Why do so many service members feel they are owed something once they get out/retire?

2014-08-05T04:00:45-04:00

I always hear young Marines talking big about when they get out how they are owed a high salary once they seperate because they spent the past XX amount of years defending the country etc etc etc. What I don't understand is why they feel this way when the majority of them have done nothing to further their education while in the service. So many young NCOs feel that since they led/managed in the military especially in combat that they are destined to jump right into a middle or upper management job upon seperation. It reminds me of the movie Cocktail when Tom Cruise's character gets out of the Army and is interviewing on Wall St and says he will start at the bottom and is told that he is aiming too high. What can we do to temper our troops expectations upon seperation?

Response by MSG(P) Michael Warrick made Aug 5 at 2014 8:17 AM

2014-08-05T08:17:49-04:00

SSgt Gregory Guina - I understand where you are coming from when they have not made a attempt to better themselves in education, trade skills and etc..

Response by CWO2 Shelby DuBois made Aug 5 at 2014 10:24 AM

2014-08-05T10:24:45-04:00

I've been working in staffing and with young vets for over a decade and I can tell you much of what you hear on active duty is just talk... Marines being Marines. Once in an office with a recruiter the truth comes out and they are mostly humble, self-deprecating and honest to a fault. Most of the time those high salary expectations are made when comparing civilian sector wages vs what you are making for same basic skills. Once out and reality sets in those sights are lowered or met or even exceeded based on the economy, the market, the business need as well as location. There are a lot of vets working in the civilian hiring sector who are watching their backs and setting realistic expectations.

Response by SCPO David Lockwood made Aug 5 at 2014 12:19 PM

2014-08-05T12:19:01-04:00

How can you expect a high salary when you haven't prepared yourself for leaving the military? I've always been an advocate of getting as much education as you can while your in. Put yourself in a position not only to advance in the military but to make your self more marketable once you do get out. You have to be prepared when you get out, to expect that the private sector is going to kiss your ass and give you what you want is ludicrous! The only thing that being prior military will do is get your foot in the door the rest is up to you. You are competing with a younger workforce whose probably better educated and again younger than you are. After I was hired at my job the company decided they were going to hire a younger workforce and wanted us older workers to train them. Not a problem if they would show up to work on time! Any way prepare yourself and don't expect the private sector is going to kiss your feet because you are prior military. My thoughts.

Response by SSgt Robert Clark made Aug 5 at 2014 12:31 PM

2014-08-05T12:31:12-04:00

Don't know if this makes any difference, but 21 years ago when I separated my only hope or expectation was that I got a job. I understood I was not going to land a job making 100K per year or even land in a middle management position. I just wanted to make sure I had a job and could take care of my family. And, I still think that way. Don't care what my title is or what power level I'm on, just want to provide for my family the best that I can.

Response by SSG Laureano Pabon made Aug 5 at 2014 12:55 PM

2014-08-05T12:55:02-04:00

SSgt Guina I can understand what these SM perhaps may be thinking, I was pretty much like them. By that I meant (Working in wall Street, in an office, making allot of money), dreams are far different then reality. Yet what caused me to think as such was the fact that I ran and worked as a leader in a communications shop responsible for expensive equipment. Instead looking for a job when out was not what I expected. Considering that I never got any real help from anyone to teach me how or where to look for a job, my first job was messenger. Yes I did get to visit Wall Street and I saw with my own eyes how unrealistic that dream was. Today I'm a computer Technician and yes I did work at 60 Wall Street for the past 5 years. Now I'm unemployed. But to work in wall Street doing office work, is something I would never do, not even if the pay were good. Lets just say its not me. What I'm saying by this is that no matter how one may feel, nothing out here is for ever. I have had many jobs since I been out and have worked in many different companies doing IT. Being in the military seemed as if you can hold a job forever, get pay raises then retire with out a problem. Out here that is far from reality. I have seen people with PDH's (Actual Medical Doctors) homeless living in shelters and while education may be something its up to those who do the hiring that will decide if they hire you or not. While I may be in IT doesn't mean I have a wonderful career, it's who is looking to hire and how much they need you. Interesting part is that those who do the hiring are themselves in this same exact boat, they can also lose there jobs and find themselves in the unemployment line. One of the best things I can say is that anyone can find a job, but a career is something you are willing to do until you retire in your late age and in both one can always lose there jobs specially with the way the economy is today. I have been out of the active duty Army since 1986, and these were the actual lessons I have learned the hard way. I don't expect anyone whom in currently act to understand nor tell there subordinates on what to expect when that SM is out unless they themselves have lived such experiences. But then again that's why we have RP and there are allot of veterans here to share our experiences and or help all SM to the best we can.

Response by SFC Christopher Perry made Aug 5 at 2014 8:47 PM

2014-08-05T20:47:25-04:00

SSgt Gregory Guina Honestly, I have not personally witnessed this particular inflated expectation. Now I can say that have witnessed the general expectation or feeling that a military member might be owed something following their service. In other words the feeling that having completed their service they shall simply shed the uniform and walk into a simple civilian life. I had a fifteen year break in service and I can say with confidence this is not the case! I now have eight years remaining if I were to do the traditional 20 years. With the way things are in our world today I began to prepare for what I may not control three years ago. I've taken the concept of attending every military school possible very seriously. I've been hanging right with my two kids that are in college now. I may actually beat one of them to graduation day. Simply serving entitles us to nothing in the outside world. We have to be realistic and look at things from both the military and civilian side of the equation. What sets you apart in uniform may in fact mean nothing when you hang it up. If you are not constantly improving yourself you are falling behind. I cannot remember where I came across the saying but it has become a part of my life.

Response by SGT Private RallyPoint Member made Aug 6 at 2014 11:10 AM

2014-08-06T11:10:34-04:00

I think many service members look back upon their careers and figure the paychecks weren't enough compensation for their experiences. The nation holds a high respect four service members as a stereotype, and this gets into service members' heads. They feel that being the one percent of the population who sacrificed a lot for their country, and they deserve more than just a paycheck. They are used to "military discounts", free healthcare benefits, tax free housing and food allowances, and other benefits. They get accustomed to a lifestyle of having all of the basics taken care of, and think life will always be that way. At military installations all over the world, you see expensive cars, designer clothes, and high value electronics. This is due to the benefits our government provides the service members. They can afford to live lavishly with housing, food, and health insurance already provided. When they decide to leave service, they feel they are owed the same pleasures for the rest of their lives.

This is, of course, my opinion on the matter. But I firmly believe it to be true. Also, with inflation comes more expectation.

Response by CAPT Private RallyPoint Member made Aug 6 at 2014 12:13 PM

2014-08-06T12:13:21-04:00

Whether or not one is "owed" something for your service is really irrelevant in the civilian job market, unless its in the context of veterans preference for a GS job. If one has that attitude, chances are that's not going to translate well when networking and looking for employment. Employers will thank you for your service - sometimes - but what's most important is being able to demonstrate in language they understand how you can benefit their company.

Response by CAPT Gary Foster made Aug 7 at 2014 11:27 AM

2014-08-07T11:27:18-04:00

Leaving the service is all about the preparation before you get out. For some, the preparation is 20 years or more, gaining education, leadership and management experience, and skills. However, the most important position you must take when you get out is that you have to humble yourself to the point of saying that no one owes you anything. If you are getting out and you have the expectant attitude to have something handed to you, you will be humbled fairly quickly. Getting a great job boils down to one fact: how you market yourself. In the job market today, there are so many applicants for every job to choose from. Unfortunately a resume screener takes about 30 seconds to scan your resume, and if they see something that stands out that meets a criteria for the job they are trying to fill, then you have a foot in the door, but that does not guarantee that you will be hired. You can say in so many words that you served in the military and did this or that, but those actions do not necessarily transfer into skills required for a particular civilian position. The only thing we should expect as a veteran is respect for serving our country, and yet there are employers in our own country that do not give a rat’s behind if you served or not. It comes down to being a business decision to hire you or not. In no way shape or form does serving in the military translate into owing you a job or better pay. You have to admit, though, that through your service, you have acquired so many skills and have lived a regimented life of good character, but those are the intangible qualities that are hard to put on paper and will only come out in an interview or once hired. I am glad to see many corporations hiring veterans for all of the right reasons, but even they have a screening process and will hire personnel based on what they can bring to the company. I left the service after 27 years four years ago with three masters degrees and a boat load of skills and training. I have gone through a number of hiring processes and jobs. A few of them were low paying jobs, but in this economy sometimes you have to humble yourself to the bottom rung of the ladder. Just because I wore four stripes in the Navy did not guarantee me anything. It takes time and persistence to land a great job. I finally did, but it took me quite some time to do so. I have seen some guys roll right into great opportunities fresh out of the service. Those are the exception and not the norm. Nobody owes you anything. Start with that attitude, and then market yourself.

Response by CAPT Private RallyPoint Member made Aug 10 at 2014 6:44 PM

2014-08-10T18:44:37-04:00

Well, let's see...Our troops should always understand that while they are in the service, 'the service' is the center of their world. They must live, breath, serve the mission they took an oath to defend and support. Break, Break...once you are done with this part of your life, our troops must understand they are entering another world. A world far different than the one they are leaving and this new world will welcome their maturity, their leadership skills, their technical talents, etc. as long, repeat, as long, as they can market and sell themselves in this new world. They need to understand that while they were on the frontiers of defense and walking in harm's way there were others that lived in the world they are now entering and those people speak the language, walk the walk, and are very likely better networked. If you cannot sell yourself in this new world then expect the new world to look at you askance. They don't know you. You come from a world they've read about, a world apart from anything they've ever known. You must work doubly hard to convince them you can do the job. You must immerse yourself in their world. Get out of your old world and embrace their world. Show them that what you bring to the 'new world' table is worth it for them to sit down with you. Discuss your attributes and how it will help them, not about all the things you did in Iraq and AF. Talk about how your talents will make them a better company!!!

Response by MAJ Ken Landgren made Apr 21 at 2015 4:34 PM

2015-04-21T16:34:19-04:00

That would make a good professional development class to describe the real world.

Response by SSG John Erny made Jun 19 at 2015 4:20 PM

2015-06-19T16:20:29-04:00

Damn tootin' they owe me something! The retirement pay check! :-)

Response by SGT John Ball made May 9 at 2022 3:52 PM

2022-05-09T15:52:37-04:00

I know old post. However, I once worked with a freshly retired SSG who thought she was literally owed a management or supervisory position. Yeah ok, doesn't work that way and me and her butted heads quite often because of her entitled attitude. You have to start out at a lower position a lot of the time and working your way up is doable.

Response by CSM Darieus ZaGara made May 9 at 2022 4:06 PM

2022-05-09T16:06:56-04:00

Many boast what they are told. Not often do they reach out to their peers following separation for a reality check. Bottom line in my experience is most end up in school or training. Many land respectable positions with salary’s in the mid 40 to 50 and work on it from there. There is a-lot of competition out their. Many should look into local or federal law enforcement. Those qualified with personnel, or technical trades should look into federal while they navigate through the realities of the private sector.