Posted on May 6, 2016
What kind of challenges did you face when transitioning out of the military whether it was to go to school or work?
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I am preparing to speak with employers about the challenges military personnel face as they transition out of the military. I would like to have something fresh rather than what has been reported in the past AND I would like to have something written from those that have transitioned rather than from an article. SO - what would you like for me to tell them about your transition?
Transition
Employment
Education
Posted >1 y ago
Responses: 15
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Greetings,
I was part of a group of individuals that considered themselves elite. It gave me great pride.
It never dawned on me, those I would work around would be without honor and not do what they agreed to. A warning might be needed to those getting out of the military. At least, out of a Victor Unit environment.
For example: Don't say anything to your fellow employees on why they haven't performed work, if they are having trouble at home, or constantly on the phone with their lawyer. Bring issues up with the Supervisor of the department. It will avoid conflict.
I can not write for everyone. But, my subconscious was programmed and I did not fully understand that. If I received an order, known as a request in the civilian world, I moved my ... as fast as I could. Civilians can take their time. Awareness of a few issues will help a smooth transition for active duty to being a civilian.
One last thing. Tell folks getting out of the military, when they go to compassion and sensitivity training and some over weight sweetheart with short hair tells everyone how ashamed they are to only know one language while in France, don't ask them how those that died so you do not have to speak Japanese would feel only speaking English. That appears to really upset globalists.
Kind Regards,
Mark A. Morris BS, RDMS, RVT
I was part of a group of individuals that considered themselves elite. It gave me great pride.
It never dawned on me, those I would work around would be without honor and not do what they agreed to. A warning might be needed to those getting out of the military. At least, out of a Victor Unit environment.
For example: Don't say anything to your fellow employees on why they haven't performed work, if they are having trouble at home, or constantly on the phone with their lawyer. Bring issues up with the Supervisor of the department. It will avoid conflict.
I can not write for everyone. But, my subconscious was programmed and I did not fully understand that. If I received an order, known as a request in the civilian world, I moved my ... as fast as I could. Civilians can take their time. Awareness of a few issues will help a smooth transition for active duty to being a civilian.
One last thing. Tell folks getting out of the military, when they go to compassion and sensitivity training and some over weight sweetheart with short hair tells everyone how ashamed they are to only know one language while in France, don't ask them how those that died so you do not have to speak Japanese would feel only speaking English. That appears to really upset globalists.
Kind Regards,
Mark A. Morris BS, RDMS, RVT
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Personally, my biggest challenge was not wearing a uniform. The identity and rank don't transition with you. As a woman, with back problems, epilepsy and breast cancer, I don't think anyone looked at me as a veteran. I applied for a low level job in the school of nursing at a University teaching, and didn't get the job. I'm not sure why, but I had plenty of experience and the credentials, but there is this assumption that women aren't veterans too! We don't all have severe health issues, but what helps us is work, support, being around other veterans and that it is a slow change.
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Amn Kim Bloodgood
I can relate to your feeling how people don't think of women as veterans. I get that all the time. Just as recent as two weeks ago! And it all started when I left the military with no one other than the Vet Rep at the local unemployment office! SO - what have you done to change (if anything) this challenge of not wearing a uniform. Are you part of a women vet network? or something else?
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Col Rebecca Lorraine
Interesting question. I went back to school, am studying anthropology/sociology and we have a large veteran student organization so I hang out and feel connected in that way. Secondly, I volunteered to do the newsletter (soon web site) for our Aiken Chapter of MOAA. The past two years I put on my uniform and stand in the reviewing stand for our Memorial Day parade. I want the public to see women as warrior to veterans. I've tried lots of other things to remain productive. My thesis for school is on the transition experiences of women warriors. (So, I'm learning that we are transitioning differently) as more women serve and leave, we do have a larger group of women veterans. 20% of new recruits are women and 30% are Black or Hispanic. This is a big shift in demographics. We are changing the face of the military, hopefully more as equals.
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Amn Kim Bloodgood
I do hope that you share your thesis as I agree that women transition differently than men and there is a great need for this type of research - in my opinion. If you do share I would love to see it!
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Generally speaking, every transitioning military member faces the same disadvantages when entering the civilian job market. Most jobs are found through one's local network and contacts created from friends you grew up with or the local industry group to which you belong. Transitioning military members miss out on these advantages since they tend to separate from a location away from where they want to settle. People tend to hire those who they know or someone who was recommended by a trusted friend or colleague.
In my view, the best comment you could make would be to get the hiring managers to be open minded and to realize military members typically have accomplished a lot more from a leadership point of view than most. These managers need to see beyond their own backyard.
Just my humble opinion.
In my view, the best comment you could make would be to get the hiring managers to be open minded and to realize military members typically have accomplished a lot more from a leadership point of view than most. These managers need to see beyond their own backyard.
Just my humble opinion.
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transition isn't a quick thing. ive been out 3 years and still am trying to completely establish myself as an independent adult. I hate civilian employment because they don't have to give you any notice of terminating you. and more than likely you will gain some weight. the last part is completely on you as a person.
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My challenges were more emotional and getting used to the environment. Financially and professionally, I was about as prepared as you could be. My wife and I had started working on plans a few years before retirement and did what we could to set ourselves up for success. I spent a lot of time researching benefits and programs in the various states we were looking at moving to and are extremely happy with how things turned out.
My first job after the army was as a contractor in Afghanistan. This isn't for everyone, but provided me a good stepping stone. You have just enough of the rules in place to feel like you are military, but you can take baby steps towards civilian life. After that I spent three years working in higher education and then was blessed with the chance to become a veterans service officer for an adjoining county.
I now get to spend my days helping other veterans connect with benefits. Tomorrow I will be facilitating a transition/benefits portion of a retirement briefing for National Guard soldiers either at or approaching retirement. I'm truly living the dream.
The best advice for employers I could give is to understand that many of the processes that we use for operations and maintenance in the military on a daily basis are not that different from their own. The terminology is usually a little different, so there can be a disconnect when a potential employer is asking if the candidate has experience with something in particular. The veteran may have been using almost the exact same system, but doesn't recognize it based on the verbiage used. While I firmly believe that it falls on the veteran's shoulders to educate themselves in preparation, employers should also understand that they could be dismissing a potential valuable employee due to miscommunication.
My first job after the army was as a contractor in Afghanistan. This isn't for everyone, but provided me a good stepping stone. You have just enough of the rules in place to feel like you are military, but you can take baby steps towards civilian life. After that I spent three years working in higher education and then was blessed with the chance to become a veterans service officer for an adjoining county.
I now get to spend my days helping other veterans connect with benefits. Tomorrow I will be facilitating a transition/benefits portion of a retirement briefing for National Guard soldiers either at or approaching retirement. I'm truly living the dream.
The best advice for employers I could give is to understand that many of the processes that we use for operations and maintenance in the military on a daily basis are not that different from their own. The terminology is usually a little different, so there can be a disconnect when a potential employer is asking if the candidate has experience with something in particular. The veteran may have been using almost the exact same system, but doesn't recognize it based on the verbiage used. While I firmly believe that it falls on the veteran's shoulders to educate themselves in preparation, employers should also understand that they could be dismissing a potential valuable employee due to miscommunication.
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One of the biggest things I had an issue with was where to live. Without having a job the day I left the military and not sure exactly when I would find one, my biggest concern was having a place to stay. I had to move back into my mother's house (she wasn't living there at the time since she was working in a different part of the state, but still it was my mom's house.) After finding housing, the rest was fairly easy. I was able to get unemployment to cover for a while, but that didn't come for a month after I moved home.
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SPC Anna Larson
When I ETSed from Ft. Hucachuca, I had 4 dogs, three horses, no place to live, and my long term boyfriend was stationed in Ft Stewart Ga. was there any stress? Big time. Keith had difficulty getting leave to help me move because the idiots in Ga, "wouldn't issue leave for him to leave the country" I was only going one state over to New Mexico where my mom lived. But anyway, I knew I didn't want to stay in Arizona. My immediate supervisor the Veterinarian (Captain) was irate that I attended the 3 day "transition" work shops. And was completely unsupportive. I wasn't allowed any time to find housing or any thing else, because one of the other SPC in our unit who was supposed to be there for another year did several things to get her set up for disciplinary actions and kicked out of working at the vet clinic immediately. So I was the main vet tech (and the only one with significant horse experience) to work on the 200+ government owned horses on post.
Yes there was stress and much of it was caused by my command not allowing any time off. I ended up taking all of my leave (at least 45 days as I recall) at the end. And then there was the stress of asking my mom to move back in because she never supported me in the first place and didn't think any thing I'd ever done was "good enough".
Then when I moved back to NM, I tried to get a job working as a Vet Tech, but NM had this stupid rule that all vet techs must be certified and the ONLY way to get certified was to go to a 2 year AVMA accredited school that didn't exist anywhere in the state. So after 4 years of doing All the "certified vet tech jobs" including x-ray, blood draws and testing, etc I couldn't do that in New Mexico without going back to school. Even with my BS in Equine Sciences degree AND being on the wait list for Vet School. (Which was another stress in it self) The closest I could come to a job was being the "assistant to the assistant."
So anyway, I left Ft. Huachuca in June, Officially terminated leave on my ETS date at the end of July and was still on a "Wait List" for CSU School of veterinary medicine until late August. I had no clue If I'd end up moving again between July and August to Colorado. If all that didn't ramp up the emotional stress then I don't know what does.
Yes there was stress and much of it was caused by my command not allowing any time off. I ended up taking all of my leave (at least 45 days as I recall) at the end. And then there was the stress of asking my mom to move back in because she never supported me in the first place and didn't think any thing I'd ever done was "good enough".
Then when I moved back to NM, I tried to get a job working as a Vet Tech, but NM had this stupid rule that all vet techs must be certified and the ONLY way to get certified was to go to a 2 year AVMA accredited school that didn't exist anywhere in the state. So after 4 years of doing All the "certified vet tech jobs" including x-ray, blood draws and testing, etc I couldn't do that in New Mexico without going back to school. Even with my BS in Equine Sciences degree AND being on the wait list for Vet School. (Which was another stress in it self) The closest I could come to a job was being the "assistant to the assistant."
So anyway, I left Ft. Huachuca in June, Officially terminated leave on my ETS date at the end of July and was still on a "Wait List" for CSU School of veterinary medicine until late August. I had no clue If I'd end up moving again between July and August to Colorado. If all that didn't ramp up the emotional stress then I don't know what does.
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Amn Kim Bloodgood
I feel for you and your animals! This absolutely sounds stressful! Thank you for answering my questions and I DO hope that you find the perfect place to utilize your vet skills! And you have a good network of people in your corner!
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AMN. I was fine for a couple of weeks before it hit me. All of a sudden I just had to get a job. Was offered 2 but they were dead end jobs and accepted one and cancelled the day before. I was scheduled to start school in a couple of month then rode that out until I started school. Before school was over I was offered a job with a large tire co. I took the job and 18 1/2 years I retired again. Now I am old enough to triple dip. The third pay is retirement from the tire co. This tire co. was very pro military in hiring so I was around a lot of retired military and vets. I had job satisfaction so I was doing what I liked.
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Amn Kim Bloodgood I transitioned in June 1972, and my biggest challenge was dealing with civilians. I had to watch what I said because there was hatred of the military by part of the population. In the military you learn to adapt and overcome, so that is what I did. I did not have any other major challenges because I planned every detail of my separation. I had money saved to live on, I found a job, started working on my degree, and then, after I obtained my degree, I started work at the career that I wanted. Have solid goals and objectives in place and then execute them.
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Amn Kim Bloodgood
So when you got out did you ignore your service due to the era and hatred towards the military? Or did you proudly admit your military service regardless of the time? Just curious - I've had many discussions with Vietnam Era veterans and this is one question that I'm always curious about.
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Sgt (Join to see)
Amn Kim Bloodgood - When I returned from Vietnam, At LAX, I was asked how many babies had I killed. I was also told to repent for my sins. I found a good paying job while I attended college. Of the three people that interviewed me, one really grilled me about Vietnam, to see if I would be a stable employee. I sensed that he did not like veterans or the military. I bit my tongue, stayed calm, and did get the job. Many civilians did not like the military or veterans. In college, I did not hide my service, but did not go around announcing that I was a Vietnam Veteran. I was four years older than most of the students. It was more like a twenty year difference. I was there to obtain a degree, where as a large percentage of students were there to party and have fun. I obtained my degree while a lot of these students ended up quitting.
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Amn Kim Bloodgood
Thank you for sharing the challenges of your journey. You statement about the interview - I wonder if this type of questioning happens at all now a days... I know I had one student who actually quit a job because a lady asked if he killed someone - when he didn't answer she went to HR and said she was afraid of him. SO - if that were to happen I am sure what you experienced does as well. Maybe not so up front, but...
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Sgt (Join to see)
Amn Kim Bloodgood - With the rules in place now, They would not be allowed to openly ask questions like that. They might have other subtle ways of finding out what they want.
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When I first got out of the Army back in '03, my first reactions (thoughts, really) was how am I going to inject myself back into "normal" society when these lazy yahoo civilians don't have the foggiest clue of real life outside of their particular nest.
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Amn Kim Bloodgood
And now... how do you feel regarding civilian life? Have you adapted to 'normal' society?
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MSG (Join to see)
Amn Kim Bloodgood - Well, after spending 5.5 yrs out of uniform and being a straight leg civilian.....I felt I could not stand it any longer and felt I needed to get some semblance of normalcy back into my life, so I re-enlisted back into the USAR. But, I still find myself shaking my head and questioning the mentality of civilians when I am about the town.
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