What career did you choose to take on after you returned home? Was it something similar from when you were in the military?

SN Vivien Roman-Hampton — Fri, 28 Apr 2017 15:05:55 -0400

Share your experience of entering a career after your service, and how your military experience might have impacted it.

Response by MSG Private RallyPoint Member made Apr 28 at 2017 3:09 PM

MSG Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 28 Apr 2017 15:09:40 -0400

I've always been able to fall back on my most awesome vampyricle phlebotomy skills.

Response by SFC William Stephens A. Jr., 3 MSM, JSCM made Apr 28 at 2017 3:18 PM

SFC William Stephens A. Jr., 3 MSM, JSCM — Fri, 28 Apr 2017 15:18:55 -0400

Good question, really has to do with NETWORKING because look at the scale, FIELD ARTILLERY= SECURITY SPECIALIST, shooting big bullets down range= processing security clearances, why because I used my skill from the small schools and NCOES that I attended while I was in the ARMY, 20 years, Do I have Master Degree and do I have to pay a shit load of money back to college, NOT! I can't say much for the 4 year jobber who serve and did their time but it all has to do with NETWORKING and how you write that resume. I've changed my resume so many times and had so many amazing people help me down this hard road, I'll tell for combat arms guys its hard road, I didn't just fall into this position. There were some bumps but now I can relax, I do my job, I do it well, to the standard, and take the time I need from work and sick time, and get the respect I need to do my job. I carry a level of clearance that I never thought I would have as a Field Artillerymen. Best thing working on my second retirement. My resume is on my profile if any of you folks need help.

STEPHENS

Response by SFC Andrew Miller made Apr 28 at 2017 3:57 PM

SFC Andrew Miller — Fri, 28 Apr 2017 15:57:39 -0400

I was a signal guy with experience in various forms of tactical comms and information technology. I had set myself up for success well ahead of time by obtaining a degree, some IT certifications, and doing my homework. I also prepped my resume and myself well for every job I applied for. I'm not counting jobs where I checked the "apply here" button and used the auto-fill information from job sites, but there has only been one job that I was qualified for where I applied and didn't get it.

I started out working in the same field and expected to do that for the rest of my life. My first position was as a contractor in Afghanistan. When I was retiring, my and I discussed the pros and cons of it, and it had been about 5 years since my last deployment so that factored as well. I was hired and boots on the ground about 45 days before my terminal leave ended. I was hired as a junior technician, but was number 2 in charge in country for our company by the time I left 9 months later.
Once I returned, I worked as a Dish Network contractor until I found something better, which took about 3 months, when I took a job as a network admin at a small university. It was during my time there that I learned about our County Veterans Service Officer. After talking with him, I knew that was what I wanted to do for the rest of my life. I kept my eyes opened and a vacancy opened up in the next county over. I applied and was selected out of a pool of about 10 that were finalists.

I'm coming up on my 2 year anniversary and couldn't be happier. I am truly living the dream.

Response by SGT Jim Arnold made Apr 28 at 2017 3:58 PM

SGT Jim Arnold — Fri, 28 Apr 2017 15:58:44 -0400

it was the exact same skill and job function as the military just lots more of it

Response by PO1 Brian Austin made Apr 28 at 2017 4:26 PM

PO1 Brian Austin — Fri, 28 Apr 2017 16:26:37 -0400

Worked in Comms/IT in the Navy. Did the same as a contractor for 8 years overseas after i retired. Already had the clearance and worked with same crypto. Just didn't wear the uniform.
Got burned out and took a year off. Now work in hospital security while the wife pulls in the "big bucks". :)

Response by PFC Jonathan Albano made Apr 28 at 2017 5:05 PM

PFC Jonathan Albano — Fri, 28 Apr 2017 17:05:45 -0400

I went into testing electronic components. It's related to fixing radios in the sense that both require an understanding of electric theory but that's where the similarities end. That said, it's probably the thing that set me apart from the rest of the applicants. Been at it since July 2014 so I must be doing something right.

Response by MSgt Steven Holt, NRP, CCEMT-P made Apr 28 at 2017 5:11 PM

MSgt Steven Holt, NRP, CCEMT-P — Fri, 28 Apr 2017 17:11:27 -0400

I was career SIGINT while active duty. Now I'm a Paramedic working for an ambulance service.

Response by PO1 Aaron Baltosser made Apr 28 at 2017 5:14 PM

PO1 Aaron Baltosser — Fri, 28 Apr 2017 17:14:27 -0400

I worked at Sears for a bit and tried to help them get squared away. It was a hot mess though, and they thought they were doing a fine job losing business, not upgrading their tech, and not training in good customer response. I was tired after retirement, so I left the work force to enjoy life. A military retirement, and good financial planning can allow you to do that at 41. The job was totally different than what I did while in. Had the work space improved, or even been trending in that direction I might still be there.

Response by CPT Private RallyPoint Member made Apr 28 at 2017 7:37 PM

CPT Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 28 Apr 2017 19:37:13 -0400

When I left the Army the first time around I went in a totally opposite direction than what I did in the service. I probably took a huge pay cut at the time by doing so, but it was worth it.

Response by PVT Mark Brown made Apr 28 at 2017 8:30 PM

PVT Mark Brown — Fri, 28 Apr 2017 20:30:47 -0400

Work was almost impossible to find when I got home December 1970. Some of my brothers and sisters may recall what life was like for veterans in some areas. I worked in a few different occupations, mostly all sales job until finally joining the family business which was an Insurance Agency where I stayed until I sold the business in 2010 and ultimately retired in 2012. Not much to do with anything I did in the Army.

Response by LtCol Robert Quinter made Apr 28 at 2017 9:40 PM

LtCol Robert Quinter — Fri, 28 Apr 2017 21:40:09 -0400

My second career had nothing to do with aviation, but had everything to do with what anyone who had a successful term in the military has probably learned; how to lead people and push, pull or cajole them into doing what needs to be done. I started out as the ops manager for a large medical supply distributor where I worked with a sales force, warehousemen, and delivery persons. We supplied 220 hospitals in Mississippi, Tennessee and Arkansas; that evolved into being a Medical Administrator for an Orthopaedic practice, a family medicine practice and a general surgery practice. I never set a fracture, cured a kid or performed bariatric service, but I saw that the physicians and surgeons had everything they needed, kept the desks manned, saw my people got paid and made our clients happy.

Response by LTC Jason Mackay made Apr 29 at 2017 5:51 PM

LTC Jason Mackay — Sat, 29 Apr 2017 17:51:26 -0400

Not exactly. I was a Logisitics Officer, I tried to teach supply chain management at the university level but was stymied by not being plugged into that community where I retired. I was also a Garrison Commander where I ran essentially a small city, including public works. I also had experience as a young officer running job shops for equipment maintenance. I am a Civil Engineer by education but really hadn't used it. I did not plan on it, but I applied to be an Assistant Director of Facilities for a School District. Now I'm the Director. I have four shops that do preventive and unscheduled maintenance of buildings and grounds.

Response by PO2 Christopher Morehouse made Apr 30 at 2017 9:12 AM

PO2 Christopher Morehouse — Sun, 30 Apr 2017 09:12:00 -0400

Cannon crewman in the USMC, then Electrician in the USN. Tried being a tech when I got out, then I realized abruptly two weeks later while caked in mud and beat from a construction site that I was done doing that sort of thing. Relaxed as a lifeguard for the summer while I waited to start the Fall semester studying Economics. Ended up as a lawyer, and I love it.

Moral of the story - keep trying stuff until you find what you want to do. Just go about it in a way that is smart. School alone is not the answer. I always had a job, even if it was on a volunteer basis to keep the flow of experience coming. That's when your prior service will come in handy. It is a great way to get your foot in the door, but you still have to open it yourself.

Response by Cpl Justin Goolsby made Apr 30 at 2017 6:23 PM

Cpl Justin Goolsby — Sun, 30 Apr 2017 18:23:00 -0400

I do the exact same thing I did when I was in the military. I'd say the military impacted it primarily because I wouldn't have had the experience or desire to seek out an employment in this field if it wasn't already forced on me to begin with.

Response by MSG Frederick Otero made May 1 at 2017 10:32 PM

MSG Frederick Otero — Mon, 01 May 2017 22:32:26 -0400

I turned my medical experience in the military into a civilian nursing career and never regretted it. I was given plenty of college credits toward my nursing degree related to the military medical training i received. The need for nurses is still great and worth looking into. VIRIS ET HONOS