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Are you in a career field you hate? Do you feel stuck? Do you lack motivation or simply just have no idea what you want to do?
I hear you!
After returning home from my second trip overseas, I had no idea what I wanted to do. I started the process of becoming a law enforcement officer, which I proudly served, for 5 years, part-time, while I finished getting my bachelor’s degree at the University of Louisville. During this time, I did what everyone else in this line of work does; contemplated if I wanted to wear shiny things on my collar. As a military brat, shiny collars were definitely a topic of discussion around my small group of family and friends both while growing up, and into my adulthood. I decided after serving for a time to put my law enforcement career and thoughts of becoming an officer to bed when I volunteered to go on my 3rd trip overseas to Landstuhl, Germany. There, I was tasked with supporting wounded, ill and injured Marines medevac’d (Medical Evacuation) from their respected area of operations. Some of those I supported were wounded while conducting combat operations, others came to the hospital for other reasons. Working hand in hand on the front line of receiving those medevacs forced me to realize how much it truly does take to be a part of something greater than yourself. Unfortunately, during my time stationed in Landstuhl I witnessed, first-hand, our nations heroes not being able to make it back home to their families. Those wounded heroes then led me to their families, waiting by their bedside, praying and hoping that their loved one would give them a sign that they were still fighting. I watched as many of these families went from being Blue Star Families (A family that has a member serving overseas) to becoming something that no family ever wants to be titled: A Gold Star Family (A family that has had a loved one sacrifice their life for our freedom).
After 15 months, my time had come and gone in Germany and I was headed home. I had gotten married, and my wife and I had our first child, a beautiful little girl. I no longer had the responsibility of just taking care of myself. It was time to figure out what I needed to do to provide the best life possible for my family. So, there I was, at a crossroad in my life, trying to figure out what I wanted to do. It was during this time that I decided I was going to go back to school to get my MBA and pursue a career in corporate America. I knew that I was not going to be happy settling for the ordinary and that I needed to push myself until I felt like I was truly reaching my full potential. I finished my MBA in 13 months, and I found myself completely over worked and burnt out. For over a year I had been working 0700-1600 and then going to school from 1700-2200 three nights a week and every other weekend. I honestly felt like I was back in Afghanistan sucking down energy drinks, chiefing cigarettes, and dipping a can or two a day. I hated it. Although I had a higher degree now, I wasn’t any closer to feeling higher up in my life. It wasn’t the answer to my problems like I was hoping it would be.
June 2019 I was approached by the Woody Williams Foundation. If you aren’t sure who Woody Williams is, I recommend you google search “Hershel Woody Williams- Iwo Jima.” It was through them that I finally figured it out. I Found My Cause. Stay tuned......
I hear you!
After returning home from my second trip overseas, I had no idea what I wanted to do. I started the process of becoming a law enforcement officer, which I proudly served, for 5 years, part-time, while I finished getting my bachelor’s degree at the University of Louisville. During this time, I did what everyone else in this line of work does; contemplated if I wanted to wear shiny things on my collar. As a military brat, shiny collars were definitely a topic of discussion around my small group of family and friends both while growing up, and into my adulthood. I decided after serving for a time to put my law enforcement career and thoughts of becoming an officer to bed when I volunteered to go on my 3rd trip overseas to Landstuhl, Germany. There, I was tasked with supporting wounded, ill and injured Marines medevac’d (Medical Evacuation) from their respected area of operations. Some of those I supported were wounded while conducting combat operations, others came to the hospital for other reasons. Working hand in hand on the front line of receiving those medevacs forced me to realize how much it truly does take to be a part of something greater than yourself. Unfortunately, during my time stationed in Landstuhl I witnessed, first-hand, our nations heroes not being able to make it back home to their families. Those wounded heroes then led me to their families, waiting by their bedside, praying and hoping that their loved one would give them a sign that they were still fighting. I watched as many of these families went from being Blue Star Families (A family that has a member serving overseas) to becoming something that no family ever wants to be titled: A Gold Star Family (A family that has had a loved one sacrifice their life for our freedom).
After 15 months, my time had come and gone in Germany and I was headed home. I had gotten married, and my wife and I had our first child, a beautiful little girl. I no longer had the responsibility of just taking care of myself. It was time to figure out what I needed to do to provide the best life possible for my family. So, there I was, at a crossroad in my life, trying to figure out what I wanted to do. It was during this time that I decided I was going to go back to school to get my MBA and pursue a career in corporate America. I knew that I was not going to be happy settling for the ordinary and that I needed to push myself until I felt like I was truly reaching my full potential. I finished my MBA in 13 months, and I found myself completely over worked and burnt out. For over a year I had been working 0700-1600 and then going to school from 1700-2200 three nights a week and every other weekend. I honestly felt like I was back in Afghanistan sucking down energy drinks, chiefing cigarettes, and dipping a can or two a day. I hated it. Although I had a higher degree now, I wasn’t any closer to feeling higher up in my life. It wasn’t the answer to my problems like I was hoping it would be.
June 2019 I was approached by the Woody Williams Foundation. If you aren’t sure who Woody Williams is, I recommend you google search “Hershel Woody Williams- Iwo Jima.” It was through them that I finally figured it out. I Found My Cause. Stay tuned......
Civilian Career
Military Career
Networking
Motivation
Transition
Posted 3 y ago
Responses: 5
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Life can be ironic. I graduated with an Accounting and Finance degrees. I was offered accounting positions but thought becoming a bean counter would be a slow death. So I joined the army knowing full well that my career would be diverse. Everything went well. I went into the 160th, Tanks, National Disaster, then the army in its infinite wisdom made me a damn Budget Officer.
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MAJ Ken Landgren
Cpl Vic Burk - Budget was not hard. It is essentially getting a budget from higher HQs, asking my subordinate units what their activities are that requires funds. Then I monitor their spending. It was a little tricky because I had Title 10 and Title 32 funds. The biggest contribution I made was studying DTS for a whole week and making a DTS Smart Book for the army.
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There will always be the suck in every profession. The suck takes many forms and it speaks many different languages, but the suck is still there. But also the joy is there, if you can connect with it. I have found that to be the case in any endeavor be it the job, the military, education, being a father; it's there and will always be. The grass is not greener if you think green means no suck. The trick to whatever you do, even a task you dislike, is to find a way to connect to it and make it something of value to what you want to ultimately accomplish. In that the suck is your bitch.
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It’s been my experience that depending on the person, their work experience, and their undergraduate and graduate degrees, it is possible to get your graduate degree to early; that is without gaining the work experience one needs to make good decisions as an executive. I’ve found it’s very important to embrace the suck, because we learn from the suck. MHO
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Cpl Vic Burk
Sgt Jim Belanus - I figured all that out also (being a math teacher) but I still opted to wait. At this point, what is another (less than) two years. It is all based on statistics. The government is gambling by waiting I won't collect as much in my lifetime, I am gambling I will out last what I lost for waiting. We will see who wins in the end. For an old goat like me, I am in great shape! I am determined to make Uncle Sam lose their gamble
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Sgt Jim Belanus
if you like what your doing, keep doing it. I'm still doing a little farming just for that reason, but there does come a time you can't do it anymore
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Cpl Vic Burk
Sgt Jim Belanus - I love teaching mathematics and plan to continue into my 70's if I can. It can be challenging at times but that make it all the more interesting. There is nothing like when you see that light go on above their heads when they finally get it.
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