How can transitioning from the military be made easier?

2016-06-07T18:19:06-04:00

I would like to know how the transition process can help to better selection of new careers, education, and civilian transition. What should the process look like? How were you treated? This is important because I believe the military unemployment rate is decreasing, but the UNDEREMPLOYMENT rate is increasing. There is a disconnect and the advocacy Veterans need is lacking.

Response by SSG Pete Fleming made Jun 7 at 2016 6:37 PM

2016-06-07T18:37:22-04:00

Thank you for sharing, this is an important topic, especially with a rough economy.

Response by PVT Amos A. made Jun 7 at 2016 7:02 PM

2016-06-07T19:02:57-04:00

I think it might boil down to veterans helping each other. And I dont necessarily mean for profit. A lot of guys are trying to make money doing this, but I think there has to be some inner desire to help, teach, mentor etc.....all the things that made you a meaningful NCO to begin with (if thats what you were).

I was dumped. I got tore up in a training accident of all things, and was lucky to survive according to my Doctors. I was left to fend for myself. Nobody at my unit knew about INCAP. I got no guidance from anyone at the local level or state. I was tossed out like trash. And almost lost everything. If I wasnt a mean son of a bitch, if I wasnt a previous healthcare provider who knew how to navigate that system, and if I wasnt a decorated combat veteran who knew my juniors were watching, I might not have made it.

Selection of careers has to begin with desire and passion. Thats half the battle. I dont know if any process that can better that. Obviously we can have Joes take tests etc but they have to decide for themselves and that process needs to begin well before they ETS. If they get hurt thats another story but hopefully they were already looking towards that day well before an injury process.

If you dont have a meaningful skill that transitions to the civilian sector (and even if you do) I suggest going to college. Theres really no other way. Possibly vocational school of you want to get into a career like HVAC.

I mentored one of my teammates to become a nurse. Thats what I did before I joined the Army so I guess he figured if a knuckle dragger like me could do it so could he. He was right.

Im trying to get one of my other juniors to go to college for web design or something like that since he has a part-time job working with websites. All he has to learn is some HTML etc and he can play around more on the front end, and make some coin.

If you have Chap33 you can get BAH benefit as well and rock out with your **** out. If you are rated 20% or above by the VA you can get Chap31 and BAH and charlie mike. This way Joes can leave the mil and go right into school. They might have to get some BS survival job until bebfits kick in. If they are a family provider things can be a bit more complicated during that transition but it can be made to work. Thats what I did and Im supporting 5 live bodies besides myself. SO it can be done.

Otherwise, its off to the turkey factory like one of my peers chose, unfortunately. Im still trying to get him to go to college for criminal justice or police science but I dont think he believes he can do it.

Or he cant visualize it somehow. I think visualization is everything.

Bottom line is, I think vets need to help vets. Im not sure the military can actually do more than they are. And how much SHOULD they be doing for us? We are adults after all. Many of us are leaders. We need to help each other. At the national level is cool. Im glad people are speaking out. But many of us need to do this at the local level. And start reaching out to veterans in the local community around us.

Perhaps we can talk to units in the area. Create nonprofits. Gather volunteers. Talk to VSOs etc and give them our number to be a resource. Mentor vets through the process. Kick them in the ass every now and then. Theyre familiar with that so I dont think anyone will get too butt hurt.

But I think we need to do it for each other. We took care of each other while we were in. And that was special. We had a unit identity. Perhaps a ship identity. Outside the military its a little more difficult. We dont know each other. Guys come from other branches or occupational specialties. The language might be a little different.

But its still about each other. Its still taking care of each other. And if we dont do it we are going to fade out of the public eye. And when the public is no longer looking at us, benefits and sources of assistance are going to get cut. So we need to help each other. And fight for each other.

And remain a community.

Response by MSgt Eric Roseberry made Jun 7 at 2016 7:43 PM

2016-06-07T19:43:34-04:00

Managing expectations is critical. Frequently military experience does not necessarily translate well into a civilian resume. Did you obtain the educational credentials to match your leadership experience? What type of employment will you be looking for, have you made an effort to discuss prospects with civilians working that job now.. how about their bosses?

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Jun 7 at 2016 8:58 PM

2016-06-07T20:58:38-04:00

What I think needs to happen is that once you are 18 months from retirement you should be left alone to process out of the military.

Response by MGySgt Rick Tyrrell made Jun 7 at 2016 9:57 PM

2016-06-07T21:57:30-04:00

It is true about veterans needs but in the end it is about you. Are you marketable? Are you lazy and not willing to work? Have you networked? I am a simple person that feels society owes me nothing but I owe society. I spent 30 years in the Marines and now have a great job I love. The transition workshops for getting out are your first place to learn about getting and getting what you derserve.

Response by PO1 Chris Morrow made Jun 7 at 2016 10:44 PM

2016-06-07T22:44:17-04:00

I think the best way to ease the transition process, especially for those retiring, is to have a recent retiree volunteer that could mentor the SM through the process. It is a very daunting process, and having someone around that could answer questions and provide guidance could really put a SM mentally at ease. A couple of groups have popped up providing this service, now we just meed to get the word out there, so the groups can actually be partnered with the separating SM.

Response by PO3 Frank Opalecky made Jun 7 at 2016 10:44 PM

2016-06-07T22:44:32-04:00

Unfortunately people don't start thinking about transitioning to a civilian career soon enough. It starts when you are in meps when you select your MOS / Rate. If you did not get a job in the military that gives you employable skills outside... then you need to look at getting a degree while still in. But lets face it... at 18 most new military are not thinking about what can I do now to help myself in 4-8 years from now.

Response by SPC Troy Garcia made Jun 7 at 2016 11:07 PM

2016-06-07T23:07:02-04:00

Maybe if leadership would let soldiers ACAP (or whatever the ETS transition is called) and quit picking on them the last few months. Let guys start applying for jobs, getting school situated, let them figure out living situations. If there was a company that walked us through ETS-ing

Response by SGT Private RallyPoint Member made Jun 8 at 2016 5:47 AM

2016-06-08T05:47:56-04:00

ACAP, SFL, TAP or what ever it is called now, needs to be enforced on your one year mark or 18 month for retirees if I'm not mistaken. Although they say that's "it's mandated by congress to attend" or what ever term they use, I have seen and heard about leadership not enforcing those preseperation rules and regulations, yet they will enforce rules and regulations when it benefits them, the mission, etc. Bottom line, preseperation needs to be taken seriously and strictly enforced.

Response by Cpl Justin Goolsby made Jun 8 at 2016 9:45 AM

2016-06-08T09:45:14-04:00

Here's my biggest issue with transition. It needs to be discussed upon ENTERING the Fleet and not upon LEAVING the Fleet. We're required to take a separation class in order to separate from military service. That's great and all, but it doesn't help everyone. When I took my class, I was 6 months from my EAS, so a lot of the stuff I learned was of great value to me. But there was other stuff I learned which I learned a lot earlier so I could better utilize it. For instance, they had a budgeting class. Despite me being fairly good with money, they showed me how much better I could be with money.

Another issue I had with the class. There were Marines in it who were getting kicked out. What benefit are they receiving from a class about separation when they will be given the boot within the next week.

Then there was the class on VA benefits. I didn't enlist for the benefits. I didn't even know all the benefits that veterans were eligible for. If we learned about that before we're about to separate, I believe that would be a significant deterrent of service members getting in trouble.

This is just some of the issues I observed with my transition. If we were instructed upon entering the fleet about the transition process, I believe we would be better prepared.

Response by SFC Chad Sowash made Jun 8 at 2016 12:51 PM

2016-06-08T12:51:43-04:00

Great question and thanks for bringing this into the conversation Michael. Unfortunately after leaving the military veterans don't know how to properly sell themselves and their experiences to the corporate world - because it's entirely foreign. Yes, they might have a polished resume although when getting into the interview many have issues translating their experience into the specific requisition?

On the corporate side of the equation, companies truly want to hire veterans but have NO CLUE what they are looking for and are even worse at understanding your experience, knowledge, skills and abilities - because it's entirely foreign. This leads companies and frustrated veterans to the nearly entry-level position, instead of a position which is more suitable.

So what can veterans do? The can seek companies who are more experienced in hiring military. Review job descriptions and look for military equivalencies, meaning the employer has demonstrated they know what they are looking for - from a military aspect - to fill the job.

What can employers do? They can focus on defining what those equivalencies look like at the requisition level. They will need someone with a military background or a consultant to help them peel back the proverbial onion because it's more than just what MOS, AFSE or Rating you held.

The answer is simple Michael, unfortunately employers have no clue that they have NO CLUE and believe only entry-level or near entry-level are the answer.

I find it amazing we can split the atom, cure disease, and land a man on the moon but cannot apply the appropriate expertise to this issue.

Response by SSG Delanda Hunt made Jun 8 at 2016 6:17 PM

2016-06-08T18:17:12-04:00

Save as much money as possible and get a budget and stick with it. Know what you want to do when you get out and have an operation plan to get it done.

Response by SMSgt Diana Pasterchick made Jun 9 at 2016 10:05 AM

2016-06-09T10:05:38-04:00

I have seen a couple responses that touch on mentorship. Most of us know what our individual responsibilities are when transitioning however, no matter how prepared we feel there is a good chance we may miss something important. There are FREE services out there for transitioning military to obtain a mentor who is already working as a civilian. Organizations like America Corporate Partners (ACP) will assign a mentor to a military member for a year, again FOR FREE. These mentors are veterans who are already established business leaders. At the time of my transition I was getting random advice, just bits and pieces, it would have helped to have one dedicated person to mentor me through it.

Response by D. Cree Crawford made Sep 15 at 2017 11:36 AM

2017-09-15T11:36:46-04:00

A friend in the Texas AG office shared there are many open positions.
If you or have friends/family members who are interested. Shoot me a PM at: [login to see]
VR
DCC

Response by MAJ David Brand made Sep 15 at 2017 12:44 PM

2017-09-15T12:44:55-04:00

Take a look at Transition Tech at Fayetteville Technical Community! Many pathways to a new profession at no cost to the Servicemember!