To the Military and Beyond! Careers After the Military
You want to see the world, develop your potential, serve
your country -- all that good stuff. But what if you know -- or later decide
-- that a long-term military career is not for you? What happens when you
decide to doff your uniform and don your civvies for good? How hard will it
be to build a second career after the military?
Well, when you make the transition from military to civilian life, you'll
find yourself doing a lot of translating -- translating your military accomplishments
into terms that those outside of the military can understand and appreciate.
That's because the military has its own distinct culture, with lots of customs
and rules that can seem overly formal, rigid and even strange to outsiders.
Overcoming stereotypes and presenting yourself in the right light is vital
for those making the transition.
Daniel Gilbert is making that transition right now. He served in the U.S.
Navy for 20 years and has been retired for one and a half months.
"So far, things are going well with the job searching and I already have
interviews scheduled," says Gilbert, who lives in Nevada.
Gilbert says he has no regrets about his years of military service. The
experience changed him in many positive ways and provided him with valuable
experiences.
"I came into the military at 18 years old with only local experiences to
learn from," Gilbert says. "I have had the chance to visit some of the most
beautiful countries in the world, but also some of the worst.
"I have also been lucky enough to work with some of the best technicians
and people that the world has to offer," he adds. "It's a special bond that
service members have with each other, knowing that you have to protect each
other from all forms of dangers."
While in the Navy, Gilbert conducted a lot of training. This led to many
personal rewards.
"I think the main one would be watching those that you have trained succeed
in situations where they might not have been able to without my involvement,"
Gilbert says. "There is no greater feeling than knowing those that you have
taught know their job and are in a position to teach those that come after
them."
So what do former members of the military such as Gilbert offer future
employers?
"On top of being occupationally qualified....the [military] gives them
leadership skills," says Capt. Holly Brown. She's with the Canadian Forces
Recruiting Group. "Whether you're an officer or a non-commissioned member,
you're given responsibility for people and resources."
This ability to handle responsibility is a real selling point. Businesses
place a high value on people they can rely on. Employers know they get that
by hiring a former member of the military.
"There's not an organization in the world that gives someone the amount
of responsibility that we'll give a soldier on the first day of work," says
Col. Kevin Shwedo. Shwedo is director of operations, plans and training for
U.S. Army Accessions Command at Fort Monroe, in Virginia.
Each branch of the military offers career transition counseling. For example,
officers in the military are able to get pre-retirement assistance from The
Retired Officers Association (TROA).
There are also programs such as the U.S. Army's Partnership for Youth Success
(PaYS). PaYS matches new recruits with companies that promise them an interview
and priority consideration once they complete their term of service. More
than 160 companies are involved. The recruit is interviewed by the company
near the end of their enlistment term with the Army.
Many former officers (as well as non-officers) find leadership roles in
business. This seems a natural fit. After all, they have spent years managing
and motivating hundreds or thousands of soldiers. They have also used their
analytical skills to develop and execute plans of action, often in extremely
stressful situations -- valuable assets for any leader, whether in a military
or civilian capacity.
"Someone who has successfully completed a term of enlistment, you know
they've maintained their physical fitness, you know they've been screened
of drug usage, you know they've learned to work as a team, they are self-starters
and have discipline and dedication," says Douglas Smith with U.S. Army Recruiting.
"The whole list of intangible qualities that you develop -- I think America's
employers know that," says Smith. "American business is looking for those
qualities."
"There's that sense of discipline (and) a strong work ethic," says Brown.
"Also, in the Forces we're very task oriented and performance oriented. These
are all skills that employers look for."
Naval Lt. Chris Parsons echoes Brown's comments. Parsons is with the Canadian
Forces Leadership and Recruit School. "The first thing the employer is going
to look at, they know the person has self-discipline," says Parsons. "They
know the person has....the ability to manage time. We teach people leadership,
so the employer knows the person has been given the fundamentals of leadership
and management."
Whether you serve your country for three years or 30 years, a military
career can provide you with skills and experiences that will continue to serve
you for a lifetime
Links
Transitioning Out of the Military
Advice from the experts
Partnership for Youth Success
Information on the PaYS program
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