Difficulty Adjusting ... Any Advice?

First, let me state I am not looking for sympathy or criticism. This is merely my experience since being discharged. I served from September 1988 until March 2002. I have had a very difficult time adjusting to life outside of the military environment. The sense of responsibility, integrity, accountability, and work ethic does not translate well to civilians.

Having a "go-getter" mentality has given me labels by coworkers such as brown-noser, gungho hero, one-man show, etc. They don't seem to understand that many of us see a medial task the same as loading a missile on an F-15 (my personal experience)...it needs to be done right, done quickly, done safely, and done right now. I am on my sixth attempt at establishing a career since my discharge (honorable, by the way). I should add the this try has been successful so far with a promotion in the near future.

In regards to personal relationships, I have found that very few people can relate to what I have experienced. I know...not everyone can relate to putting weapons on aircraft or putting recruits through their paces in basic training. But I do get tired of the "deer in headlights" look when I do speak of those things. It gets disheartening after a while.

I have come to realize that we may be ready for the civilian world, but it's not ready for us. I firmly believe there needs to be a basic training/boot camp prior to seperation. I went through a TAP class back in 1998. I can say with confidence that most of the material is useless. Of course we need interview techniques, resume writing, "dress for success," and all that. But what about "establishing relationships with friends and coworkers" or "intergrity first, service before self, and excellence in all you do...core values not common in the civilian world"?

Enough of my ranting and raving. Good luck to those getting out and hang in there to those that are already out.

(Submitted by Michael Mills, II)

The 6 P's of Transitioning

One of the most valuable and useful lessons I learned while serving in the military is that proper prior planning is a crucial element of any endeavor in wish you hope to succeed. There is not a mission that the military undertakes that is not planned, rehearsed, and revised dozens of times before it is begun. The entire culture of military readiness is saturated with an obvious obsession with continuous, detailed, and thorough planning. Every training mission and every evolution must be thought through and any and all contingencies must be considered. The deployment of ships to the Persian Gulf, the deployment of Marines to Haiti, or the Humanitarian missions following Hurricane Katrina all have this one element in common and without it, success would often be out of reach.

Since learning this wonderful principle, I have made every attempt to apply it to every personal undertaking from the purchase of my first home to my transition from active duty to civilian life. I am writing this to offer those who wish to leave the military service an example from my own experiences and to reassure those who are facing this new horizon that there is indeed life after the military. I see it like every other mission you have undertaken; it requires a degree of concentrated planning and effort if it is to be successful.
First and foremost, I feel that it helps to periodically consider what it is that you would like to do after you leave the military service. You should make time regularly to think about the type of person you are, what you are good (and bad) at, what you like to do ( and what you don’t), and how long you have before you will have an opportunity to pursue it. For me this meant taking the time to read websites and books, talk to veterans who were successful in their civilian lives, and take stock of the skills, attributes , and attitudes I had developed in ten years as a sailor. I wrote many lists to inventory these items several times throughout my enlistment.

I studied my service jacket detailing all the schools that the Navy sent me to and I looked at my daily job and thought about the things I actually did like about it. What I eventually discovered was that the technical field in which I served was only partially satisfying. I was Navy Engineer, particularly a Gas Turbine Electrician, which meant that I worked in an industrial environment with many hazards from chemicals and noise, to hot temperatures, and rotating machinery. I stood many hours of “watches” over machines that burned fuel, pumped fluids, and compressed gases and often this was on a rotating shift and required long tedious hours of repetitive activity. I quickly discovered that while it was good experience, it didn’t really appeal to me very much.

What I did like was troubleshooting. I loved to take a machine that didn’t work, figure out how it worked, and eventually use this knowledge to get it to work again. Personally, this was always my favorite part of my job and because of this; I found it easy and appealing to learn more and more about how to do it. I also discovered that I enjoyed training others to do the same thing, developing other technicians, and organizing and researching information. Once I had this knowledge, I internalized it, revised it, and then began to research potential civilian careers that had these qualities.

Some of the resources I found available to me to aid in this research were: Navy Knowledge Online, Navy COOL, and the Naval Station ESO. All these resources had examples of how my military skills translated to civilian jobs and gave me comparisons of what I knew from my rate against what parallel civilian technicians knew. Through my ESO, I obtained my SMART transcript and frequently compared it to the skills required for civilian employment. My “hard skills” such as electronics and general engineering fundamentals were very similar to civilians and my “soft skills” like the ability to obtain, organize, and utilize information about problems all seemed to correspond with jobs involving power plant operation, industrial maintenance, and technical representation. The more I learned about particular fields, the more I began to understand how I could transition from the military to the civilian sector.

Eventually, I determined that there were almost unlimited opportunities for people with my skills and experiences and I decided to expand my credentials to encompass a group of technical fields in which I was interested. During my time in the Navy, I had been a field calibration coordinator, a maintenance technician, and an operator. I had worked with all types of electricity from 28 volts DC in control consoles to 440 volts AC in main switchboards. I had operated, maintained, and installed all type s o f machinery from air compressors to marine gas turbines and I quickly discovered that while many civilian jobs targeted only one set of skills, my time in the Navy had required me to develop several sets of skills. Therefore, I began making lists of the types of jobs that interested me the most and building several resumes for several careers that I felt would interest me.

I also looked at the educational requirements of these careers and considered whether or not I met them. I searched the U.S. Department of Labor website and discovered how education affects your earning potential and your competitiveness with other candidates. I sought out people working in the fields I was interested in and asked them what they did to get where they were and what they would suggest to a person who wanted to do the same thing. Eventually, a potential pathway toward these careers began to emerge in my mind and I started to see what I would need to do to get there. At this point I h ad 36 months left on active duty and I realized that while I had lots of experience, I didn’t meet many of the educational requirements to enter the civilian workforce with the competitive edge I would need to earn superior pay. At that time, I decided to pursue my educational goals.

In the Navy, there is a Navy College Program which offers sailors the opportunity to obtain professional degrees at accredited universities in a variety of ways. Some required actual attendance at a campus, others offered online or other “distance learning” options but one thing they all had in common is that they were 100% FREE. I began studying for an Associates of Applied Science in Electronics and by the time I had 18 months left on active duty, I had earned all the credits required for the degree. While it was difficult and left me little time for relaxation--it was worth it in the end and because of the special partnership the Navy has with many wonderful colleges and universit ies , I was able to earn college credit toward my degree utilizing schools I had attended in the Navy. In fact, the school I eventually earned my degree from had an actual path for someone in my particular field! They took stock of my SMART transcript and gave me nearly two thirds of the credit required for the degree before I ever enrolled in any classes. The best part was that since I did it on active duty I didn’t have to pay anything out of pocket, nor did I have to use my GI Bill which I am currently using to pursue my Bachelor's at a four year university.

When the time came to start building resumes, I researched all the potential employers I had ever heard about, read about, or known someone who worked there. I looked at the job listings they had posted on their recruiting sites and I began to compile several resumes. I researched all the technical requirements of each companies resume process and I tailored each resume for each employer. I talked to headhunters, re cruiters, and other professionals and had my resumes reviewed and critiqued by anyone who had successfully obtained work in the field of their choice. Once I felt I had properly represented my experience, education, and abilities, I began to distribute them. Not too many at first since at the time I still had 12 months of active duty remaining. Many employers didn’t feel as though it was worth talking to me when I still had a year left. Some said they thought I had a great resume but they needed to fill those jobs sooner than when I was available. Instead of becoming discouraged though, I took it as a key point. The actual job search should really begin when you are at least six months out. In many cases, you will have to begin your job search at 3-2 months to actually be considered for a position.

When I was 8 months out from separation, my ship was scheduled for a deployment which would not be over by the time that I was due to be discharged. I would have to serv e almost half of the deployment before I would be able to go home which would leave me with about 30 days to job search before my last paycheck. I had bills to pay off and I didn’t feel comfortable with my savings so I decided to extend for six months so that I would be “shore-side” for at least a month before I got out. Another factor was that my I also transferred from a command during my last deployment and travel back to the States was pretty big challenge. While the extension put me a little over the ten year mark, I felt the extra money I could save from the deployment and the ability to keep my mind and body sharp by remaining in the high tempo environment of deployment would benefit me when the transition finally did come.

In the end I saved over $8,000 dollars, received two awards, and returned home with no outstanding debt (other than a monthly mortgage of $1000) and 30 days of post deployment/ separation leave. As soon as the ship headed home, I started po sting resumes. Within days, I received responses on every single one. By the time we got back to port, I had seven interviews scheduled one of which was out of the local area and involved an expense free flight to Ohio to interview with Rolls Royce Corporation. All in all I sent out twelve resumes and got twelve responses. Four of the jobs were ruled out before I ever got a chance to interview because they didn’t offer competitive pay. Of the remaining eight, I eliminated three because of inferior benefits packages or poor working requirements. The last five all sent out competing offer letters and I eventually settled for a job working with a military contractor who needed people for a Navy program with which I was very familiar. They offered superior benefits, great compensation and allowed me to work with many of the same people I served with.

It’s now been a year and I have recently transitioned from a government contractor to a full time government hire. My pay have increased over $17,000 from what I made as an E-6 in the Navy and my Navy time still counts toward my civilian retirement. I like what I do and I am still plotting a career path to bigger and better things. In light of the current recession, I feel that I am in an “insulated” career and the future in still looking bright. While I didn’t want to make the Navy a lifelong career, I will never regret the day I joined and will always encourage other young people to give the military a chance. It’s an opportunity to serve our nation, explore the world, and get to know you. If you are serving in the military now and you are thinking of transitioning out, I hope this serves as a glimpse of how it can be done. Never let anyone tell you that you are not marketable – you are! There is definitely life after the military-- the only catch is that like everything else you will ever do in life: Proper Prior Planning Prevents Poor Performance. Use that lesson and start today no matter how much time you have left!

(Submittied by Mr. Paul Jackson)

The Rules Don't Apply to Everyone

I retired from the USAF in Germany with a technical certification, instead of a two-year college degree, and boy, am I glad I did. That two-year associate degree offered on base is a great stepping stone to a four-year degree -- but otherwise worthless in my case.

In the States it may make the difference between you and some other person without one, but well-documented experience and a technical license are leaps and bounds ahead of my aircraft maintenance experience.

The transition assistance folks were correct in my case, "99 percent of all jobs are found through networking," Not online application and job-finder sites. I didn't get even one answer back from any online applications. My neighbor gave me a tip to find my current position.

I guess I looked in all the wrong places, because I didn't meet those employers looking for military experience either.

I didn't get the high-paying job I was promised six months before I retired, and made the mistake of not having a good back-up plan. I had to accept two different jobs way below my experience level just to make ends meet, AAFES and the base commissary.

Thankfully, I'm now fairly comfortable in my third job in three-years, in the field I'm trained and licensed to perform. But remember, the time to search for a new job is when you already have one....

The civilian world is not like the military:

-- Bosses don't have to be fair, there's nobody looking over their shoulder. By the way, I work for a medium- size private company.

-- The same rules don't always apply to everyone. Again, they don't have to be fair.

-- The "good 'ol boy," "play favorites" system is alive and well.

-- Rules are not written in a book, and they are often broken without explanation.

-- People do not have the same level of integrity we career military people have learned to take for granted and expect.

-- Most civilian supervisors haven't had any sort of formal supervisory training; it costs too much.

-- Be very careful what you say to your work colleagues. They are not always your friend and are not watching your back. They see you as a threat and most probably have nowhere else to go.

-- Expect your first supervisor to be a lot younger and much less professional than you are. Again, supervisory training costs too much in the civilian world.

-- The chain of command doesn't exist and if you go over your supervisor's head with a problem and he/she is proved wropng, you have just made an enemy for life. Again, they don't have to be fair.

-- Strange shifts, messed-up days off and working nights are the norm, not the exception.

All in all I'm happy to have retired, but what a culture shock!

(Submitted by Dan Granger)

'I Got Good at Stealing Cars'

I retired in 1973 in Miami after five years as a first sergeant, with duty in Vietnam. There was a recession and I couldn't find a regular job, so I started stealing cars as a bank REPO man.

After 18 months, I got so good at stealing cars, boats and even airplanes they made me a bank vice president!

I spent the next 23 years as VP of mortgage collections, foreclosures and REO sales. I used my first sergeant mission experience of health, morale,welfare and discipline of the troops to stop foreclosures.

I worked for eight banks during my banking career, applying my USAF mission goals. I discovered most bank VPs were in the board room trying to get the office by the window. I did what I did as first sergeant, I stayed with the troops on the floor and responded to advice from the clerks to achieve the mission of stopping forelosures and making money for the bank.

I ended up owning 51 percent stock in the last bank I worked that I bought for 8 cents a share. I big bank bought us out with a 1-for-1 stock trade with their stock worth $27.50 a share. Now, I take on a bank foreclosure consulting job now and then.

(Submitted by James Ringo)

It Takes Preparation and Some Hard Work

I have to admit that I was very fortunate to be on shore duty (Naval Submarine School) for my last tour. I was not able to re-enlist due to high year tenure (not that I would have because, of course I would have had to go back to a boat (sub for you skimmers)).

Even so, I was able to prepare methodically and check out all my different options. I think education was the key in that I was able to finish off a degree and I believe it helped. I was also able to network extensively with all manner of people. I got a job at Lockheed as a result of contacts.

I did a lot of resume submitting and got several calls. It takes preparation and some hardwork, but the biggest thing is not to sell yourself short. You know a lot more than you might think. Employers like your experience and relative maturity. That experience, coupled with a B.S. is very attractive.

(Submitted by Walt Abbott)

Out of 100 Resumes Sent, I got one Bite

After 22 years, I was scared to get out. I had my resume ready (or so I thought) a year and a half before I was supposed to transition out. I would even apply for jobs in the civilian market just to see what bites I got.

Out of nearly 100 submissions of my resume, I got one actual job offer. It was a bit low in salary and not necessarily where we wanted to live. Then, a defense contractor I networked with six months prior called me up. The salary was better than my ADAF pay at the time (kind of rare according to my bretheren who got out a year or two before me) and it was located in one of our top choice areas.

Since I took the position, I've had other calls from companies I networked with, instead of just cold cocking them with my resume. I believe that is one of the most significant keys to landing the job; even if you aren't thinking about seperating/retiring quite yet, always strive to put your best foot forward when dealing with anyone, whether DoD civilian, contractor or private firm. You never know when it will come back to surprise you.

I achieved my AAS from CCAF late in my career and didn't think about pursuing the B.S. until 19 years in. Wrong answer. Never wait. There is always time to advance your education. Spend the time doing that instead of sitting at home playing video games, watching TV or going out to party. Luckily, my experience, skills, work ethic, leadership and job performance stood out for this company and they were very eager to have me on board. Network, network, network. Make yourself shine to everyone you meet in the course of your duties.

(Submitted by Mr. Jody Root)

Make Yourself Known

Pay close attention during TAP class and take notes. It will be five years this February, and I still refer back to my notes. Military.com has been a great help with keeping me current with what is going on in the military. The military was all I knew and there was a lot of anxiety and stress for me at first.

The military was all I knew and there was a lot of anxiety and stress for me at first.

Take one step at a time. Take the initiative and be aggressive because if you just sit back waiting for someone to do it for you, it will never happen.

Wardrobe: I walked into a local discount clothing store and told one of the employees I needed help. Within one hour later I had three sets of professional apparel for interviewing.

Resume: I used all the resources provided on base and discussed in TAP class. I even went to a local resume writer, however, I pretty much paid for nothing as I had already done most of the work.

Job interviewing: Check out the company's Web page and know the basics about their mission. I applied for a job in my same field of expertise. My interview contained three pages of technical questions and four panel members. I went in with confidence, a smile, and answered the questions truthfully. Just be yourself. The good part is that your military experience and training will carry you. Networking is very important. I attended a training conference and sat down right next to the supervisor of the position I was after. I did this about five to six months before I actually retired. I told him my plans and interest and then contacted him every month. I'm fortunate to have this job because I was over qualified for the position so you need to be able to sell yourself.

I was contacted a few days after my first interview with the job offer so I cancelled the other interviews I had lined up. It doesn't always work out this well so be prepared to look around and have several interviews with various companies scheduled. Just don't get them mixed up!

I even started working my new job while on terminal leave and didn't have to relocate. In fact, I live within five miles of my job. I work for the state where there is no promotional ladder and within two years I was getting bored. The reason why I'm still with the same orgainization today is because the work is easy, co-workers are fun, I enjoy what I'm doing, but most importantly, my boss respects me and my qualifications.

A higher paying position was created and I helped to mold the position into what I want it to be. I'll admit that I was out there looking for something better especially pay wise, but then I realized that it was at my three-year mark and I was used to rotating duty assignments. Trust me, the grass isn't always greener on the other side. I continue to say the words "In the military" a lot and my office desk is surrounded by military memories, but I will never regret retiring when I did.

I served close to 25 years and never really realized just what accomplishments and sacrifices I had made until I went down memory lane. I frequently receive phone calls from people I don't know asking for my expertise. So never hesitate to write magazine articles, be a speaker at a convention or to make your name known. Even after nearly five years of retirement, there are times when I feel like I'm still transitioning. Don't be afraid to ask for help and use your resources. Good luck!

(Submitted by Cynthia Jackson)

Welding Certificate Didn't Hold Up in Civilian World

When I came back home to the civilian world I dropped down to the USMC reserves after serving two years on active duty. During that time, I did a tour in Fallujah, Iraq.

When returning back home I thought I wasn't going to have a problem transistioning back to the civilian world. Before going into the Marines, I went to a technical college for a year where I obtained a welding certificate. I figured having this would give me a step up. But, what I found is that it was not that easy.

I applied for many jobs but did not get any responses. I went as far as going through a program that has contracts with unions that tries to give veterans jobs, but it just did not go the way I wanted to. The reason I think I did not get a job right away, is because maybe I'm young, not experienced, or it could be because of my status of being a reservist where I could get called back up again.

After about seven months, I finally got a job that wasn't necessarily the best one, but I was happy. Unfortunately, I only lasted about a month. I ended up getting fired. I did absolutely nothing wrong. I tried to do my best. I showed up everyday, and actually tried to stay after work to practice my welding so I could try to get better at it.

But, I was terminated because I was told that I wasn't progressing. I believe they didn't give me much of a chance at it. About three months later I finally got another job. I worked there for about ten months. During this time, I enjoyed it. People at this place seemed to be nicer and were willing to help me out, and I tried my best of trying to become better at welder. About four months later, a lot of things were slowing down. We were not getting jobs. During this time, I decided to go back to college part time for Criminal Justice in the fear of possibly getting laid off. There were some comments that some of us could actually get laid off. So with that that I decided to have a back-up plan. I'm glad I did, because after 10 months I did get laid off. Since then I decided to go to college full time. I now have a new direction that will hopefully work out.

For some reason, me being a welder just wasn't meant to be. For whatever reason that is, I just don't know. But however, I am trying to overcome that by putting that in the past by going to college full time now. I'm happy, but at the same time maybe a little confused. But in the end, everything happens for a reason.

The only thing I can do is try to the right thing by moving on in life.

(Submitted by Jameson Brown)

Loss of Loved-One Fuels Determination

My name is Roger Millhouse and I am currently a college student for LCSC to obtain my Nursing degree. I served five years in the military and loved every minute of it. I have transitioned out because 18 months ago my wife passed away.

I am carrying a 3.8 GPA and I hope to one day return, but as a doctor. After I finish my nursing degree I will apply to 10 to 15 medical schools until I finally get accepted into one.

I can not change the past, but I can make a difference -- first as a nurse, then as a doctor. I would like to return to the military to be a physician (most likely Family Practice or Pediatrics). I care about people, the loss of my wife is what drives me to become a doctor.

I have a beautiful 2-year-old daughter who I am raising as a single parent. It's achievable and doable. If I could pass one thing on to other people, it is this: Never let the limitations of your head guide the aspirations of your heart.

My faith in Him has kept me grounded and more focused than ever. I understand I have a long way to go, but maybe sharing this story will comfort those who have lost loved ones themselves as well as set higher standards for themselves. Time is to short to hold grudges. Aspire for greatness to inspire the future generation...most importantly to care for one another. God bless.

(Sumbitted by Roger Millhouse)

Leaving the Military and Loving My New Company

I finished my enlistment of 10 years at Travis Air force Base in Oct ober 2000. I could have re-enlisted but already had orders remote and didn't want to leave my husband.

We agreed that I would have 68 days (the terminal leave I had on the books) to get a job and if I didn't get one then I would re-enlist at the last moment. I was in the services squadron (not much money to be had on the outside unless you're management) but had a position in data automation two years before getting out, I enjoyed computers, and got my MCSE right before separating.

The first interview I went on was with a dot com in Silicon Valley (Mountain View, Calif.) I was nervous, felt sick, and thought surely I had blown the interview (which by the way was six and a half hours long conducted by seven different people) I walked away defeated.

But as luck would have it, late that night I was offered a job and I'm still working on the same product today eight rocky years later. I've weathered many rounds of lay-offs, reorgs, and acquisitions (my services were sold along with the furniture). But, in the end I love the company I work for and I feel I've learned a lot in the last eight years. There are still days I miss the military, but considering I doubled my salary as soon as I got out, it worked out for me.

(Submitted by Mrs. Peggy Boyd)

Making a List Led to Teaching

Throughout my military career I always performed well in training and operations. When it came time to retire, I sat down and listed all the things that I enjoyed about the Army. I then listed the various jobs and their qualities that I may be interested in.

From the list I soon saw that what I enjoyed and elementary education coincided. I never was a principal or big-time operator, I was simply an elementary educator, and I was an excellent teacher and I thoroughly enjoyed my 20 years in the classroom.

Young kids desperately need male role models and I strongly encourage men to become elementary school teachers. It's a very satisfying profession even though the paperwork is a killer.

(Submitted by Jim Brosman)

'Maybe I'm Doing Something Wrong'

I retired three months ago. I'm not usually a person to judge or complain but when a Soldier retires from an overseas location, they need to be advised far in advance of the difficulties. I have been in Florida in a hotel for two months.

In Florida, I found that the personal first job interview is gone -- it's all online. The first impression that goes along with an application is no longer is there.

I applied for more than 100 jobs using the in-place systems and have had one call back. My resume has been professionally done, and still nothing. Maybe I'm doing something wrong. But when I retired I was given a plane ticket and a hand shake because the military community there is just too busy shutting down and redeploying to give any real assistance.

Thank God my wife is German and is still there. If she wasn't we would be in a hotel together with a son going to school from here. I have asked for grass cutting jobs, just to be able to have stable income, to bring my family here to settle.

Also, I have told a family member, that I came here to help take care of in his old age, that I will have to leave. I'm now just looking for anything in the whole U.S. So please, leadership overseas, please brief your Soldiers. No matter their senior rank, educate them on the difficulties of retiring from overseas and that they may run into trouble after being away from the civilian sector for a long time.

Don't believe the hype about civial companies wanting Soldiers -- not if you're a common combat arms Soldier. I believe I will just soon be a German citizen where I can be employed and live a quiet comfortable life, just not in my home and beloved U.S.

(Submitted by Mr. Roland Meader)

Pursue the Job You Want

After seven years with the Army, and three combat tours, it was time to call it quits. My second job interview was with a forman who was the same MOS as me in the Army.

My interview was as comfortable as two, old Cav troopers shooting the breeze in the barracks. The best advice I can give is, find the job that you would like and pursue that job. Get your resume polished up at ACAP and don't BS any on it. Most foremen understand your new to the real world. Lastly, relax there is no UCMJ actions for screwing up an interview.

(Submitted by William Ramey)

Credit Cards Killing Me

As a Navy Reservist, I was recalled to active duty in 2005 for an IA tour in Iraq on a convoy security team. While in country, I was injured by a blast and later diagnosed with TBI and PTSD. I was just retired TDRL at 30 percent in August 2008 after spending almost two years on Med Hold undergoing treatment and counseling.

Some of the problems that I have experienced since my retirement have been not qualifying for unemployment due to not being able to work full time because of VA appointments, delay in VA Rating after being told in VAAP while still active that it would be four to six weeks after we turn in our DD 214. I'm now being told it will be four to six months.

I’ve applied for Social Security but am not sure that I will even qualify since my DOD rating was only 30 percent and I have no idea when the VA will come back with their rating. As far as retirement pay, I have tried repeatedly to find out what my pay will be every month so I can try and work out some kind of a budget to make my mortgage, credit card and child support payments.

I'm still getting the runaround from DFAS and unsure what type of surprises I have waiting for me the end of the month or if I even have a check waiting. After being under SCRA for that long, I already have an adjustment back to regular interest rates. I've been advised by my credit card companies that if I'm a late pay that my interest could go as high as 29 percent. Any advice is greatly appreciated as I'm sure there are others experiencing these types of hardships as well.

(Submitted by Rick Bolander, MA1, Retired)

Get Company's Promises to You in Writing

I have two jobs after leaving the retirement. The first was with The Salvation Army as a facility Manager, the job ended due to lack of funding to operate the facility. The second I found from another retired Coasty after attending college for 2.5 years and a climbing debit.

I found that you must get what they say in writing. I was told of many benefits that did not come to pass: The job is in a remote area, I was to receive cable, Internet, sick time, annual pay increases, all the over time I could want, and the use of a company-furnished vehicle.

There is no sock time, the cable and Internet I have to pay for, I have not seen an annual pay increase and I have been told to limit my use of the company vehicle. Not everything has been roses but the lack of honesty shows that no matter how trusting companies may seem if it's not in writing don’t bet on it.

We are a GSA-contracted company and they follow the GSA schedules, if GSA doesn't state in the contract what is to be paid toyou don't get it. If GSA doesn't allow for annual pay increases,no pay increase, or require sick time don't get it. If it is not in writing you do not get it.

Remember no matter who the company is or who the company is contracted to if it's not in writing don't bank on it.

(Submitted by Mr. James Plunk)

Be Prepared

I spent 20 years as a Medic in the Army. I was one of those NCOs that always pushed my troops to get their education and never took care of myself. In my last four years of service I was a 1SG and many of you understand the demands of the diamond. Regardless of the demands, I understood the importance of education.

We all do. I pushed to complete my BA. Thank God that I did...you have to have that diploma to make yourself marketable. I started my transitional prep about one year out with writing and rewriting my resumes. I attended the ACAP program and began my networking. That had to be the most important part...NETWORK, NETWORK, NETWORK! I attended a few interviews and I was a HOT MESS! Understand that Soldiers have a totally different language and civilians will look at you like you have a third eye if you talk military to them. You need to practice talking civilian talk. It's hard, but doable.

I'm now a Director of Outpatient Sevices at a medical facility. I can give credit to the Army for instilling a work ethic that stands out. When Soldiers go to work in the civilian world you shine above most. The key to a successful transition is preparing for the event. Don't wait until the last minute and remember that your interviews can take place anywhere. I met my Executive VP while coaching youth football. After four interviews with the other exectuives...I got the job. Also, remember to NETWORK, NETWORK, NETWORK! I miss the military, but being retired and successfully transitioned is very nice.

(Submited by Alfred Rodriguez)

'Interviews are Fun'

I retired from the Army in 1983 and for a while it looked as if no one wanted to hire a 38 year old without a degree. I'd been a ham operator since age 16, served in the U.S., Vietnam and Germany, been an Avionics tech, NCO and instructor, gone through NCO Academy, worked in aircraft maintenance, been a Brigade training NCO, MARS station chief, a Platoon Sergeant, Area Comms Chief and a temporary telephone systems engineer. Not in that order.

One electronics school was interested -- at less than I'd gotten on active duty.

My lack of a degree was getting resumes bounced left and right. But a funny thing happened on the way to civilian life; I became an engineer despite all of that . It happened like this:

My brother's neighbor had a manager that needed someone with radio expertise to be an FCC compliance and TEMPEST test engineer. My brother gave him my resume, and it was smuggled to the manager who needed help. In due course, I received an invitation to an interview. So I went.

My experience has been that a suitcoat , clean slacks and a tie is enough, but my work has always been in technology, where perhaps vests and power ties are less important. I wore a coat, tie and clean slacks. Polished my shoes. The interviewer was retired from the Navy and had as a civilian worked on the Polaris and Poseidon programs. I had never done what he wanted someone to do. I didn't even know what he wanted me to do.

But, I got the job.

Interviews are fun. You learn about the company. You get to see if they are really interested in things that may be new. And you get to sell yourself.

So after we finished the "where did you go and who did you do it to" part, he took me to the lab. I knew what anechoic chambers were, but I had never actually seen one. The concept was clear. I was... having fun. "Mind if I look at the receivers?"

"Sure!" He said. (It is actually hard to get most candidates to show what they can do.) I went into the control room, turned on the receiver, turned some knobs and mentioned there were signals around 35 MHz.

"The chamber door is open." Of course.

I started at more than I asked for, and in three years had doubled that. Two weeks after I started, I got a letter from Human Relations. It was a reply to a resume I'd sent in previously. "We have no openings at this time for person with your qualifications." Heh!

Ten years later I was eating in a restaurant near Fort Worth and talking to a waitress. Her Army husband had just retired and was looking for work. "What as?" I asked. "

"A security guard." What had he done in the Army? He'd been first sergeant of an infantry company.

If I'd been good enough, I might have been a first sergeant. First Soldier, they call 'em. The Primus Pilum "First Spear" of the Roman legions. So I about exploded. A security guard?! The man ran a $50 million operation, knew everyone in it, their birthdays and their families, and was looking for work as a security guard?

I hope she took the message. I hope he got the job, and good luck wherever he is.

I walked into Wang Laboratories in 1983. I've worked in minicomputers, microcomputers and consumer electronics, telecom, medical electronics and aerospace. It is all exciting, difficult, frustrating, rewarding work and I love it.

A few years ago I was shivering unemployed in an wood-heated 400 square foot cabin on a mountain ranch near Santa Rosa, Calif. when the 'phone range. Interview? In Michigan? I'd never worked in Aerospace. Come anyway, said the voice on the other end.

I got the job.

(Submitted by Cortland Richmond)

' I was in the Navy Briefly ... for 20 Years'

Five-year years prior to my retirement, my wife and I sat down and looked at our current financial state and where we wanted to be when I retired. We just called it the our five-year plan to a successful transition. The plan is simple: have no credit card bills, car payments or a mortgage by the time retirement day rolled around.

I thought the hardest part of this plan would be to sell our house and rent for a year. This actually proved to be easier than previously thought. Our house went on the market and in seven days sold for the listed price (this was well before the current mortgage crisis).

This part of the plan was executed at the one-year mark before retirement. The credit cards and car payments were actually quite easy to pay off, as well. We made double car payments and paid off credit cards and just didn't use the cards for about two years prior to the retirement date. If we couldn't pay cash for it, we didn't buy it. The money from t he car payment went right back to our savings account, so now instead of paying the bank we were paying ourselves.

In the meantime, I had been doing on call vendor work on the side for a company that operates executive aircraft on a large scale, so capitalizing on my FAA Airframe and Powerplant license proved to be useful. I got this job through networking with a friend who was working for that company at the time. Additionally, I spent my spare time finishing college getting two Associate Degrees in the aviation field under the Navy's tuition assistance program. Even during deployments and scheduled flights, I managed to graduate -- so it can be done. My only regret was not starting college sooner and aquiring a Bachelor's Degree.

Remember that company that I mentioned I was doing on call vendor maintenance for? I was called to interview for them and was hired with two months of terminal leave left to go. Yes networking does work. Our plan was simple and easy to execute with some discipline and creativity, and it paid off. Since retiring, I haven't looked back. My time was well spent in the Navy, but that chapter is done and I am moving on. My daughter even jokes with me "Dad you were in the Navy once" I reply with a smile, "Briefly, for 20 years."

(Submitted by Davie Gibson, Jr.)

Me, Nervous About the Transition? No.

Nervous? No, I was ready to move on. After 20 years it was time. With the desicion made I put togather my reseme and began sending it out just two months prior to leaving the Air Force.

I felt that after having my experience as a Pharmacy Tech my chances were very good that I would find a job in the civilian world. In preperation for my transition I completed the requirements to get my Pharmacy Technician License and worked part time in town. Preparing for my retirement also included saving up leave time and this allowed for a cushion while settling into civilian life.

It did not take long for responses to start coming in. Not all of them had that job offer attatched. When I returned from lunch one day a co-worker came up to me all excited and said, "You got a call from a hospital in Portland and they have a job offer for you." After a brief conversation I was indeed going to start my new job in just three an d a half weeks. Many of my friends to this day still bring up how easy it was for me to find work and for that I am greatful.

(Submitted by James Steward BA, MEd)

The VA Can Help You

The best advice I have for someone transitioning out with a disability... Take all of the help and assistance that the VA will offer you.

I'm 28 and became disabled while in the Air Force. It is very difficult when you are enjoying your time in and it ends suddenly. It can be difficult to let it go.

Find other veterans, use them for support. Young and old, we're all in the same boat no matter what our disability. Go to your local veterans hospital or clinic and find a veterans representative and use all of the benefits available to you. That is what they are there for. Also copy your medical records! Once you're out, its hard to get copies.

(Submitted by Mrs. Heather Vandenberg)

Do Not Give Up

I served 11 years in the U.S. Air Force and got out nearly 20 years ago. While I was in, I went to school at night and earned an AA degree, an AAS from the Community College of the Air Force and a BA through St. Leo College (now University). I am currently an attorney in Miami.

I think the most difficult part of transitioning is putting military experience into civilian terms. Civilians don't understand what a NCOIC is or how important it is to manage a squadron munitions account. Moreover, transitioning to the civilian work force oftentimes requires making a profit. We all know that military units don't have to do that, they simply have to stay within their budgets.

Having earned my BA, I thought it would be easy to get a job upon separation. I was very wrong about that. I had to take a job as a sandblasting apprentice, which was horrible. I worked retail for a while in order to have a check come in while I tried to decide on long-term goals.

I tried to stick to basic, conservative interviewing suits. Navy or gray with white shirts and usually a bold red tie. I decided to get my hair cut shorter and take off my mustache. Clean cut hair cuts and no facial hair helped my interviewing. I then began highlighting my experience with preparing budgets, managing people and supplies. These are the same skills used in civilian jobs. I was doing well in retail, but was not happy doing it. So, I applied to law school, took out student loans and have been practicing in Miami since graduation.

The best advice I can give is to not give up. Clean cut works best. If you can network with friends to get an interview or introduction, that goes a long way. Every single job I have had since getting out has been as a result of a personal contact.

(Submitted by Mr. Franklin Cosmen, Jr.)

'We're Trained to Think We're All That'

The best advice I received while still in the military was ...

1. Don't get out of the service until you have a bachelor's degree. Your security clearance is not enough to land you a contractor position. I accomplished getting the bachelor's degree and was subsequently hired by a large defense/aerospace company. As I moved up in the company, one of the senior manager/engineers told me to never introduce a person's resume that did not have at least a bachelor's degree because that is the minimum standard for our industry (if you want a "good" job/high pay).

2. The second piece of advice that someone told me is to start preparing your civilian wardrobe at least 12 months prior to retirement. Buy quality clothing and have at least a week's worth of combinations. My wardrobe cost about $3,500 to put together.

3. Network. Every position or job that I had post-military was a result of networking.

4. Make copies of your milit ary medical records. I recommend that if you've had surgeries, or medical issues while in the military, go through your records and highlight these illnesses. Submit VA claims for everything when you outprocess the military. You can easily prove service-connected within the first year of discharge, but after that, it could be more difficult.

5. Yes, we served in the military and we are brainwashed to think "we're all that and a bag of chips," but you're probably not all that. When I compare college interns to retired military, I often find that we're a little more complacent and arogant, whereas, they don't have a retirement check and are a little more hungry.... They are trying to get to the top in a hurry. Don't be surprised that some of the younger employees run circles around you. Yes, your military experience counts, but in this environment, the question remains; "What have you done for us lately?"

6. Get out of debt before you leave the military. It could be awhile before you land a decent job. It's humbling when think you're worth XYZ and find out your civilian counterparts are only making ABC. Believe it when I say that the military actually pays a fair salary when you consider medical, dental, clothing, retirement and VA benefits, relocation, housing, etc. I was surprised that very few people knew how much they actually made while in the military. Civilian medical insurance can cost a family of four a thousand dollars per month. Know these numbers before you decide to get out of the military.

7.Lastly, I chased the high salary jobs at first knowing that I had a medical issue that would eventually cripple my ability to make a decent living. That day has come and now I'm needing a backup plan to my first six recommendations above. I didn't have a "backup" plan and am now trying to figure out my alternatives. Have a backup plan in-case your first plan doesn't work out.

(Submitted by Mr. Tom Arnott)

Class Taught Lessons of the Real World

I retired in 1991 in the Washington, D.C. area. At that time there was a transition class offered by a private contractor, which spanned four weeks, two evenings a week, with each session lasting approximately three to four hours. The cost was $500, but three psychological/suitability tests (and the corresponding evaluations) were provided at no additional cost.

The first night was the "shocker," and provided the class with an assessment of how raw the outside world could be. He covered corporate ethics and provided several examples of the situations that corporations had found themselves in and how they dealt with it.

The rest of the classes dealt with how to create effective resumes, how to prepare for interviews by researching the companies; how to dress for interviews, and many others. A lot of the material was based on common sense, but he provided many subtle tips, such as where to sit while waiting for your interview to start, and what reading material to pick up while waiting (e.g., if it's a tech company, don't pick up an issue of Motor Trend if an issue of Information Week is also available).

The battery of psychological tests were the most revealing for all of us, because it gave us some real insight as to what we may be best suited for. In retrospect, the information provided to me was accurate and useful.

The last week was devoted to the conduct of mock interviews -- all of us went through at least one. There were about 60 of us going through the transition class, so it was hectic to say the least. The other good thing about this class was that the instructor and his staff reviewed every resume prior to it being sent out by a student, and he had us keep in touch after the class and still submit resumes for review.

The class was pricey at the time, but well worth it from my experience. Sadly, the instructor passed away about a year after our class finished, and I do not know if that particular company is still in business.

(Submitted by Art Strong)

Keep the Resume Simple and to the Point

The transition seminar I attended was not very helpful because the people presenting were not transitioning and didn't have their heart in it. I had a good job lined up that disappeared three months before I became a civilian.

I was under employed as a college adjunct and substitute school teacher for about a year during my job search. With a master's degree and the Marine Corps behind me I held high hopes for re-employment but quickly learned that most civilian employers did not care about what you did in the military and often tried to hire you for less than market rate.

I learned a great deal about resumes and interviews. I wanted to work in local governments and learned that once you are in the system it is easier to move up.

My advice: Keep the resume simple and to the point. Do not try to impress with military service, stress what you can offer the employer and do your homework about the employer. Ask questions at the interview, be politely aggressive, discover the employer's challenges and show how you can contribute.

Be proud of your military service but don't live in the past.

Best of luck!

(Submitted by Rober Halfhill)

Missing the Military but Grateful for Skills Learned

I entered active duty with the U.S. Army in 1991 and trained as an airborne artilleyman, and later as a tank crewman. After nearly 10 years of service, I seperated after I was diagnosed with an acute medical conditon.

Within six months of seperation I began study at the College of Oceaneering in Wilmington, Calif. While attended courses, I worked as a diver and performed in-water service on boats in the port of Los Angeles. After 18 onths of study, I graduated with certifications in commercial air diving, non-destructive testing, and wet-welding.

I was employed by several inspection firms in Colorado and Minnesota while gaining industry certifications in industrial x-ray, magnetic particle testing, and penetrant inspection. Entry level is exactly that, entry level. Within two and a half years, my income doubled, and I found myself being approached for employment by a Fortune 500 aerospace firm.

Now seven years af ter seperation, my income level is in the top 20 percent of wage earners. My job involves the inspection of criticle aerospace companants for civil and militay aircraft. If you've flown, chances are my name is on the airplane in some shape or form.

The military helped me by instilling a work ethic, showing me discipline, and giving me management skills. I make my monthly base pay in a week now, yet I miss the military desperately. But, I'm grateful for the skills provided to me. I've made it. I'm happy, I have a great job.

(Submitted by Mr. Patrick Gaebelein)

Investing in Education Beneficial

Going in as an 18-year-old private, the last thing on my mind was to go to school.

During my first duty station (Okinawa), I started to attend classes at the University of Maryland. My studies continued to Camp Pendelton and before I knew it, I received my associate degree (two-months prior to my EAS). It opened many doors as I transitioned into civilian life as an underwriter at a local financial institution.

Taking advantage of my MGIB, I obtained my bachelor's in business management a little after two years of getting out of the Marines. Equiped with a business degree, I obtained a new position as a commercial banker. Currently, I'm three-months away from getting my MBA in finance and accounting.

I was also recently promoted to assistant vice president. I anticipate a generous pay increase after my master's degree is completed. The transition has been challenging, but investing in myself through education has proven to be beneficial during t he change.

Semper Fidelis

(Submitted by Mr. Brent Yap)

'Do What You Love, and You'll Never Work a Day in Your Life'

I left active duty in 1990, spent 12 years as a civilian and weekend Soldier, then back to full time, so I've transitioned both ways. In 1990, I was 33 and had been in the Army since I was 17. I didn't have any idea what to wear, or how civilian firms worked.

My best resource was "Dress for Success," which really contains a lot of good advice on how to dress for a professional environment. The other one was "What Color is Your Parachute?" which really helped me focus on what I wanted to do.

I answered ads in papers and professional publications, networked at professional societies, and worked with a job search firm. Ironically, I ended up getting my interview and subsequent job through a member of my church -- at a firm that was only five blocks from my house. All my subsequent jobs have come through personal connections.

Whatever you do, don't settle for less than you want. As someone once said, "Do what you love and you'll never work a day in your life."

(Submitted by COL Michael Herman)

Disabled Voc Rehab: Find an Advocate

I too am a Disabled Veteran. I retired in 1998. Due to unclear information that I received during DTAP (Disabled Transition Assistance Program).

I assumed that I was not qualified for Voc Rehab. After several years and several jobs. I went to my local VA office to seek continued benefits for my handicapped son. This is where a diligent and caring representative asked me why had I never applied for Voc Rehab benefits.

She started the process for me and within four months I'm going to attend one of the top 10 state colleges in the nation. I'm not going to tell you that it was all that easy. I had a myriad of paperwork, several testing sessions and interviews that I had to attend. But it was well worth the efforts! My best advice is to set your sites on your goal, commit to achieving it, seek assistance where needed. And most importantly, find someone who advocate for you!

(Submitted by Jory Authement)

Be Wary of Promises

Be careful of what you wish for. Do not underestimate the power of a good education. If you didn't manage to get a diploma while on active duty, make it your first goal by taking advantage of the GI Bill and scholorships

I was offered a great job in Northern Michgan before I retired from the military. I bought a house and settled down. Then the bottom dropped out and I was stuck with a house I could barely afford and because Northern Michigan is not a hotbed for employment had to take low paying jobs. Two years later I was "rescued" by an employer who knew the value of a good military man. For the next eight years I traveled to 48 of our 50 states working and living on the road (I have yet to visit Hawii and Maine). This included three years in Manhattan. While I enjoyed traveling, being seperated from my family was difficult. I am now employed by a contractor who works for the Department of Defense.

I learned to be wary of promises. When I took that job in Northern Michigan I had no idea I could possibly lose my job. Civillians get fired for unknown reasons; it's simply governed by the power of money. Not having a Bacholer's degree kept me from applying for higher paying jobs and I was forced to take low paying jobs. Attend TAPS and keep your resume down to one page. Always wear a suit/dress to your job interview. Be a memeber of the look-sharp, be-sharp group. Be willing to relocate. Be proud of your military training and if you graduated from any of the PME schools, say so.

The one thing that got me the most was realizing its okay to walk outside without your cover in civillian life.

(Submitted by Mr. Jeff Morrell)

Get Extra Pay and Benefits from Your Employer

Transitioning is very stressful, what with worrying about future employment, a suitable wardrobe for the civilian sector, etc. Make sure your resume is up-to-date and written in the format most widely used (you will be surprised how many different formats there are).

If possible seek part-time employment in your intended career field and with your prospective employer. This will give you valuable experience with the employer and will be the tell-all on whether you can survive there in a full-time capacity. Many employers pay you to go to school, so if you plan to use your GI Bill use that saved money as a means to gain additional pay or benefits from your future employer.

(Submitted by Clinton Foster)

Find Other Veterans

I registered for college while stationed in Okinawa in 2003. I ended up deploying to Thailand just before leaving active duty so my ability to start coordinating and researching my future "duty station" in the 1st Civ Div was affected.

(1st Civ Div is where civilians live for those of you not familiar with Marine terminology.) I had one month after leaving active duty in August 2003 before the fall semester started at the University of Minnesota-Twin Cities. Not wanting to live in the barracks, err, dorms, I opted to rent a one-bedroom apartment close to campus. My landlord was a scumbag and I was paying dearly for the location. I didn't feel like I fit in with the rest of my classmates (most of whom were five or six years younger than me) and I certainly didn't feel like they could relate to my experiences. So I felt a little awkward socializing with my new peers after class. There was not a place on campus where I could go to find another veteran, someone who I could relate to.

During my second and third years at "The U," an Army Ranger veteran named Andy Davis and another student, Tony Richter, started a non-profit group called Comfort For Courage (C4C) which started with care-package drives and shipping them over to our troops overseas and moved on to start a student group for veterans. That group is now known as the Veterans Transition Center (VTC) and is now in its third year and is already a huge success. I became involved as a member and then moved on to a leadership position within the group. It helped me to be a part of a group again, especially a group of veterans.

Whether or not you are going to school or if you decide to start working, I think it is important to find at least one other person who knows what you've been through, and usually that means finding a veteran. If you can find a group of veterans to hang out with, you should be well on your way to a successful transition.

(Submitted by Aaron Ledebuhr)

Finish Your Education as Soon as You Can

It was coming up on time to retire after 17 years of service. I had a little less than three years to go when I finally realized that I would not be staying in the Air Force until they threw dirt on me. I did a little checking and found out that guys who had a college degree did much better than guys who did not. Now, I had heard this was true but I didn't really believe it. I thought that if you were really good at what you did, that a good job would find you. While it would be very nice if that were true, that is not the way it works.

My next stop was the Base Education Office. I wanted to find out how I could complete my CCAF degree and hoped that I had not wasted too much time. It turned out that there was this wonderful thing called the College Level Examination Program. (CLEP) All I had to do was take a series of tests and I earned my AA. It was pretty easy because I had taken promotion tests for years and I already had more than half the required courses because of military training. I did have to take a couple of standard classes ,too, but that also played into part two of my plan.

With the CCAF done, my next question was, "What's the quickest way to get a BA degree?" The nice lady told me about Columbia College and something called a BA in Independent Studies. It was basically a program that accepted whatever upper-level course was available. I decided that was the ticket because I had so little time.

I took upper-level classes in history, English, psychology, sociology and business. Unfortunately, I did not finish my degree before I retired, it took me another two months.

It all paid off, though. I landed my first civillian, professional level job shortly before I retired. Because of the education and my military job experience I doubled my military salary. I then tried to help a friend o f mine get a job at my company. He outranked me but had not pursued education the way I had. He did get the job, based on his military experience and electronics knowledge. But, he also earned $10K less than I did for the same work.

Lesson learned: Get your education before you seperate.

Second lesson: If I had not screwed around all those years and earned my degree in Electrical Engineering instead of Independent Studies, I would have made $25K per year more than my buddy.

Finish your education as soon as you can!

Do it while you're still on active duty, if possible!

(Submitted by Mark Jacobs)

Transition to Teaching

I've always known I would be a teacher. Through my school years, college and then a Navy career, I not only had a love of learning but a greater love of sharing what I had learned with others. I decided that upon retirement from active duty, I would find a way to serve in a classroom. I had been a scoutmaster, Sunday school teacher and now I wanted to be a high school social studies teacher.

I had heard of the Troops to Teachers Program but at the Transition Assistance Program Brief, it seemed to be a good fit. The best part was the mentorship and counseling on how to become certified, how to become known to the education community in a new area, and finally how to help others. The TTT Program does provide for a monetary bonus, which is appreciated, but the best part was knowing there was someone else out there to assist.

For those looking to become teachers, take a look at the Troops to Teachers website: www.proudtoserveagain.com. Completing the registration can get the ball rolling. I have been teaching now for five years and know that like any transition, it's full of uncertainty but also with hope and opportunity. I made the right decision. Consider it too...

(Submitted by Capt. Gary Lovgren)

Your Leadership Skills are Valuable

After retiring in 2003 I decided that I wanted to try something completely different. I wanted to find out what my talent and skill set would be worth in the open market, and did not want to work for a government contractor.

I applied for a job as a warehouse manager and was hired by a small third party logistics company. They hired me knowing that I had no experience in this field. They were willing to take a chance based on the leadership and management experience aquired during my time in the service.

Also the price was right...I took a $20,000 pay cut compared to my salary while on active duty. For the next three years I sacrificed and learned the ins and outs of the logistics industry. It was like going to boot camp all over again minus the pushups.

After three years I decided to move on to other opportunities and was hired by a larger company to be a mid level manager. I worked hard and was noticed by senior management. Within two months I re ceived my first promotion and pay raise. Six months later I received another promotion and pay raise.

Earlier this year I was promoted again to assistant vice president and run a 500,000 square-foot distribution center. I manage 150 employees and have direct responsibility for profit and loss. The advice I would like to share with all of you who transition to the civilian market is to never under estimate the market value of your military experience and training.

Be particularly eager to sell your leadership and management skills to all potential employers. Don't be afraid to venture into uncharted career paths. The potential rewards for superior performance are much greater than you can imagine if you're willing to work hard, study and have the can do spirit. Yes, there is a lot of luck involved but we create our own luck by being smart, working hard and taking risks.

(Submitted by Bryan Sweeney)

Once You Get Out, Don't Look Back

My best suggestion: Don't waste another day waiting to plan for your transition. It pays to stick it out and retire if you are close. Nothing better than getting a monthly check that will cover basic living expenses. If you think your retirement check will cover all your bills, think again.

I capitalized on my education at Uncle Sam's expense, all the way to getting an MBA. Don't think you have time? If a pararescueman can make the time and priority in our high OPS tempo deployment world, anyone can.

Make sure you document-document-document every injury and disease you've encountered while serving. You are entitled to VA benefits if you qualify. It is a painful process, but worth the effort. Attend the TAP program to receive valuable information. Write an awesome resume, leave out military jargon and acronyms, keep it short concise and professional.

There are several websites that will help you convert your skill-sets to civilian terminology. Have lots of people edit it and for God's sake don't have typos. Spend the money and buya suit for an interview. Be proud you served during your interview, but no war stories.

Research your Google prospective employers and the company’s financials. When you call for an interview, ask questions: Do you like the company? Who will interview me? How is the room set up? Arrive early, take a deep breath and show confidence, not arrogance.

If you are smart, you will do dress rehearsal mock interviews. I did an interview with my current company as practice for another interview. I went in relaxed and ended up getting a job offer on the spot from the chairman of the company.

You don't have to get a job in your unique skill-sets, the military made you responsible, punctual, and a leader. There are several companies targeting ex-military. Network for job openings, attend job fairs. I was lucky to transition into a mid six figure job. What helped me is no fear of taking a risk, being willing to relocate and looking forward to the transition with excitement.

I moved from Florida to Manhattan, that was a huge risk and transition. It has been a great experience. Once out don't look back, press on it is your time to be compensated for your hard work and not be limited by your pay grade.

(Submitted by Greg Lowdermilk)

Be Certain of Your Career and Goals

The transition from military to civilian life is a challenging time. Be sure of yourself and clear on your goals before getting out of the military.

Be certain of the career and/or college degree you want to pursue and than move forward towards your personal goals. You'll need to be assertive to get the job you want and possibly be willing to relocate if the job you desire is not in the area you're living in. College is a good option. Make sure you utilize any applicable GI Bill funds or Tuition Assistance offered through your former branch of service. Aside from all this, keep a positive attitude about the transition phase and have confidence in yourself, so that you may land the job you feel you deserve.

(Submitted by Mr. Paul Kelly, Jr.)

Disabled Vet Help with Voc Rehab

I am a disabled veteran who recently completed the Department of Veterans Affairs Vocational Rehabilitation and Employment program. The VA not only paid my way through college, but they paid for me to attend a "high cost" university. This did not come easily, however. The VA misled me, failed to cover all health care costs, and provided incomplete guidance. Fortunately, there are little known statutes the VA must follow with respect to its conduct. After holding various VA offices' feet to the fire, I was able to push through the process and graduate in the top 10 percent of my graduating class, from one of the top universities in the nation.

Following this process, I have come in contact with numerous disabled veterans who have been unable to navigate the Voc Rehab system, or have been simply unable to get accepted, in spite of a disability rating and unemployed status.

I am in the process of assembling numerous guide tools to help veterans succeed in their pursuit of a rewarding career following the completion of an undergraduate education. Unfortunately, these tools are not yet published, online or in paperback. For that reason, I have set up this blog.

Should any reader have any question regarding the process or entitlements relating to obtaining a four year degree, please ask. This help is free to all who inquire.

(Submitted by Mr. Benjamin Krause)

Save Money Before Your Transition

There I was ... I actually secured my BS in Professional Aeronautics and my MEd in Education long before I retired, for promotional purposes.

I was in my golden retirement assignment, Ft. Shafter, Hawaii, two years before my retirement, when I heard about this organization called Army Pilots to Airline Pilots. Unfortunately the online organization is no longer around. It was packed with all former Army helicopter pilots who made it to the big time. They gave great advice, websites, networking information, literally everything a pilot needed to make that transition.

I began first by realizing my goal for life after the military, to become an airline pilot.

Second, I made a list of all the requirements, then prioritized them, with realistic dates to achieve the goals. Yes, a checklist for success. I still have the original list, with a slight two year delay in the middle due to the aftermath of 911.

Third, I began this strategic planning like an air assault mission, having my primary goal as airline pilot but having three alternates. It was a lot of work. My alternates were air traffic control, something I did as enlisted, supply guru as a GS-10+, and finally an elementary school teacher. Also, I even considered JROTC instructor and did the entire packet ... as an alternate.

I highly recommend saving money prior to retirement for the transition period. As I review my social security document, there is a significant dip in income for the first year after retiring, about one fifth the pay. It was difficult. I was a single parent. With my youngest two kids, 12 and 13, I rented a studio. I slept on the couch and they on air mattresses. We all had to sacrifice.

I took odd flying jobs to build the multi-engine time required for a commuter. I also had some family separation time while I took a five month stint in the Mainland, and my mom helped watch the kids. Luckily two months of that time my ex had the kids for the summer.

Finally, I landed my dream airline pilot job at a small commuter here in Hawaii. I've been here over four years and enjoy captain status.

I can still aim higher for a major airline, but I am happy with my job security, such as it is (they are furloughing pilots as I write -- lucky I have a lot of seniority) and my flight benefits.

My bottom line recommendations are:

1. Begin planning a post retirement career immediately -- it's never too soon. And plan for what you have always really wanted to do.

2. Own a house by retirement. (I would've but I lost over $80K in divorce/custody battle disputes -- don't get divorced and if you do, share the kids).

3. Plan for alternates. Being flexible and having that degree in education held me over during my starving years, the first year out and the first year pilot pay. I supple mented my income with substitute teacher pay.

4. Save money for at least a year, stand alone, not counting your retirement pay. I know most financial institutions recommend six months for an emergency fund, but at a minimum one year would have been better for me. It took me four years to pay off all the legal and aviation bills.

Good luck and dream on! I took nine vacations last year, eight this year when it ends and have two major vacations already planned for next year. I absolutely love retirement, especially at 60 percent.

(Submitted by CW4 (RET) Terry Salazar)

Tuition Assistance Paved the Way

I retired from the Navy in 2002 but prepared for a new career by taking advantage of tuition assistance. I obtained my bachelor's degree and began applying for Federal jobs about one year before retirement.

I am now a contracting officer (GS-11/12) with the VA but I would not have been hired without a degree in hand. Homeland Security also offered me a job as well as the DEA. I only wish I would have started college earlier. I would have my master's by now.

(Submitted by Ms. Christina Smith)

Preparation is the Key

I'm a former Navy Sailor and currently work as a senior recruiter for a Fortune 100 comapany. I've seen military transitions from both sides of the fence. Preparation is the key to any military transition. The most valuable and overlooked resources for all military personnel is the Transition Assistance Program provided by the various branches of the military (TAP, ACAP, and TAMP).

Anyone transitioning from the military should take full advantage of the transition assistance program offered on base. The transition counselors who run these programs are a valuable resource to help you plan for your transition to civilian life. Here are some of the services you should take advantage of:

Transition Workshop – Provides information on a range of topics including veterans benefits, relocation assistance, using your G.I. Bill, job-hunting skills, dressing for success, and interviewing tips.

Resume Writing Workshop – Provides information about different resume styles and tips on writing an effective resume. Counselors are available to critique your resume and provide advice.

Small Business Workshop – Strongly suggested for anyone interested in starting a business. Provides information on the process of starting a business and the government programs that are available to assist you.

Practice Interviews – Counselors will engage you in mock interview scenarios and provide feedback. I suggest taking advantage of more than one practice interview. You will hone your interviewing skills and become more comfortable with the interview process.

Employer Panels – The employer panels are typically made up of four or five corporate professionals representing companies from various industries. The employers provide their views on resume writing, interviewing, interview attire, networking, and the state of the job market. This is an excellent opportunity to ask questions and network with corporate insiders.

Transitioning from the military to the civilian world can be a confusing time. Transition Assistance Programs and transition counselors can help clear up the confusion and get you started down the right path towards success.

I hope this information has been useful.

(Submitted by Eric Mouillesseaux )

Take it One Step at a Time

At the age of 19 years old, I signed up for the United States Air Force. I served as a cryogenics and fuel specialist for a two-year tour in Germany (Rhein Main AFB) during Operation Desert Storm followed by another two year tour at Norton AFB.

While stationed in Germany, I developed an expanded passion for knowledge in many fields I had not previously had interest in (e.g. self-development, spirituality, world issues, politics, religion, philosophy, and surprisingly fitness and longevity).

Having gone through boot camp, I was forced to toughen up and get in shape. Later, while serving at Rhien Main AB in Germany, I also found a passion for health and fitness. My commanders took note of my passion and offered me my first opportunity to share this new passion of mine, when Lt. Col. Lefevers asked me to be Chairman for the 63rd Squadron's Wellness Committee.

After serving a full four-year term in the USAF, I had to decide if I wanted an honorable discharge, to re-enlist in same field, or to cross-train into a new field. And once I found out they had an opening in the area of my new passion, I chose to cross-train, but this time I enlisted for active reserve duty. Within a month, I was in USAF Technical School at Lowry AFB and later Sheppard AFB studying to become a eietitian with a secondary duty as a combat medic. I completed my training and was stationed as a USAF Reservist at Travis AFB.

Around June of 2004, just months after completing my training, I was offered a fantastic job opportunity, so I requested permanent release from my military duties and got it.

The job I was offered was a position as the Central U.S. fitness director for Gold's Gym and the Nutrionalysis franchise. Unfortunately, the position dissovled within a year. But, it had positioned me for great success in the fitness industry. And, throughout the following full decade (1994-2004), I earned an abundance of fitness certifications and received lots of recognition in the fitness industry for helping many clients, fitness trainers, and fitness companies achieve success.

During this process, I was also exposed to many wealthy clients, which led me to ask one question: "Do I deserve to be wealthy and was I willing to work for it?"

The answer was, "yes." So, I traveled all over the U.S. and spent more than $200,000 on private coaches, seminars, home study audio/video products, and other material in the relentless pursuit of learning proven methods of success.

And as I reached my 30s, I met my wife, Gina. Securing her future was on my mind. Supporting future kids was on my mind. Providing a retirement income for my parents was on my mind. Planning for our own retirement was on my mind. And, having a very comfortable life with abundance was on my mind.

Begining around 2001, I gradually began putting more of my time towards achieving wealth. I was still working in the fitness industry, but only part time.

By 2002 and until late 2004, I was earning more than $200,000 a year, but I made some big mistakes and in no time at all I ended up flat broke by the end of 2004.

It took me until the summer of 2005 to reinvent myself and make some bold moves in new directions, which led me to earn $300,000 a year.

In 2006, I decided I wanted to lean more. So, I spent almost $200,000 on all sorts of good and bad "learning" investments. I earned very little in 2006, because I was learning -- not earning yet.

In 2007, I opened a gym franchise, rented out half a million dollars in investment properties, obtained my Real Estate license and took an excellent job in sales with a large firm.

Now, as I approach 40, I reflect on my blessings. I have a loving, supportive, and beautiful wife, Gina. We live in a large home on a hill in Orange County, Calif. We have a dog, Ginger, and two cats Alex and Charles who love us. I am surrounded by supporting family and friends who love us...and we love our careers.

I wish you my kind of success.

(Submitted by Chris Paschane)