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

2014-10-22T22:31:55-04:00

with the recent headlines of a reduction in force of another 18000 for FY 15 what are you planning on doing to prepare yourself?

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Oct 22 at 2014 10:40 PM

2014-10-22T22:40:19-04:00

CSM Private RallyPoint Member Thank God I already have a job, and I'm reservist. I think that Active duty personnel will be the most affected.

Response by SSG Arron Daniels made Oct 22 at 2014 11:27 PM

2014-10-22T23:27:06-04:00

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

Response by MAJ Raúl Rovira made Oct 22 at 2014 11:58 PM

2014-10-22T23:58:27-04:00

MSG William Frank,

I expect retirement under TERA on DEC 2015. We all know what that means.

I just Re-PCSed back to JBER, AK after 18 months in Cairo. I immediately signed up for the Senior Leader Transition Assistance Program class. I am on DAY-3 and the course is well worth it. Bonus, we can take it twice (if time allows it) and is highly recommended. My Sr. Rater completely supports this. Funny, he is in my class too!

Knowing your skills gap is important. I'm working on a Masters Degree through Central Michigan University. I expect to graduate right on DEC 2015. Also, some courses through the Defense Acquisition University offer undergraduate credits. This can be a bullet on the education portion of your resume.

Location is important. Alaska where my family and I wants to retire. This give me time to Network. Also, very good job prospects.

My advise to Soldiers and Officers:
- As soon as possible take the TAP course or Sr. Leader TAP. (((Take it twice if you can)))
- Figure out what experience, education, training and/or certification you need (Tap covers this)
- Network, network, network (this one is on you)
- Have a financial plan for your first 365 days out of the Army (TAP helps with this).

Lastly, I am twitting (@RaulARovira) my transition to share links, tools, experiences, and what I am personal doing. I'll be doing the same on RallyPoint. Just sharing.

Response by SGT Private RallyPoint Member made Oct 23 at 2014 1:12 PM

2014-10-23T13:12:14-04:00

Grate question MSG William Frank,

B.A , MBA, PH.d

Project mag. certs
Proven analytical/ problem solving experience

Highest possible security cleaners = highest credit score

But most important - how can i save $$$ for the organization.

Response by SGT Private RallyPoint Member made Oct 23 at 2014 6:42 PM

2014-10-23T18:42:09-04:00

I am doing everything possible to ensure that my position in the Army is needed. Skills, duties, rank, and multiple MOS's. As of the moment, I am able to teach 25L and 25U, I am the Help Desk Support for my Battalion, and I have taken charge of Food Service Duties for my Det with the medical retirement of our Supply SGT, and I plan to take over PRT duties as well, in addition to acquiring another MOS, ALC, and UPL training.

Response by Elizabeth Malkin made Oct 24 at 2014 11:54 AM

2014-10-24T11:54:43-04:00

That is a great question CSM Private RallyPoint Member . RallyPoint works closely with top civilian employers and recruiters to try and make the transition to a civilian career (and within civilian roles down the road) as intuitive and painless as possible. We have great relationship with the recruiters from these companies and work hard to help members who are trying to figure out their next steps.

RP is very focused on empowering our members who are looking for civilian careers as the downsizing becomes more of a reality and in the next few weeks we will be rolling out a VERY robust update to the career corner with amazing searching ability and that is very user-friendly, it will really help us to showcase the 12,000+ jobs that RallyPoint has on the career corner. Any suggestions that RP members have for what to include in the update please let us know!

Make sure to check out the current career corner, all the jobs are listed and our partner companies are poised, hoping and waiting to get RP applicants that they can hire right into their prime civilian positions. https://www.rallypoint.com/careers/civilian

RallyPoint | The Military's Professional Network

Response by CW5 Private RallyPoint Member made Oct 26 at 2014 10:14 PM

2014-10-26T22:14:53-04:00

Although I'm now retired, I still work for Army as a DA civilian, CSM Private RallyPoint Member, and my answer to your question is to pay off bills and not go (further) into debt. Save, prepare for things just like this. Oh, and if I were still on active duty, I'd be soldiering on, doing my best - doing everything I could to avoid being one of the 18,000 statistic.

Response by SFC Donald Neal made Oct 27 at 2014 2:16 AM

2014-10-27T02:16:44-04:00

Now that I've been out for 8 years as of this month and experienced a couple of starts and stops along the way to getting my feet under me. I did the transition class and a few other things but should have been pushing myself harder on a couple of things which weren't covered as well.

Networking-not friend finding but meeting new people to grow the circle of people who know your skills, knowledge, and abilities. I've seen lots of opportunities not advertised but people recommend quality candidates to their bosses/organizations because everyone wants a proven entity that they can show the ropes to instead of blind fishing for a successful candidate. Also establish a good LinkedIn profile, since I got beat up by a few corporate recruiters for not doing that for a long time.

College-I wished I had completed at least an associates before retiring. I finally did it and the bachelors in business administration. When budget cuts are looming people will not hesitate to cut those without a degree, even if you're part of the brain trust.

I am lucky because I was able to tread water while I better developed my network and finished school. I leveraged my military training in team building, finding solutions to everyday problems, and by always willing to learn and grow.

Response by MSG Private RallyPoint Member made Oct 27 at 2014 9:27 PM

2014-10-27T21:27:14-04:00

As an AGR Soldier I try an keep myself Combat Ready. It is funny that this question comes up today. I just seen QMP message today for the AC and AGR. An this is a great tool to get non-performers out of the military. I was checking the reasons for making the list an they are ready to remove a lot of SSG - CSM. As there is three boared for the year starting in Feb 15. Now don't forget the QSP as it is still live an well for AC, AGR, and Reserverist an they are talking about checking the restricted file. So if you do what you need to do an not get in trouble you don't have to worry. If not you will be on the unemployment line.

Response by SGT Private RallyPoint Member made Nov 3 at 2014 9:46 PM

2014-11-03T21:46:25-05:00

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.

Response by MSG Brad Sand made Nov 3 at 2014 10:05 PM

2014-11-03T22:05:13-05:00

I guess I would retire...oh, I did already. So yeah, I would retire now while the retiring was good.

Response by SSG Keven Lahde made Nov 3 at 2014 10:12 PM

2014-11-03T22:12:53-05:00

If they offer me early retirement I am taking it. I have over 18 years in and I don't see that happening as I guess its not offered anymore. And as a 92G, Food Service Specialist, my MOS is guess not needed as much anymore. So I could re-class, I just have no idea to what.

Response by SGT(P) Michael H. made Nov 4 at 2014 1:30 PM

2014-11-04T13:30:26-05:00

I have already started my own company, Frontline Combatives, am getting ready to begin scheduling wilderness survival classes, working on finishing my degree, and am looking forward to taking off this bleached pickle suit in 2016 when I ETS. Will NOT stay any longer in today's Army. Too political for my tastes, and as one who could care less about being "PC" I just don't fit any longer. Cheers!
Doc

Response by CSM Mike Maynard made Dec 31 at 2014 8:29 AM

2014-12-31T08:29:46-05:00

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.