When transitioning from military to civilian life, what are some of the largest, or smallest, hardships that you struggled with personally?

SGT Charles Napierala — Tue, 25 Apr 2017 02:10:32 -0400

For me, one of the hardest parts was having to start from scratch in the IT field. I didn't have any certifications that most IT companies were looking for, nor did I have experience in ticketed work orders and operating in servers. I had a ton of experience in the IT field, just none of it relevant enough to land a job higher than entry level.

Response by PO1 James Mason made Apr 25 at 2017 2:31 AM

PO1 James Mason — Tue, 25 Apr 2017 02:31:29 -0400

The hardest part for me was just trying to translate everything I did in the navy into some sort of practical experience (which I was able to do successfully) and get into a better field in IT than I had before I went in. (I did not do IT work per se in the navy)

Response by SSG Steven Borders made Apr 25 at 2017 6:48 AM

SSG Steven Borders — Tue, 25 Apr 2017 06:48:14 -0400

That is one of the things that kind of irks me is we get no certifications that help in the civilian world. I work on diesel engines and work with electricity. You would think I had a journeyman or electrical certification but nope. It helps I came in late at 30, so I have experienced the civilian way of doing things. But for SM's who have been in the military their whole career, it is a lot hard to transition back to being a civilian.

Response by SFC William Stephens A. Jr., 3 MSM, JSCM made Apr 25 at 2017 9:11 AM

SFC William Stephens A. Jr., 3 MSM, JSCM — Tue, 25 Apr 2017 09:11:55 -0400

I like questions like this, because I am coming from the combat arms side of the house and a lot of people put a target on us because one being Field Artillery when we come into the job world we are not educated. Well. the key is NETWORKING with counterparts, friends and companies with your resume and cover letter because when one person looks at something and they like it, it don't stay local for long. I think my hardest thing was with my transition was going from a no job skill to what I do today with Department of Defense and I think because of the schools and some of the NCOES, I had and the way it was worked and the key is WORDED on my resume and again NETWORKING with people, everyday people and being on social media, I didn't say job sites but I did put my resume out there for everyone to see but it changed many times. MY PTSD has held me back, but don't let things like hold you back because I have fought my way back and working in the job, I work in now for 10 years after I retired from the Army. Its hard to find a job like I got, seeing friends who served like I did, working hard labor for their families knowing what they have been through, I wish I could bring them on with me, Don't stop trying the door will open up, like I told by a great commander it will take at least 5 years for your window to open, some shorter but like I said "NETWORKING " is the key. There still are a lot of veterans out there who can't complete a resume or cover letter but it ok! because there is always a second set of eyes waiting to help you. more eyes the better. Nothing hard in work, what hard is going to combat and coming back and starting a whole new life over.

Response by SFC Jim Mergott made Apr 25 at 2017 9:13 AM

SFC Jim Mergott — Tue, 25 Apr 2017 09:13:49 -0400

After my 4 year enlistment I left the Army and started off with a construction job. I was infantry and I didn't know shit about carpentry. So..... starting from scratch and staying humble was the most difficult part of my transition. DO NOT be that guy who is to good or won't work for low pay in the beginning. Before those type of guys realize it, they are thirty something people with no job skills and a history of not be able to hold a job. Then we see them on the side of the road at off ramps begging for money.

Response by SSG(P) Private RallyPoint Member made Apr 25 at 2017 10:14 AM

SSG(P) Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 25 Apr 2017 10:14:41 -0400

I feel your pain. I have (what are now called "legacy") Microsoft certifications, as I earned them back in 1998. My struggle now is either updating them or getting new ones. I have chosen to get new ones, so I have researched Cisco networking books and study materials. I have 9 years of paid I.T. experience doing everything from phone support to network engineering, so I have that going for me. But now everyone is looking for up to date certs and experience on pretty much everything. Now, what hiring managers *want* versus what they are going to *get* are usually very different because not everyone has experience in everything. For example, there are programmers, network guys, routing guys, security guys, database guys, storage guys, etc. and very rarely do these communities cross-train. So finding someone with MS Windows/Networking certs AND programming certs is pretty rare.

Unless you have lots of certs, then starting at the bottom is where you have to start. I started out doing spreadsheets. I graduated up to telephone tech support, and then as my experience grew, I got lucky and got better and better gigs that exposed me to newer and better skills and equipment. So what you have to tell hiring people is that you have some experience, but that you are willing to learn and get trained (either on your dime or theirs if they offer it) to do what they need done. Always keep looking for more and better stuff to do within the company. Ask to shadow higher level people. Ask lots of questions about how things work. Then when you get comfortable with the tech, ask to get hands-on. Other than that, luck has a lot to do with it; be at the right place at the right time. Good luck!

Response by Sgt Private RallyPoint Member made Apr 25 at 2017 6:05 PM

Sgt Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 25 Apr 2017 18:05:12 -0400

SGT Charles Napierala With proper planning and preparation there should be no hardships, but challenges that we all face. I knew that I need a degree for the job that I wanted, so when I was discharged in 1972, I found a good paying chemical plant job and started school. Five and a half years later, I had my degree, and began a 33 year career on the Space Shuttle program. My biggest challenge was while I was in school, and I had to deal with civilians that hated the military and veterans. Discipline and drive will take you where you want to go.

Response by LtCol Robert Quinter made Apr 26 at 2017 1:06 AM

LtCol Robert Quinter — Wed, 26 Apr 2017 01:06:34 -0400

Although I'll probably provoke a lot of dissent, the worst adjustment I had to make was realizing you could not have the faith or confidence in the honesty and frankness of coworkers compared to fellow Marines.

Response by PO1 Robin Edwards made Mar 9 at 2018 6:32 PM

PO1 Robin Edwards — Fri, 09 Mar 2018 18:32:43 -0500

For me it was a double edged sword...I was ready to retire, 20 yr (USN) and had 60 days on the books, had my degree and other credentials and immediately got hired DoD USMC, so I was able to “double dip”. I couldn’t stand the lazy complacent civs I now worked with. My standards were too high, I worked to fast (actually told to slow down), so many things they did were out of date, redundant etc., I had to wait a week for my DoD CAC card, couldn’t do anything, I thought I was going to explode...then work began, I enjoyed being able to remain attached to the military. However, long story short... I don’t play well with others. Quit after 3yrs

Response by Georgeann Carter made Mar 15 at 2018 11:23 AM

Georgeann Carter — Thu, 15 Mar 2018 11:23:04 -0400

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Response by CW4 Craig Urban made Apr 10 at 2019 8:30 PM

CW4 Craig Urban — Wed, 10 Apr 2019 20:30:38 -0400

Being over qualified. I got out in 1969 as a 20 year old sp/5. No one would hire me. Vet preference means nothing. Went to work as a carpenter for 9 months. Came back in the army since it was easier. I have briefed up to the 3 star level.

Response by CW4 Craig Urban made Jun 19 at 2019 3:44 PM

CW4 Craig Urban — Wed, 19 Jun 2019 15:44:09 -0400

Yes there is age bias in the workforce. I am not going to me a Walmart employee. I could be the CEO