What are you doing to prepare yourself for the next round of downsizing that is coming?

MSG, It's always an unpleasant topic. Looking for a civilian job is a what a lot of Veterans turn to. I will always lend a hand to transitioning Veterans along with a few folks that I know within the profession. There are a ton of resources depending on the field someone wishes to join, the area of the country they want to move to, as well as networking groups etc.

The issue with this mode of preparation for those who know they will have to move to the civilian sector, is that it typically take time to network. If I can ever lend a hand to you or Veterans you know, please send them my way. I don't always have the answer, but I know plenty of people that just might. My LinkedIn profile is below.

Cheers!

Arron
http://www.linkedin.com/in/arrondaniels

It seems that everyone is entirely focused on either two courses of action - 1) accept the inevitable and prepare to get out or 2) increase value to the organization through increased performance.

If you want to make a career of the military in this day and age and you love what you do - honestly, it is probably not going to be your performance that causes your QMP/QSP/Non-Retention, it is going to be your character!

Folks need to get on board the "Army Profession" and understand that it is more about how we do our job (character/ethics/morals) than it is about our level of competence/performance.

We've all seen the editorials and opinion pieces about how one DUI years ago or one act of misconduct seemingly put someone in the high risk zone and they were "forced out"

Want to make a career in the military - learn your job, but more importantly, live the Army Values and abide by the tenants of the Army Profession. We desperately need leaders of character to take us into the next phase.

I prepared for reduction by doing everything in my power to make myself promotional. Contrary to popular belief, the NG is also subject to down-sizing. I have kept up PT and passed every APFT. I have volunteered for every course available. And last month, I was selected for promotion for E-5.
It hurts doing PT. It was embarrassing to have to bug my COC for deployment and schools all the time and volunteer for training that nobody else wanted. But to get ahead, just as in the civilian sphere, you have to put yourself at risk, learn from your training, and go forward. If I'm cut, at least I can say that I did the very best I could, and be an example for my kids.