their NCOES course but they feel KILLING and Leadership and marching is the number one thing soldiers should be learning in these schools. OK don't get me started.

Response by SPC Sheila Lewis made Nov 30 at 2016 3:10 PM

SPC Sheila Lewis — Wed, 30 Nov 2016 15:10:15 -0500

Just be prepared for things not going the way You previously imagined.

Response by Cpl Carlos Fernandez made Dec 8 at 2016 2:10 PM

Cpl Carlos Fernandez — Thu, 08 Dec 2016 14:10:09 -0500

In my experience the civilians need to transition to our way of life. There is absolutely no need for a military personnel to do any transitions as what we worked so hard for is in fact the correct way of living. Everything we trained for is for survival and civilian world needs some of what we know as survival. Because how I see it there is nothing wrong with our view point method of thinking other than to kill an opponent. We operate with true leadership, comaraderie, teamship, discipline, etc.... that's something the civilian population don't have. So do not transition to anything. Stay the way you are and set an example. You are the boss and a CEO would appreciate you more than the rest.

Response by D. Cree Crawford made Sep 15 at 2017 11:37 AM

D. Cree Crawford — Fri, 15 Sep 2017 11:37:02 -0400

A friend in the Texas AG office shared there are many open positions.
If you or have friends/family members who are interested. Shoot me a PM at: [login to see]
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