What were your biggest challenges leaving the military and embarking on your civilian career?

LT John Chang — Wed, 24 Jul 2019 15:20:31 -0400

I've started working with Shift on a program to help folks leaving the military to get career training regardless of whether they have a degree. So, I want to start creating some content I wish was available when I got out - http://nominate.shift.org/johnchang

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Response by Maj John Bell made Jul 24 at 2019 3:28 PM

Maj John Bell — Wed, 24 Jul 2019 15:28:40 -0400

Civilians. An interviewer actually told me the fact that I changed assignments frequently told her that I was was unable to find a position in the military where I fit in. And the fact that I moved every 2 or 3 years told her that I could not even decide where I wanted to live.

Response by SFC Michael D. made Jul 24 at 2019 4:09 PM

SFC Michael D. — Wed, 24 Jul 2019 16:09:31 -0400

Learning that civilians are not soldiers. The discipline levels will make you want to kill someone at first but resit the urge. Just like when you deployed, you have to acclimate. Go slow.

Response by Sgt Private RallyPoint Member made Jul 24 at 2019 5:21 PM

Sgt Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 24 Jul 2019 17:21:23 -0400

LT John Chang I was discharged in June 1972 and started working full time and going to school full time. I had to interview with three managers for a high paying job at a chemical plant. One of the managers did not like the military or veterans, and he let me know it by asking me if Vietnam had messed me up, and other challenging questions. I kept calm and was hired. In school, I encountered hostility from students who also did not like the military or veterans. Between school and work, I had little free time, so staying busy kept me focused on achieving my goals.

Response by SrA Derrek Cherry made Jul 24 at 2019 5:23 PM

SrA Derrek Cherry — Wed, 24 Jul 2019 17:23:34 -0400

I didn't know what I was going to do since nothing matched up directly to my MOS! I had no idea where to live. I was still shell shocked from being Med Boarded that I decided to use my GI Bill immediately and get a degree in Diesel. The biggest frustration was my first employer said that my military experience didn't count for anything.

Response by SGT Chris Stephens made Jul 25 at 2019 12:53 AM

SGT Chris Stephens — Thu, 25 Jul 2019 00:53:34 -0400

The hardest thing is turning the military off in my brain. The civilian world doesn't work the same way the military does and I had to re-train my brain to that fact.

Response by CAPT Kevin B. made Jul 25 at 2019 6:04 PM

CAPT Kevin B. — Thu, 25 Jul 2019 18:04:04 -0400

My path was not normal. I went Reserve and worked in the same Navy SYSCOM that I did my MIL stuff in. So the greatest balancing act was to do good work and not being perceived as throwing my MIL rank around. I was lucky enough that the GS grade bumped up fairly close to the MIL rank. Then the perception to avoid was "preferred access" to the head shed. Over time, people saw me more as a bridge between CIV and MIL. That and I was aggressive on taking care of my people and more aggressive in dealing with such things as management sponsored sexual harassment. Tended to get the nasty JAGMANs, Admins, and Union negotiations, but remember no good deed goes unpunished.